The year 2008 has been a downhill roller coaster for most of America, and as we stay the course the deeper we sink. What may be needed, if the hole we keep digging is sinking us, is to fill the hole back in and build a fine new world atop the rubbish and folly.

Until now China has behaved with impunity while becoming rich by using our capitalism to sell us goods base on their vast cheap labor. But they make normal living and healthy lifestyles impossible for millions in Darfur while they sell the guns to allow the genocide in Darfur while trading that for oil, taking most of the oil from that land. Well done, Steven.

Jewelers of America, representing 11,000 jewelers, urge a boycott of Burmeserubies. Yet some gem dealers deeply familiar with the situation in Burma claimruby trade is decentralized, and that the boycott hurts the artisanal minersin the pro-democracy movement, not the government. This article considers thepolitics behind the boycott: who it helps and who it hurts.

Nothing says home to deployed military personnel like a care package. Filled with treats, necessities, and greetings, a care package can be a huge morale booster for those far from home - especially during the holidays. "Mail is one of the greatest morale boosters we can give our troops during the holiday," said Postmaster General John E. Potter.

Of all the physical damage that has been done to Iraq, the greatest damage has been done to the culture itself. Iraq has lost much of her cultural capital.

American citizens receive many images about the war/occupation in Iraq on a daily basis which bombard listeners, readers, and viewers with images about the application of U.S. policy abroad.

There is a parallel between the war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan in that the violence of the U.S. war has been followed by unprecedented violence during U.S. occupation.

There seems to be some confusion between patriotism and common sense lately. This is what most nationalistic movement's bank on. No one should speak up with the voice of reason; if you do, you will be shouted down, called a coward, and publicly shamed.

Some of our "allies," or former allies, will bow to terrorism. This is fine, if you can accept innocent civilians being murdered on your own soil. You cannot satisfy someone who believes your existence is a sin. As Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said, "We are not even enemies, as far as they're concerned. We're just dust. ..."

Instead of complaining about how bad the next three years will be, Democrats now have the opportunity to produce a viable "front runner." It really shouldn't be that hard to find a candidate who can identify with the American people.