Remarks by the president after meeting with energy CEOs

Thursday, 2:57 p.m. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. I just held a meeting with the CEOs of some of the most innovative energy companies in America to talk about growth and progress of a sector that represents a big piece of America’s economic future. As our economy adapts to the challenges of a new century, new ways of producing and saving and distributing energy offer a unique opportunity to create millions of jobs for the American people.

And obviously, this is a timely discussion, on a day of sobering news. The job figures released this morning show that we lost 467,000 jobs last month. And while the average loss of about 400,000 jobs per month this quarter is less devastating than the 700,000 per month that we lost in the previous quarter, and while there are continuing signs that the recession is slowing, obviously this is little comfort to all those Americans who’ve lost their jobs.

We’ve taken some extraordinary measures to blunt the hard edges of the worst recession of our lifetime, and to offer assistance to those who’ve borne the brunt of this economic storm. But as I’ve said from the moment that I walked into the door of this White House, it took years for us to get into this mess, and it will take us more than a few months to turn it around.

That’s why the discussion that we had today is so important. It’s men and women like these who will help lead us out of this recession and into a better future. My job — and our job as a government — is to do whatever we can to unleash the great, generative powers of the American economy by encouraging their efforts.

And I’m absolutely confident that we can, at this period of difficulty, prove once again what this nation can achieve when challenged. And I’m confident that we’re not only going to recover from this recession in the short term, but we’re going to prosper in the long term. To do that, we have to act now to build a new foundation for lasting growth. And energy is one of the pillars of this new foundation, essential both to our recovery and our long-term prosperity.

I’m pleased to say that we’ve achieved more in the past few months to create a new clean energy economy than we had achieved in many decades before. The recovery plan will double our country’s supply of renewable energy, and is already creating new clean energy jobs. Thanks to a remarkable partnership between automakers, autoworkers, environmental advocates, and states, we also set in motion a new national policy to increase gas mileage and decrease carbon pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in this country, which is going to save us 1.8 billion barrels of oil.

And last Friday, the House of Representatives passed an extraordinary piece of legislation that would make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy in America. It will reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It will prevent the worst consequences of climate change. And above all, it holds the promise of millions of new jobs — jobs, by the way, that can’t be outsourced.

The CEOs standing behind me know a lot about these kinds of companies. These are folks whose companies are helping to lead the transformation towards a clean energy future. Even as we face tough economic times, even as we continue to lose jobs, the CEOs here told me that they’re looking to hire new people, in some cases to double or even triple in size over the next few years. They are making money and they are helping their customers save money on the energy front.

So these companies are vivid examples of the kind of future we can create, but it’s now up to the Senate to continue the work that was begun in the House to forge this more prosperous future. We’re going to need to set aside the posturing and the politics — and when we put aside the old ideological debates, then our choice is clear. It’s a choice between slow decline and renewed prosperity. It’s a choice between the past and the future.

The American people I believe want us to make the right choice, and I’m confident that the Senate will. For at every juncture in our history, we’ve chosen to seize big opportunities — rather than fear big challenges. We’ve chosen to take responsibility. We’ve chosen to honor the sacrifices of those who came before us — and fulfill our obligations to generations to come. That’s what we’re going to do this time, as well.

Thank you very much, everybody.

Q Mr. President, do you have a message for the small businesses on health and economy?

THE PRESIDENT: The message for small businesses is many of these businesses started as small businesses and they’re now getting to be big businesses because of the extraordinary opportunities that are out there.

Another message is that they should probably contact some of these CEOs because it turns out they can save small businesses and large businesses alike up to 20 or 30 percent on their energy usage.

And when you hear the innovation that’s taking place — everything from LED lighting that can save a huge amount on energy costs to new concrete materials that last longer and are waterproofed from the inside out, and that can mean that bridges and roads and buildings can last 20 or 30 years longer than using conventional concrete; when you look at what’s being done with solar energy right now in places like Houston and Florida; and the fact that many of these companies are exporting their goods and their services, but unfortunately, their biggest markets right now are Europe and Japan because we haven’t done enough to emphasize clean energy in our own country — that gets you excited about the future.

