It’s time to look back over the last decade and maybe we all shared some of these happenings. Travel with me and hopefully you will encounter some memories that had slipped your mind. Sunday, February 13, 2000, a 50 year old American tradition ended. Artist Charles Schulz published his last ‘Peanuts’ comic strip. Charlie Brown and his friends Snoopy. Linus and Lucy never grew old; they just entertained us.
The Concorde crash near Paris, France on July 25th took the lives of 113 people.
Yemen terrorists attacked the U. S. destroyer Cole on October 12, 2000, killing American sailors.
President: William F. Clinton
Unemployment: 4.0%
Federal spending: $1,877.83 billion
Federal Debt: $5,674.2 billion
First class postage stamp: $0.34
The biggest event of the decade for Americans came on September 11, 2001 when terrorists attacked the United States. Hijackers ram two jetliners into the twin towers in New York City and one into the Pentagon in Washington, D. C. A fourth hijacked plane crashed outside of Pittsburg, PA. The toll of deaths and injuries was in the thousands.
Islamic militant, Osama Bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda terrorist network were identified as the responsible parties behind the attacks.
President: George W. Bush
Federal Spending: $1,864 billion
Federal Debt: $5,807 billion
Unemployment: 4.8%
First class postage stamp: $0.34
President Bush’s first State of the Union address, January 29, 2002, vows to expand the fight on terrorism and labels Iran, Iraq and North Korea “An Axis of Evil”.
A day of personal loss was March 26, 2002, when my mother passed away at the age of 83.
A personal joyous event was the birth of our youngest grandson on April 1, 2002.
The Department of Homeland Security was officially created on November 25, 2002,
President: George W. Bush
Federal Spending: $2,011 billion
Federal Debt: $6,228 billion
Unemployment: 5.8%
First class postage stamp: $0.37
In his State of the Union Address on January 28, 2003, President Bush announces that he is ready to attack Iraq even without a U. N. mandate.
February 1, 2003 saw another American tragedy when the space shuttle Columbia explodes, killing all 7 astronauts.
The U.S. and Great Britain launch war against Iraq, March 19, 2003.
The Republicans push a $350 billion dollar tax cut package through congress and President Bush signs it May 28, 2003. This the third largest tax cut in history.
Another joyous event: the first great grandson (of this decade) is born on June 2, 2003.
Still another great grandson is born on September 3, 2003.
Suddam Hussein is captured by American Troops, December, 13, 2003.
President: George W. Bush
Federal Spending: $2,158 billion
Federal Debt: $6,783 billion
Unemployment: 6.0%
First class postage stamp: $0.37
In his State of the Union address on January 14, 2004, President Bush proposes an ambitious space program that includes flights to the moon, Mars and beyond.
Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize Gay Marriages on May 17, 2004.
Democrats nominate John Kerry for the President on July 29, 2004.
The State of Florida was hit by Hurricane Bonnie on August 12, 2004 and by Hurricane Charley on August 13, 2004.
Republicans nominate George W. Bush for President, September 2, 2004.
Hurricane Ivan ravages the southern part of the U.S. on September 15, 2004 and hurricane Jeannie hits Florida September 26, 2004.
George W. Bush is re-elected President on November 2, 2004, defeating John Kerry.
Eleven Asian Countries are devastated by the December 26, 2004 tsunami. More than 220,000 people died from that disaster.
President: George W. Bush
Unemployment: 5.5%
On January 20, 2005, George W. Bush is sworn in as President.
In his State of the Union Address, February 2, 2005, President Bush announces his plan to reform Social Security.
From August 25th through the 30th in 2005, hurricane Katrina wreaks catastrophic damage on the Gulf Coast. More than 1,000 people die and millions are left homeless.
Another major hurricane, Rita, ravages the Gulf Coast on September 23, 2005.
As of October 25, 2005, there have been 2000 U.S. troops killed in Iraq.
Another personal joyous event: another great grandson was born March 8, 2006.
March 9,2006, President Bush signs a law renewing the Patriot Act, including signing a statement saying that he does not consider himself bound by its requirements to tell congress how the law is being used.
President Bush uses his veto power for the very first time: to strike down the legislation that would have expanded the number of stem cell lines available for embryonic research using federal financing: on July 19, 2006.
