Wall Street to Main Street: The Financial Crisis in Context

Hello again.

Most of you know where I'm at, but for those who don't. 8 days ago, I quit my job in San Francisco, pulled up stakes (if only briefly) to work with Senator Obama's campaign in Columbus, Indiana. A bit of a seismic shift to be sure, but one which I welcomed with open arms. To spend 50 days to get a man with the character and leadership abilities of Barack Obama is a charge I am honored to take up.

That said, I've been spending a lot of time out on the streets of Columbus (population 40,000), speaking with voters door-to-door, mostly undecided, trying to get them out to vote for Barack. In the last 48 hours, the conversations I've been having have definitely taken a different tack, focusing largely on the economy.

I must say, maybe I'm witnessing an outlier, but for the most part, these independent voters I've been getting to know have been particularly savvy on the issues. They understand that the failures of Lehman, Merrill and AIG have a direct impact in their daily lives. They understand companies like Cummins, the major employer here, do not exist in a vacuum, and that the Wall Street firms provide the capital necessary to keep good paying jobs here in Indiana. And they understand that it is the failed policies of the last eight years of financial mismanagement from George Bush (and, yes, his Congressional henchman - Mr. 90% - John McCain) that have led us to the precipice. Some of the voters I talk to - I tend to go out during the weekdays a lot - are seniors, and they remember Herbert Hoover and the Depression. One woman even told me she thinks McCain's economic outlook reminds her of Hoover (she was pretty feisty!) and it scares.

For God's sake, he uses the same the terminology - the fundamentals of our economy are strong - that Hoover did!

America couldn't afford Herbert Hoover then, and they can't John McHoover now. And these people know it.

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I'll try to update as much as I can, especially as we help turn Indiana Blue!