And one of the things that I’ve consistently talked about since I took office, and on a day where we see that our economy is still having a tough time getting moving, is we’re going to have to shoot for the future and not look backwards.

So much of the debate around health care, so much of the debate around energy, has been based on this idea that somehow if we stand still and we don’t do anything that we’re going to be better off. And that’s just not how this world works. It’s certainly not how the modern economy works. We know we’re going to have to change how we use energy.

We know we’re going to have to change how we operate our health care systems. We know that we’re going to have to change how we train our young people to compete in this new global economy. And so to make the argument that somehow we should just lock in on the status quo or perpetuate the same policies that got us into this mess in the first place, and that that somehow is going to solve our problems, just doesn’t make any sense.

And what these folks are all about is the future, and that’s what America has always been about. We are not folks who are scared of the future or look backwards. We always meet the challenges by moving forward. And that’s what I think is going to happen this time, as well.

Thanks, guys.

Q Mr. President, when are you going to get solar panels and a wind turbine at the White House, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: I was just talking to Secretary Chu about how he is going to consult with these outstanding folks to figure out how we can improve energy efficiency here.

Q When will that happen, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT: I just told you — we’re moving. Come on, guys. (Laughter.) I don’t have a date certain.

H1N1 preparedness summit set

The White House today announced that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan will host an all-day H1N1 Flu Preparedness Summit with states to further prepare this nation for the possibility of a more severe outbreak of H1N1 flu. The Summit will be held on July 9, 2009 at the Natcher Conference Center at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

WHO: Kathleen Sebelius, HHS Secretary
Janet Napolitano, DHS Secreatary
Arne Duncan, Education Secretary
John Brennan, National Security Advisor

WHAT: H1NI Flu Preparedness Summit

WHEN: Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: Natcher Conference Center Auditorium (Bldg. 45)
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Md. 20892

The H1N1 flu virus continues to circulate in this country and in at least 100 other countries around the world – especially in the Southern Hemisphere, where flu season is underway.

“Scientists and public health experts forecast that the impact of H1N1 may well worsen in the fall – when the regular flu season hits, or even earlier, when schools start to open – which is only five or six weeks away in some cases,” Secretary Sebelius said. “The goal of the Summit is to launch a national influenza campaign by bringing federal, state and local officials, emergency managers, educators and others together with the nation’s public health experts to build on and tailor states’ existing pandemic plans, share lessons learned and best practices during the spring and summer H1N1 wave, and discuss preparedness priorities.”

“The federal government remains vigilant and well coordinated with state, local, and international partners as we prepare for all possibilities as to how the H1N1 flu virus may impact us this fall,” said Secretary Napolitano.

“Prevention is everyone’s business. Parents, children, teachers, school leaders, communities, government and businesses, we need do our part individually and collectively prevent the spread of the flu virus,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “We are emphasizing safety and the need to continue learning. We will continue following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and encouraging schools and districts to be in close communication with their local public health authorities and political leadership.”

Statement from the President on the 45th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act

Forty-five years ago today, President Johnson signed into law historic legislation that moved America closer toward fulfilling the dream of our founding – a dream of opportunity, equality, and justice for all. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended legal discrimination, helping grant all Americans equal justice under the law – no matter what their gender or the color of their skin.

The Civil Rights Act was born during Freedom Summer 1963, but its passage was only possible because generations of Americans of all backgrounds stood up, sat down, and marched in freedom’s cause. Once it was signed into law, a renewed pledge was made to all Americans not to deny any man a seat at a lunch counter, not to deny any woman an opportunity in the workplace, and not to deny any child a chance to make the most of their God-given potential.

But while the Civil Rights Act opened doors of freedom and opportunity, we know that far too many inequities and barriers remain in the African-American community and across this country. And we must continue to break down these barriers in our laws, our policies, and our hearts so that we can not only fulfill the full promise of the Civil Rights Act, but perfect the union that our founders created two hundred and thirty-three years ago this week.

