To be clear, this is not a “let’s bash our government post.” Obviously I have no idea what it is like to run a country, nor would I ever try to claim I know how to do so. (At least, not any time soon. jk) Here are a few thoughts of some things I’m pondering as we surpass one year of Obama in office.

I am proud of what Obama has accomplished for race relations in America in such a short amount of time. I still don’t understand why people call him a black president. He is just as much white as he is black, but here is the revelation: IT DOES NOT MATTER. I think it is so awesome that kids of all creeds now see a multi-cultural man leading our country. It sends a powerful message that anybody can do anything they set their mind towards.

I also think it is awesome that our President listens to hiphop, embraces our youth, openly admitted to trying drugs, and just seems like an all around calm, open-minded dude. I would totally love to hang out and have a beer with him. But there is certainly a lot I would want to ask.

Recently, I got some economic advice from Mark Cuban, a tremendous entreprenuer I really respect. He told me that “cool doesn’t pay like you want it to,” and I absolutely agree. Obama is cool, but who is getting paid? We all know that America needs money and Obama has never run a business in his life.

Below is a great video I found on the hypocrisy of power. I am very grateful for everyone who is risking their life as a member of America’s military. You have courageous, brave souls and I appreciate you. I am a firm believer in the government providing structure, aid to the poor (not auto industries), and safety. But the issue needs to be the safety of all people. You have to count not just the American deaths and potential American deaths, but the deaths everywhere. Everyone counts.

To me, this is not a war on terror. It is a war to save American capitalism. Lack of money jeopardizes our system as much as any terrorist. Capitalism is a society ruled by money and those who possess it. Ok, but why should that involve our government? The wealthy hold disproportionate power and use it to preserve their interests, especially the ability to make more money.

Nas, a rapper who Obama likes, said it best in his song “Rule” in 2001:

“Look at what this country’s got
There shouldn’t be nobody homeless
How can the president fix other problems when he ain’t fixed home yet
The earth wasn’t made for one man to rule alone
To all colors increases, to home it belongs
I want land, mansions, banks and gold
The diamonds in Africa, oil in my control
The world’s natural resources, all its residuals
But then comes foes, I have to guard it with missiles
And I become the most wanted.”

America has been cooking a recipe for economic disaster for quite sometime. The real cake (money) we should be biting into is in America, not Iraq. The batter is waiting to be baked by entrepreneurs. The ones who have the ideas, passion and will to fulfill their dreams. The key ingredients are all around us, not at Walmart, but at your neighborhood mom and pops grocery. I am not sure why we need to invade the other side of the world and kill people to get the dough.