Our nation’s extensive discussions about the current presidential candidates’ race, gender, or religion reveal just how far from bigotry we have not come.

In a recent post I noted that my neighbor, the proud owner of a pooping dog, told me that his son’s choir, about which I’d raved to him, sang at the White House this past fall. I confess that I was a bit jealous, but only until today, when, on our lunch break, my band, The Brotherz K, broke even with the neighbor boy. Check out our new music video!

An economics professor named Steven E. Landsburg writes in tomorrow’s Washington Post that the economic stimulus package moving through Congress “is sure to do a lot of collateral damage” and won’t really stimulate the economy in the short or long haul. In the same Post, another economics professor, Andrew A. Samwick, says it should be called not a “stimulus package” but “deficit spending.”

For all I know, they’re right–they’re economists, after all. But $1,200-plus in this household’s pocket doesn’t really bother the personally fiscally sound mind that is mine. My worry is more how to use that money so that I contribute to the health of our world.

Now, I should note that I often just do what I want with the money I have, rather than worry about being a positive influence here on Earth. The thing is, with this possible money, our supposed president is calling me to a higher paying field. As I see it, here are several of my options, a few of which I’m actually considering:

1. Save the money and buy something later, like land.
2. Spend the money(preferably at Target) on unnecessary plastic objects made in China.
3. Invest the money in Ford or some other sinking lunk of steel. My brother did this once.
4. Invest in some sort of green technology that will never be affordable to me unless I invest the tax rebate of today in something like missiles to earn money towards a later purchase of that same green technology, which needs investment now.
5. Spend the money on something cool, like new windows for downstairs so that we can’t feel the breeze outside when we’re inside. This is a good idea because it will save me money in the long run, money that I’ll be glad for later to pay the taxes needed for this year’s possible rebates.

The good news, I guess, is that I don’t need to decide right this minute. As it is said, don’t change the diaper before it’s wet.

For what it’s worth, I’ll trade my 2008 vote for president for all of the following:

-Elections reform. Do away with party primaries. Instead, have three rounds of voting. In the first round, everyone votes his conscience. In the second round, pick from among the top seven choices made in the first round. In the third round, choose from the top three choices made in the second round.*

-Term limits: Presidents serve one term only, five years long.*

-A public, low-cost health insurance option for all, not tied to employment, not limited to mainstream providers (i.e., certified midwives would be fully acceptable), and funded by cuts in military spending. I also like The Freakwenter‘s idea for subsidizing medical school tuition.*

-A more broadly free market (i.e., no government subsidies or military protection for corn or oil corporations). As part of this free market economy, we need a quick, smooth process for obtaining documentation both for currently undocumented and future immigrants. Providing a legitimate way for people to “enroll in society” enhances the potential for achieving physical security as well as workforce availability and stability.*

-A refocusing of the purpose of our military might to surviving domestic disasters and ensuring border security (again, check out The Freakwenter‘s views, this time regarding “Military and Foreign Policy”).*

-The criminalization of terrorism. We should forget the “War on Terror” as has Britain.*

-Simplification of the tax code to a graduated income tax figured by parabolic formula, with no deductions.*

-NO NCLB or federal regulation of public education. Distribute equally (per capita) federal education funds to local public school districts and community colleges. The free market and local democracies will do the rest.*

-The decriminalization of many of the drug offenses that are filling prisons way too full, way too quickly, way too unnecessarily. We should spend the money instead on good rehab programs and educational scholarships for at-risk youth.*

*I reserve the right to change my mind and edit this post (or remove myself completely from the political arena) as better ideas come along.

Little do I know about George McGovern–but this impeachment plea should be noted.