Download audio file (7-3_SPORTS_wb-fauquier.mp3)

The Northeast Augusta All-Stars swept through the state tournament in Manassas last weekend to earn the slot in the World Series.

All-Star Derek Wakefield tries out the speed gun in the Generals Fun Zone.

The All-Stars prepare to take the field with Generals players before the game.

We’re sorely missing that right now, with the prevailing attitude seeming to be set by Vice Mayor Frank Lucente’s Herbert Hoover-like laissez-faire approach having the city get out of the way to let private entrepreneurs who obviously aren’t flocking to Waynesboro do whatever they’re not going to do.

The NV in its editorial pushed for Mayor Tim Williams to take the economic-development ball and run with it. It does seem appropriate to have the mayor playing that kind of role, and I’d back him wholeheartedly if he wanted to take it on. Same as I’d back Lorie Smith or Nancy Dowdy if they were to try to create for themselves a bully pulpit to push development in Waynesboro.

I’d even jump on the Lucente bandwagon if he’d steer it in the direction of having the city be an active player in the development game.

One thing that’s for sure is that the current strategy that has had us operating in the economic-development sphere without even an economic-development director on staff for going on a year now is not working and shouldn’t be expected to work in the future. That mindset is akin to staking your personal economic future to playing the lottery in hopes of taking home the big jackpot and then neglecting to even buy the ticket.

Yep, we’re a couple of biscuits short of breakfast as it is now, in a manner of speaking, and it’s only going to get worse before it gets better, because while we’re sitting our asses on our hands waiting for manna to fall from heaven, Staunton is out recruiting new business and industry and doing what it can to retain and grow its existing business and industry, and Charlottesville is doing the same, and Harrisonburg is doing the same, and you get the picture.

This is one thing conservatives and progressives and liberals should all be able to agree on. Economic development isn’t a partisan pursuit.

- Column by Chris Graham

Lost amidst a variety of “stories” over the past weeks was news the President Barak Obama met on June 25 with bi-partisan group of leaders including Senators McCain, Schumer and Menendez to develop a plan for reforming our immigration system.

During the meeting, President Obama indicated in the clearest terms that he wanted a workable solution, based on reality, not rhetoric or xenophobia. The plan that emerges will probably disappoint ideologues, and must be based on the perspectives highlighted below.

There are three basic options for dealing with the broken immigration system, but only one will solve the problem: 1) Allow the current immigration mess to deteriorate further, a prospect that frustrates the vast majority the American people. 2) Hold out for the ugly fantasy that we are going to get rid of 12,000,000 undocumented immigrants, a prospect as unrealistic as it is un-American. 3) Move forward with a comprehensive plan that restores the rule of law, gets people in the system, makes employers play by the rules, and creates a stable, sustainable and legal system of immigration.

An American solution to our broken immigration system includes effective, humane border and interior enforcement that respects rights and keeps communities safe. Also there must be a way for those here without proper documentation to get in the system with legal status so they get on a path to citizenship, learn English, and become fully integrated Americans. Family reunification has always been a hallmark of our immigration system. In 2007, part of the reason that the proposal for immigration reform failed was because it ignored family reunification as a historic component of any American immigration system.

Democrats were elected on a platform of tackling and solving big problems like immigration, healthcare, and reforming our economic system. If they don’t pull together, act like a majority, and deliver on the promise of change, independents and swing voters will begin to look elsewhere, imperiling the majority they now enjoy. Republicans, seeking to regain majority status run the risk of further alienating the fastest group of new voters in the nation if they do not take a bipartisan approach to these great issues. There are many Republicans members of the house and senate who have and continue to demonstrate support for comprehensive immigration reform that is fair, humane, and just, based on reality not xenophobia.

