The rich are getting richer. Merrill Lynch just released their annual World Wealth Report. There are now over 40,000 individuals in the US with a worth of $30 million or more, the rich are growing at an even faster rate in other countries.

There is More to the Secret by Ed Gungor has just come out,a much needed perspective, in my opinion. It's a reaction to the run away best seller The Secret, which repackages the power of positive thinking. I just sent Ed this email:

Dear Ed,

Just picked up and read through your Secrets book,
very much needed right now. My friend was really
into his church, I thought, read Secrets and is now
separated from his wife, sold his business, gone off
the deep end.

I'm Catholic, a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and
President of my Optimists Club. All of these things can
be a distraction from my relationship with God. Your
book helped me refocus.

Although, I could have the same problem with your writing,
after looking at your very interesting website.

Gospel reading for this morning for us Catholics is Matthew
7:13+ which in the Peterson translation starts,
"Don't look for shortcuts to God." So I'm off to Mass, Optimist Club
at noon, and AA meeting tonight. Thanks for your powerful
reminder to make sure my motives for all these things, and
connecting with your words, is to strengthen my relation with Him.

Do you have any plans to be in Denver?

I just sent this letter to the editors of the Denver Post:

Fred Brown in his column Sunday used the term "grassroots" incorrectly, in my opinion.

Brown says: (“Grassroots” is a term used at both ends of the political spectrum to denote a party’s most ardent true believers — the left-most Democrats and the right-most Republicans.) http://activepaper.olivesoftware.com/Daily/Skins/DenverP/navigator.asp?skin=DenverP&BP=OK

Merriam-Webster Online defines grass roots as:1 BASIC 2 : being, originating, or operating in or at the grass roots 3 : not adapted from or added to an existing facility or operation : totally new

When Ben Franklin said, "we have a Republic if we can keep it," the "we" he was referring to the grassroots, it seems to me, used in this sense. He was referring to all Americans.

Keeping the common person involved and potent is the only justification for our wonderful
Colorado neighborhood caucus-assembly system for nominating to the primary ballot. The neighborhood caucus exists to welcome the political newcomer, not serve as a tool for the elite.

Words are power, and I believe the Denver Post and Mr. Brown owes our community a correction.

This editorial in this morning's Denver Post should be required reading for all political leaders.

Bloomberg May Be Right.
Cal Thomas
Denver Post

Would a public that seems so turned off to the political scorched-earth tactics of both parties pay attention to candidates who put the country and whats really best for America ahead of their own careers and personal objectives?

The first affiliation of all Americans should be to America and its interests, not to political parties that increasingly seem out of touch with that objective. Bloomberg and Schwarzenegger (and Lieberman) may be onto something. It will be interesting to see how quickly others follow.

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