END-OF-YEAR MUSINGS

It is that time of year when you begin to ruminate about the year ending and the impending one approaching fast. It has not been an easy year for most of us for many reasons. The economy and the state of affairs in Washington---and the world, for that matter---have not made for any sense of contentment. Some random thoughts:

At least Barack Obama ended his year on a relative high with major legislation on important matters passed; namely, the Nuclear Treaty with Russia, repeal of "Don't Ask. Don't Tell" allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the military and extending more medical benefits to 9/11 surviviors. Certainly his willingness to compromise on the extension of tax cuts, even for the rich, mollified enough Republicans so that enough defected from Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's intransigence regarding anything touched by Barack Obama to put the legislation through in decisive final numbers. I wish I could read into this recent success an easier path for future legislation from a bipartisan view, but I think such thoughts illusory and that the next round of legislative action will be rough sledding for the President as the Republicans flex their newfound political muscles. A lot of important work is ahead regarding the health care plan, social security, revising income taxes, not to mention the number one priority of reviving the economy.

From an international point of view, China is really throwing its weight around, as many emerging nations are wont to do. (It occurs to me that we have done so on numerous occasions!) We must keep pressing for international pressure on China to play ball fairly in international trade and in falsely supporting their currency. We must prevail upon them to exert pressure on that rogue state, North Korea, and to assist in keeping the pressure on that other rogue state, Iran.

The impasse in the Middle East continues to be discouraging. We must continue to support Israel as a sovereign state and yet encourage a reasonable compromise with the Palestininans, who also have rights. We must find a way to defuse Hamas which can only help the peace process, enabling the two sides to keep talking reasonably.

Afghanistan is another Vietnam, any way you look at it, and the best we can expect is to cut our losses and get out as soon and as gracefully as possible. I think we need to keep talking to the warlords and try to divide the Taliban, but any hope of a military victory is long gone. Our dear friends and allies, to whom we have given billions in aid, the Pakistanis, are not about to change their ways and will provide safe havens on their border for the Taliban. I simply hope we can enable the framework of a working democratic government, train enough soldiers and police to keep the country from descending into total chaos---and then get the hell out of there.

The hypocrisy of the football world continues to amaze me. The N.F.L. and their stand on injuries and violence amuse me. As I said in an earlier blog, on one hand they produced films glorifying the gladiatorial aspects of the game and then try to enforce rules to mollify the violence. Then they increase the schedule to 18 regular season games from 16, which wil surely result in more injuries because by the end of the season bodies are sore and vulnerable. College football isn't much better. why do we need this plethora of meaningless bowl games? Because they make money, stupid! What about a proper playoff system of 16 or even 32 teams and sharing the revenue with all the schools involved on a proportionate basis on how well the team does? And suspensions are a chuckle: Terrell Pryor, Dave Herron and a couple other Ohio State teammates break the rules and they are suspended for four or five games next year---but can play in this year's bowl game. This ensures that Pryor will probably turn pro and miss his senior year. And baseball isn't a lot better. Do you remember when you could afford to take a family to a baseball game? I know the players needed more money years ago, but how much is enough?
I could go on but I won't...

I better leave you on a more elevated note. In spite of tough times, international problems and hypocrisy, I'm awfully glad and grateful still to be around to comment. I thank the few readers I have for putting up with my musings, and I wish all of you the happiest of holidays and nothing but good times in the New Year.

P.S. Recommended reading: Ben Stein's "The 7 Big Lessons of 2010" on AOL News.