In every generation, our great American republic has been preserved and grown by embracing change - from the “Jacksonian Revolution” to the Civil War to the progressive movements’ response to inequality and oppression; from the Great Depression of the 1930s and the “New Deal” that preserved our Democracy by instituting crucial changes in labor relations, economic regulation, the institution of social security and massive public works programs. In our recent history, the civil rights movement of the 1960s addressed our nation’s ugly legacy of slavery and apartheid which grew out of the infamous Plessy vs. Ferguson decision. While civil rights was the focus in the 1960s, the positive parts of the Great Society in that era ALSO included the so-called “socialism” represented by Medicare and Medicaid. In 1965, we also significantly modified our immigration system (sound familiar?). We continue to pay the price for failure to enact comprehensive healthcare reform in the 1990s. Considering all these issues, we are in essence faced with a “perfect storm” that once again tests our commitment to “form a more perfect union.”

We are tested in battle against those who would destroy America from abroad and by xenophobic forces who seek to destroy America from within. Expanding our economic opportunities, democratizing our healthcare system and immigration reform, are all tests of our ability to grow as a democratic republic. Despite the great strides we have made in the area of civil rights, the specter of racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination still threaten our democracy.

Notwithstanding or because of all of these challenges, we have much to celebrate this July 4th because we as a nation of immigrants are always working “to form a more perfect union.”

Charles Goldstein is executive director of the New Jersey Immigration Policy Network.

What brought this monumental task to fruition? It was freedom of religion and taxation without representation - as dissatisfaction grew, British troops were sent in to stop any sign of rebellion. Repeated attempts by the colonists to resolve the crisis without war proved fruitless. The Continental Congress adopted the document that would sever ties between the colonies and Great Britain -that document was the Declaration of Independence.

A group of 58 men drafted this document - they were judges, lawyers, educators, authors, farmers, merchants, physicians, as well as a soldier and an ironmaster who gathered to write a document that would forever change this country and the world. They wrote:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

Today … independence, freedom, and liberty are still the values our country holds dear. However, these values come with a price. In the past 233 years, our country has been through some very troubled times. First we fought the British for our independence and then again in the War of 1812. Along came the Civil War in which fathers and sons fought against each other, World War I (”the war to end all wars”), World War II (a continuation of the war to end all wars), the Cold War, police actions in Korea and Vietnam, Desert Storm 1 & 2 and now the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.

These wars and military actions have caused mothers and fathers to send their sons and daughters to foreign lands to fight for these same freedoms described so long ago. There were actions in Korea and Vietnam that we may not have understood while those actions were going on or even understand “why” today … but our young men and women answered the call of our nation with many paying the price for freedom with their lives. These veterans deserve to be held in our highest esteem for answering our country’s call to arms and for their part in maintaining freedom throughout the world.

I proudly wear my military uniform on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and the 4th of July because it is a symbol of freedom. It signifies sacrifice, devotion to duty, love of country, service before self of these many American heroes. hey are just plain folks that stood for the values we hold dear today. They are the men and women that served this country before me and are serving our country now and will serve in the future. Those folks are the Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Marines that go into harms way everyday so that we can continue to enjoy the freedoms that our forefathers talked about and instituted in 1776.

So on this July 4th, take just a minute to remember those who have served over the past 230 years, your family or friends who served, your son or daughter that may be serving at the present time … take just a minute to say thanks to them for keeping our great nation free. Freedom is not free; it has been bought and paid for by folks just like you and me. May God bless the United States of America, its leaders, and its military serving in harm’s way. May God also bless the folks that make up this wonderful country where we live and work … called the United States of America.

Afton resident Dave Randall is a retired United States Air Force colonel.

Of course, we all know that nothing is as powerful as an idea. And we know that our ideas are what give America its strength. Thus we are strong for what we believe in - not for what we possess.

So let’s dig into our cornucopia and see what we find. Take peace and freedom for example. They are right at the top. Some Americans will search for peace first, while others will seek freedom first. Please don’t confuse the two. Patrick Henry went for freedom. He called it liberty.

But how about you? Which do you value more highly? First, let’s take those who primarily seek peace. Most likely they are part of a new growing culture, the achievement class. Achieving end results are what seems to count most these days. Peace seekers are therefore goal oriented people. For example, they are attracted by universal health care and free college education. How they plan to achieve these laudable goals is of secondary importance. Naturally, their focus is within - within themselves and within our borders. Foreign affairs just don’t make that all important personal connection.

