John H. Ogwyn (1949–2005)

What's ahead for the economy in the United States and, for that matter, the rest of the world? A front page article in the Wall Street Journal recently proclaimed that an economic slowdown was spreading worldwide. Surging oil prices, falling stocks and weak technology spending is all feeding into this economic slowdown. In fact, the Asian economies are particularly exposed to the risk of a slump because many are more oil dependent than the United States. In fact, the American trade gap has widened to a record almost 56 billion dollars in June of 2004. Exports slid, imports jumped and a much higher bill for foreign oil. In fact, crude oil futures have now topped $46 for the first time and they are continuing about the increase shortages. Where are all these things leading? Where is it headed? Where is it going? Where are these things leading?

Federal deficits in the United States are skyrocketing—and there are serious consequences that are ahead for our nation as a result of what's going on in terms of our nation's economy. The Federal deficit from the year 2004 is over one half trillion dollars—over $500 billion! The entire Federal debt is over $7 trillion.

What lies ahead for Iraq? The United States, as we went into Iraq at the beginning of the war, stated that the objective was that Iraq would become a bastion of peace and democracy in the Middle East. Well, my friends, it hasn't worked out that way at all, has it? We've got all sorts of problems that are going on, and here we are on the verge of turning Iraq over to the Iraqis—that's what we say we are going to do. What are we going to have as a result of that? Is it going to be a unified country? Is there going to be peace? Is there going to be democracy? Absolutely not!

Many people want to change their lives, but they simply don't know how to do it. Change is frightening, and there is a fear of the unknown that often makes people cling to old behaviors, no matter how bad those behaviors are. People don't know how to go about changing their lives, even though there are many changes that people often want to make.

Whatever happened to shame? There was a time when immoral conduct brought shame. It brought shame on the family and on the individual. People were ashamed for certain things to be reported, or be known, because of the harm that it did to their reputation. There was a time when public officials caught in scandal would resign and just disappear from public life, because they were so ashamed of what had come out.