Barack Obama Archives - Lazy Man and Money

While most blogs are probably planning their New Year’s Resolutions, I’m taking action. I just voted to support Uncrunch America campaign in Change.org’s Solving the Credit Crisis From the Bottom Up. That’s quite a mouthful (or is it ten-fingersful since I’m typing?). Allow me to explain a bit.

Obtaining credit is getting more and more difficult in this country. For so long, it was really easy to get credit – too easy. We found that out all too well with the sub-prime mess. In an attempt to right the wrongs, lenders have over-corrected… they are requiring pristine credit scores to lend. “Once bitten, twice shy” isn’t just a Great White song to them. Uncrunch America has a plan to solve that.

Uncrunch America is looking to get people to lend to other people. If you think this sounds like peer-to-peer lending, you are right, Lending Club is one of Uncrunch America’s partners. It’s not just Lending Club though. Supporters also include Credit Karma (of which I should note has a great credit blog that tell me what is a good credit score) and popular online budgeting tool, Geezeo – two companies that I’ve talked with extensively in the past. Throw in On Deck Capital lending to small businesses and a public relations firm and you’ve got an organization with some clout.

However, some clout isn’t always enough. This is where Change.org comes in. This nonpartisan group is simply trying to create a platform where the people can vote on ideas of change. The Top 10 ideas will be presented to Barach Obama on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009. After that Change.org supports an organization (in this it would probably be Uncrunch America) in getting the idea implemented. The details of all this are a little fuzzy to me, but you can read the FAQ here.

So if you think that this idea for helping make credit available should get Barack Obama’s attention, please vote for Solving the Credit Crisis From the Bottom up at Change.org. I would stress that this is the last day for round one (I just heard about the campaign myself), so you may have to put down your champagne for a minute or two. However, it’s close to reaching round two, and if it does votes there will be appreciated as well. Sadly, you do have register for the site, but the sign-up form is 4 input boxes and took me about 45 seconds of my time. I figure it’s the least I can do to give the idea a shot.

I usually don’t talk about politics here, and this won’t be much of an exception. Even though the two people below are political, it’s more about their success stories.Â Perhaps it’s just finishing Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, but I’m thinking quite a bit how some of the most successful people got that way – despite what seems to be very long odds.

Success Thoughts

Time’s Man of the Year – Barack Obama was the easiest slam dunk their editors ever had. I haven’t commented on it, because everyone has already said everything.Â I’ll just echo, What an amazing step for America!”Â Every time I lose faith something logical happening, something like the best man wins.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Governator – As amazing as it was for Barack, I think Arnold becoming governor of California was a little more amazing. All evidence I’ve seen shows that Barack was always an intelligent person. Arnold was a foriegner, seemingly spoke little English, admitted to using steroids, became a classic definition of “meathead”, had a movie (Pumping Iron) where he advised, “Milk are for babies, when you get older you drink beer”, and somehow transitioned that into being the governor of one of the biggest states in the country.

This time of year, especially on the weekends, my thoughts turn to football. It’s been one of the best football seasons in some time. Here are some quick thoughts.

Football Thoughts

Dallas Cowboys – I root for you for one game in 25 years to give a potential 11-5 Patriots a chance at the playoffs. Romo had one of the worst first halves performances that I’ve seen. Dallas’ run defense at the end of the game was even worse. Congrats to a potential 11-5 Atlanta Falcons who benefited from the game.
NY Jets – Thanks for the poor performance yesterday. Now Patriots fans need you to regroup to give them a chance at an AFC East title.
Patriots / Chargers – I’m not talking about last year’s AFC Championship game here, but what a weird season for these two rivals. San Deigo at 7-8 goes into the last week of the season able to claim a playoff game at home with a win. New England at 10-5 needs help to even get a shot on the road. If that help doesn’t come, and they don’t make the playoffs, I’m sure a lot of people will be predicting the end of the Patriots’ run.
Miami / Atlanta – Amazing turn-arounds for two franchises left for dead. Is Oakland and Detroit watching… nah