As for the freedom seekers, they are cut from a different cloth — a cloth without an end. To them the process is what counts and it is never finished. Freedom seekers come from the old school, out of old values. They just don’t seek responsibility, they crave it. Their favorite saying: “Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.”Which will it be for you? Peace or freedom. Sorry about the either or choice. But this is about life.

Here’s another question to ponder this Fourth: Would the rest of the world be better off if the USA did not exist? Again, no professorial fence sitting. Your answer will depend on whether you view America as primarily an exporter or an importer. Do we export more knowledge and ideas than we import other resources? Are we generous to a fault or are we just fat folks who exist at the expense of the rest of the world?

Here is another tie-in question: How do you view America’s wars? Do we fight as part of multinational crusades to preserve peace — plus freedom — wherever it is threatened? Or do we engage in conflicts mainly to preserve and protect those resources, such as oil, which are vital to our way of life?

Another Independence Day question: How do you view equal opportunity? Do you believe that it should lead to equal results for everyone? Do you believe that results should be a consideration when “equal justice under law” may fail to provide the desired results. How do you view the Constitution? Do you read it as a means to achieve your desired ends or are you a strict constructionist?

So there you have it. Is the United States of America just another imperialist nation? Or are we some place special that God has already blessed, a great and noble nation that at times has made mistakes?

Never forget that our nation is an experiment, the Great American Experiment. For 233 years the experiment has been working. Let’s keep it going. Let’s continue to recognize the difference between peace and freedom. Let’s keep exporting our ideas and knowledge for the benefit of the entire world. If we must, let us fight to preserve our way of life. And let us continue to provide those opportunities in order for all to rise or fall as they so choose. And, finally, remember there is no need to sing “God Bless America.” He already has.

Have a happy Fourth!

- Column by David Reynolds

This day has a particularly special meaning for me and wife Anna since July 4, 1972. That’s when our plans to spend the day at a park near Brandywine, W.Va., were slightly altered as we shot off the opposite direction to Rockingham Memorial Hospital.

Our firstborn firecracker, Jennifer Lyn Bishop, exploded onto the scene at 10:26 that morning, less than 45 minutes after we arrived at RMH - didn’t even see the entire “Beverly Hillbillies” rerun in the waiting room (no Lamaze classes those days) - before word came, “It’s a girl.”

Jenny Lyn arrived three weeks earlier than expected, changing our plans not only for the Fourth of July, but helping prepare us for the innumerable schedule changes to come.

In the centennial year, 1976, a second daughter continued a tradition of arriving suddenly, as we went directly from watching a long (at least for Anna) movie at EMU to the RMH emergency room around 10:30 p.m. A discombobulated dad raced to the delivery room, hospital robe on backwards, as Sara Ann Bishop burst into the world about ten minutes into October 3.

Time rushes on, and Anna and I pant and puff to keep up with our six grandkids who live close by.

July 4 also gives opportunity to count not only the joys that far outnumber of trials and sorrows of raising a family, but also to reflect on other blessings I enjoy as a citizen of this nation.

Much has been said in the past and continues to be proclaimed from pulpits and periodicals, particularly within the Peace Church tradition and the Mennonite denomination to which I belong, about what it means for Christians to be citizens of two realms - members of the Kingdom of God and of the kingdom of this world. So what does it mean to seek to be a faithful follower of Christ and at the same time meet responsibilities that accompany earthly citizenship?

For me, this includes paying taxes, albeit having problems with the inordinate amount that goes toward national defense and financing wars that our country has been embroiled in past and present, being an informed citizen and exercising the right to vote in national, state and local elections, and praying for those in positions of power and authority, even when their decisions conflict with my own convictions.

I can have a sense of pride in my country - a patriotic spirit, if you will - without becoming swallowed up in a blind nationalism. (A piece in a well-known satire magazine years ago defined a patriot as “one who loves his country while hating 90 percent of the people who live in it”).

