In the 21st century, change in America happens from the bottom up. That’s a sad commentary on our national leaders. Barack Obama, who has moved the federal government more in the past four months than the previous 30 years, is still playing catch-up to where most Americans have long since been.
A few weeks ago, I noted that four states had legalized same-sex marriage. Since then, Maine has become the fifth state, New Hampshire and New York may join the trend within days or weeks.
There’s another moving trend that’s catching up to American’s reality: in the last two weeks, Minnesota and New Hampshire have become the 14th and 15th states to approve the medicinal use of marijuana.
We have a medical marijuana law here in Vermont. Just as was the case with same-sex civil unions, passing a law letting sick people smoke pot did not cause the walls to fall in. After getting a doctor’s prescription, people whose conditions would be improved by smoking (or eating) marijuana can register with the state and then possess two mature and seven immature plants. Still imperfect, the law does not describe a legal pathway to obtaining those plants, but still… progress.
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Fiscal Fitness
Among the better pieces of advice I got from my dad was: “The only two things worth borrowing money for are an education and a house.” I took that advice. It took ten years to pay off the education; I’m still paying on the house.
When I landed my first job as a newspaper reporter, I spent every nickel I had moving and getting an apartment. I borrowed 50 bucks from my boss to feed myself until I got my first paycheck ($169.15 a week). Later that summer, I applied for my first credit card ($500 limit) and I’ve been paying the balance every month since.
The point here is not to brag about my fiscal competence. I knew early on I was destined for a low-wage career, so I knew fiscal fitness would be as important to me as physical fitness is to an athlete. My version of stomach crunches.
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