Enlightenment of the self is the key to freedom

On the home front, we have received about a foot of snow in the last couple days with the forecast of precipitation for the rest of this month.  The trees are beautiful under the weight of the it and the Sun is shining through the trees into my office window.  With this brief break, I'm driving to the coast for a few days to see my son and family and then to Portland to visit my daughter.  

The market is unstable now that it is sitting below 8000.  Swings in either direction are probable.  It is controlled by the 'emotions' which means it is uncontrollable. 

An interesting recent statistic is that commercial property dropped 15% in value in 2008.  I haven't heard anyone address this; only individual homes.  The banks have hundreds of billions, if not trillions, tied up in commercial property loans.

California prisons are at 188% capacity.  3 federal judges recently told the state to release approximately 57000 over the next 3 years to reduce crowding. The state said they are going to appeal to the Supreme Court.  What is interesting are the many challenges California has on the burner; i.e. the drought, the debt, and the prison system. 

Also, there are several counties looking at not paying the state since the state has stopped paying them.  Perhaps this will be sufficient motivation in Sacramento to come to terms with reality.

It looks like the stimulus package is going to pass.  I've release my concern about the quantum leap in debt this country has incurred. In the big picture, looking over the past couple thousand years, all takes care of itself and passes over time.  As Shakespeare said, I have finally accepted his truth, we are all playing a role, judged good or bad by the ego, on this stage here. We incarnate and participate in whatever act is being represented.  We each have our part defined by the respective soul plans.  Buddha and his colleagues are right; this world appears to be a suffering one, and we need to relax, find our niche and enjoy life as much as we will allow.  

Enlightenment of the self is the key to freedom.