The Declaration of Independence - wouldn’t hurt any of us, myself included, to go back and review that hallowed document - guarantees us freedom of speech, which among other things allows us to write letters to the editor and contact our elected officials stating exactly how we feel on a given issue or policy. We can take a minority position, state it explicitly through a variety of organized and informal channels or debate it in the marketplace, knowing that we won’t be shipped off somewhere in the middle of the night because we challenged the established order.

I’ve never lived in another country but several family members and friends who have returned with a similar message: one doesn’t begin to appreciate the US until he or she has spent time in a land where persons who criticize the government or speak out and work for peace and justice do so at their own risk.

This July 4, I’m not advocating an “America, love it or leave it” mentality. Instead, I commend an “America, love it and change it” attitude, because people who truly revere this country want only the best for it. That may include not agreeing with everything it does “in the national interest.” Being able to say so freely and openly is among the many things I’m thankful for, as a citizen of both a heavenly and earthly kingdom.

God bless America? How about “America, bless God”?

- Column by Jim Bishop

For the Fourth of July weekend, the Nationals host the Braves on MASN while the Orioles spend the weekend in L.A. against the Angels.

Fox’s Saturday game has the Phillies and Mets, along with Tigers at Twins and Dodgers at Padres. Manny Ramirez returns to the Dodgers’ lineup this weekend, so I bet a few more fans will get that game.

The Rays visit the Rangers for Sunday’s ESPN game, after the Brewers face the Cubs in the afternoon on TBS.
NASCAR gets to run on 4th of July, although in the evening on TNT. For many years, it was the Firecracker 400 starting in the Monday to beat the thunderstorms in the heat of the day.

The PGA tour comes to Washington for the AT&T National, hosted by Tiger Woods (that’s what the logo says). CBS has coverage Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and ComcastSportsnet Mid-Atlantic will have plenty of info from the course.

For those ready for some football, the NFL network will be running it’s “America’s Game” series starting Saturday morning. It’s one hour each on the first 42 Super Bowl champs, plus five teams that missed out on the rings.

Mike Judge blogs at WeekendWatchdog.blogspot.com.

So, I started making a mental list of the things that I have to be grateful for, but I couldn’t help but also think of some of the ca-ca (a good parenting word, don’t you think?) in my life and the world, as well. I’m going to try and stay focused on “The Good” though acknowledging and recognizing “The Bad, and the Ugly.”

I believe the serenity prayer (and I’m not in AA) really says it all about how to view the world. We all get handed our pile of challenges, we just have to choose when to accept them, when to try and change them, and when to just let them go. I hope these lists give you a giggle and some good reflective thought as well. So, with that lengthy preface here they are, in no particular order, in each category:

The Good:

1. My two boys, Will and David.

2. My three dogs, especially Simon who we almost lost.

3. My good health.

4. My best friend Marty.

5. Boba, Pizza, and Coffee Ice Cream.
6. Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, and Sinatra.

7. Computers (yeah, they also belong in the bad category), MP3 Players, and cell-phones (truly, they also are a mixed blessing!).
8. Skiing, always near the top of my list.
9. Hiking in the hills and parkland, right outside my front door, with my dogs.
10. Our new home theatre with its amazing sound and picture, which makes going to the movies at home almost better than going to the theaters.
11. My good fortune in my former work-life and my luck in being able to retire so young.

12. My further good fortune in meeting my new wife, Loren (we just married this past Dec. 27, 2008).

13. My boy’s acceptance and love for her.
14. Our incredible honeymoon in Africa and its reminder of just how lucky we are, here in America, however much our economy is presently suffering.

15. My Men’s Group and the amazing support they provide during the challenging times, along with the wonderful friendships that have developed there. These are friends that tell me the truth, not what I want to hear. We need to hear the truth from our friends more often. I credit them with making my marriage happen and work.

16. My growing second career in writing and the blessing that so many papers, online and hard copy, have taken my column on in a time when their industry is in such decline.

