A Little Insight on Wall Street
Nov 17, 2008 News
The recent financial crisis on Wall Street has generated a great many discussions on regulation vs. deregulation. Phil Gramm (R), retired Senator from Texas, who was the driving force behind deregulation, recently was asked by the New York Times if he still agrees with the policies he set forth to allow less and less oversight of Wall Street. If you are interested in a terrific article on what transpired read his interview. The link to Credit Default Swaps may give you more insight on the failed policies enacted by the financial institutes. In addition click on how the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, a law Gramm played a key role in writing, helped create the “Enron Loophole” that was advocated by executives of Enron.
Thanks!
Nov 10, 2008 News
Thank you to all who worked so hard on my behalf. Thank you for once again sending me to the legislature on your behalf. Your friendship and support mean so much to me. I will be back in my office two or three days a week working hard on the coming session. There is much to do and lots to consider. Feel free to contact me with suggestions and ideas. It will be a help as we face the coming budget plans.
Election Night Party
Nov 3, 2008 News
The committee to re-elect Rep. David Bly to his second term in MN House District 25B will be having their victory party at Froggy Bottoms in Northfield. Froggy’s is located at 305 Water Street S, in Northfield. Polls close at 8:00 PM and results should start trickling in around 10:00 PM.
All supporters are welcome so come down and celebrate the end of the campaign while we await the results.
Remembering Richard Bly
Nov 3, 2008 News
November 3rd is my brother Richard’s birthday. You can see him here in the photo with my sister and me. He passed away a year ago Sept. 8th with complications of brain cancer. Throughout the day I kept feeling, “What a blessing it is – a warm sunny day filled with warm greetings and good conversation.”
I started my day at breakfast with the UCC men’s group and went from there to visiting with voters in Northfield.
I had lunch with my good friend Mike Thorsteinson who is having his own battle with cancer. During lunch he got a call from the wife of a friend who is fighting courageously for his life in another battle with cancer. Near the end of our conversation the daughter of another mutual friend whose father died of cancer stopped to give Mike information about her grandmother’s funeral.
After lunch we stood in the warm sun taking in the beautiful day and I said to Mike you know this is my brother’s birthday. As we talked we remembered another mutual friend, David Kjerland who passed away one month after my brother. David was the first person to call me two years ago to tell me I had just won election to the Minnesota House.
Yesterday, was the annual celebration of All Saints day when churches all over the country celebrate the lives of those who passed away in the previous year. Last night was Día de los Muertos (the day of the dead) celebration in town. Tomorrow we will know the outcome of the election so many have worked so hard on both sides of the political spectrum.
I spent the afternoon with college students listening to their aspirations for the future and their anxiety about the big day tomorrow.
My brother was a life long Democrat who encouraged me in my race and would have wanted to help in some way had he been here. What ever happens I hope I have made him proud and I hope we can reach out to each other as a nation and a state to move forward to make our future a better one. We owe it to those who we remember in this way and to those who will follow us in years to come.
My brother was someone who liked to call late at night and talk into the wee hours about any subject that came up. He was passionate about so many causes and wanted so deeply for our country to face its demons and correct the course that had taken us astray. I know were he still alive I would get a call tonight and he would ask, what I thought and want to know how the campaign had gone and had I really given it my all. I miss him and I don’t want to lose that feeling that when the phone rings when I pick it up I will here his voice grilling me with a barrage of questions about what is going on and what was I going to do about it.
I am glad I had this day. I am glad my brother asserted himself into it and got me thinking about how good it is to be here for a day like this, full of such expectation and memories of those who matter and have touched our lives.
This is how my day began talking with the wise older men in my church and didn’t understand until now what a blessing it was to be with them. So just before I rush off to the next thing I realize what a gift my brother’s birthday has been.
