The following was originally published on December 25, 2009 on the Huffington Post, where it has generated considerable discussion over an individual’s responsibility in our society. My post was about empowering yourself to take control of your own future, rather than waiting for the government or someone else to bail you out. Such a strategy is not a panacea for all of society’s ills, but it’s certainly a better starting point than, as one commenter put it, “sitting on the couch, eating Doritos and cursing at the world.” I would love to hear your thoughts: How will you take control of your future in 2010? (more…)

Whether or not you voted for the guy, you have to hand it to him: Barack Obama and his team know how to market to the masses.  Three years ago, few people outside of Illinois had heard of the former senator, let alone considered him a viable candidate for presidency. Today, Obama’s face is plastered on more merchandise than Hannah Montana’s. It wouldn’t surprise me if (more…)

When you throw a party and have an estimated 300,000 people turn up, you know you’re one popular guy. That’s one takeaway from yesterday’s inaugural concert, where the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, and Stevie Wonder performed for our President-elect.

In light of our country’s current economic situation, some detractors are declaring the expense of Obama-rama as a waste, stating that the money could have gone to much better uses. When Bush was sworn in for a second time in 2005, a Washington Post poll found that a majority of Americans would have preferred a less ostentatious affair. So it’s understandable that (more…)

There’s less than a week to go before our country enters the Era of Change. On Tuesday, I appeared as part of a Los Angeles Times panel brought in to speak about the upcoming inauguration and what it means for Los Angeles and California as a whole.

For the most part, the panel held an optimistic view, probably because the majority of us hail from the bluest of states.  We are relieved that the last eight years will soon be over. But there was more: an understanding that (more…)