The Bad:
1. My parent’s death in the past three years.
2. My ex abandoning my kids and the subsequent psychological effects that’s created.
3. My moods and occasional whining (Loren will debate the use of the word “occasional”).
4. My impatience (especially with Will, my teenage know-it-all).
5. Hollywood and movies, reality television, and network news nowadays.
6. Lawyers.
7. Lawyers.
8. All the cruelty in the world.
The Ugly:
1. Radical Islam.
2. Bad parents.
3. Addictions.
4. Renee Zellweger (we call her lemon face, due to her puckered lips).
5. Dating (thankfully a thing of my past, now).

In looking back at these lists, I’m proud to reflect that the total of “Good” exceeds the total of both “The Bad, and The Ugly.” Yes, it is how we choose to react to life’s challenges, not whether we have them or not. We all do. And, in most cases, if given the opportunity to switch lives with someone we know well, we’d opt to keep our own bag of challenges.

A final and important reflection on this was beautifully and poignantly written about by Viktor Frankl, in his powerful book, “Man’s Search For Meaning.” I will paraphrase him, when I describe his story of surviving the Nazi concentration camps during World War II. He said that, of course, the Nazis had full control over every aspect of his life; what he ate, where and how long he slept, work, punishment, life or death. However, the only thing they had no control over was how he reacted. That is our choice, too, when we face far easier challenges, even now.

Please visit www.brucesallan.com to contact Bruce and to enjoy the various features his new website offers, including a unique Ask Bruce For Advice section, an archive of his columns, contact info, links to his published work, photo galleries, and reader comments, plus much more.

1. Don’t Do Donuts. Check it out: white flour, white sugar and deep fat fried. ‘Nuf said.

2. Marginal Margarine. Mostly just dyed, flavored shortening, margarine is the king of the hydrogenated oils. There are new brands without the trans fats although “marginal” at best as an alternative to real butter. At least we know what butter is.

3. Cereal Killer. I’m talking about the artificially dyed, flavored, chocked full of sugar and guaranteed to make the milk turn purple in the bowl kind. That’s not cereal; that’s chemical warfare.

4. Thirst for Ad-venture. Why would we drink sports drinks the same color as toilet bowl cleaner and anti-freeze? Could have something to do with the marketing, I think.

5. You’re Toast. Speaking of marketing, check out the wide variety of “toaster pastries” available. Defying logic on all fronts, the two inches worth of ingredients on the packages contain things I bet you couldn’t identify in a line up.

6. Chip on Your Shoulder. Another fatty, too salty and artificially flavored, colored and enhanced product, most chips are a nutritional nightmare and pile on the pounds, while completely ignoring anything having to do with nutrition.

7. Chickening Out. Chicken nuggets are a happy meal for most children and plenty of adults like them, too. But the sorry truth is that most all of these commercially prepared, deep fried pieces of poultry are paltry in the nutrition department and contain a lot of ingredients you want to avoid, like hydrogenated oils.

8. Carbon Nation. Soft drinks are among the worst of the worst. Nine teaspoons of sugar per can, calcium robbing phosphorus and a pound packer, this is one drink to pour down the drain.

9. Don’t Give Me Your Bologna. Literally. Bologna and its kin, the hot dog, are made from who-knows-what, sodium nitrates (known carcinogens) and enough fat to lube your Buick. This one belongs in the dog house.

10. What a Crack Up. Unless you get them at a health food store, crackers aren’t the healthy snack they are cracked up to be. Just basically white flour and hydrogenated oils, the list gets worse the more “colorful” and “flavorful” the cracker. Take a crack at whole grain bread instead.

Gosh, this list wasn’t even hard. This was easy…maybe I have an inner “Mr. Bad Food” in me just waiting to get out. Then again, maybe I didn’t write this. Maybe it was my evil twin, Ms. Unhealthy Food. Yeah, that’s the ticket. I bet you’ve seen her. She’s the one with the grocery cart piled to ceiling with frozen pizzas, diet soft drinks and Ding Dongs. Wears sunglasses at night to keep the paparazzi at bay and stretch pants are standard issue. Stay tuned …

For more help putting dinner on your table, check out Leanne’s website, www.SavingDinner.com, or her Saving Dinner book series (Ballantine) and her New York Times bestselling book Body Clutter (Fireside). Copyright 2008 Leanne Ely. Used by permission in this publication.