Saddam Hussein was convicted of ‘Crimes against Humanity’ on November 5, 2006 and was hanged on December 30, 2006.
President: George W. Bush
Unemployment Rate: 4.6%
January 4, 2007: California Democrat Nancy Pelosi becomes the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives and will presided over the 100th congress. The Democrats take control of both the House and the Senate for the first time since 1944.
In his State of the Union message on January 10, 2007, President Bush announced that a surge of an additional 20,000 troops will be deployed to Bagdad, Iraq to try and stem the sectarian fighting. My grandson spends a second tour of duty in Iraq as a member of the Blackhawk Helicopter Crew.
April 23, 2007 my wife and I signed up with Stores On Line to develop an internet business. I couldn’t even turn on a computer, much less understand it’s functions. Being as we were retired, we needed the chance to make some additional income.
June 10, 2007 we purchased a recumbent exercise cycle and started doing daily exercise programs that were built into the cycle. We had been spending many hours sitting in front of our computers in an effort to build our website. The cost of setting, is additional weight and a broadening of the beam.
On July 24, 2007, the minimum wage was raised for the first time in 10 years. It increased from $5.15/hour to $5.85/hour. The wage will increase $0.70/hour each year through 2009 when it will be $7.25/hour.
We published our website on Dec. 05, 2007. We made the mistake of starting with over 500 products, so it took a long time to build the website. You can start with less and keep adding, is the way to go.
President Bush signs an eavesdropping law on August 5, 2007. The government can eavesdrop on the telephone and email conversations of American citizens without a warrant, as long as there is ‘reasonable belief’ that one part is not in the United states.
President: George W. Bush
Federal Spending: $14.074 billion
Federal Debt: $9,229 billion
Unemployment: 4.6%
2008 saw the Real Estate Market crumble and home prices drop.
The investment banks begin to crumble in March, the Federal Reserve approved a $30 billion loan to J.P. Morgan /Chase to take over Bear Stearns.
April 26, 2008 we joined Qondio, but we really didn’t get going and understand the potential of article writing until August 2009. More of the internet learning curve.
August, 2008, I couldn’t sit for extended periods of time as the pain was unbearable, even driving for more than 20 minutes was impossible. I had been treated by a chiropractor for four months and finally gave up the recumbent exercise cycle. I replaced the cycle with a treadmill and my wife and I started walking. Best move that we could have made.
September 2008, The Fed agreed to an $85 billion request from insurance giant AIG.
The Dow Jones plunged by hundreds of points during this period.
Early October: President Bush signed a $700 billion bailout package.
The day after President Bush signed the ‘Bailout Bill’, stock markets in America, Europe and Asia suffered the largest one day decline in two decades.
By December 2008, manufacturing had hit a 26 year low and nearly 2 million people had lost jobs in 2008.
President: George W. Bush
Unemployment Rate: 6.7%
New President: Barack Obama inherits the ‘mess’ in January of 2009.
January 15, 2009, American Airlines Flight 1549 crashes into the Hudson River. All 150 passengers and 5 crew members survived the “Miracle on the Hudson” landing. Thank God for Capt. Sully.
President Barack Obama is sworn into office on January 20, 2009 and is the first African/American president in United States history.
February 24, 2009, President Obama makes his first congressional address. He spoke of the necessity of immediate action to resurrect the flailing economy.
February 26, 2009, President Obama announces that his budget for fiscal year 2010 would be over $3 trillion dollars.
February 27, 2009, President Obama announces his intention to withdraw most American troops from Iraq by August 31, 2010.
April 7, 2009: the State of Vermont becomes the 4th state to legalize same-sex marriage.
May 6, 2009: the State of Maine legalizes same-sex marriage.
June 25, 2009: Michael Jackson ‘King of Pop’ dies at age 50.
August 25, 2009: Senator Edward ‘Ted’ Kennedy dies.
October 1, 2009: Texting while driving banned for Federal Employees. The government also plans to ban texting while driving for bus drivers and truckers who travel across state lines.
November 3, 2009: Maine voters overturn same-sex marriage law.
December 1, 2009: President Obama announces that the U.S. Military will be sending an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan.
I sincerely hope that you enjoyed our visit with the last decade and that you will join us as we start the next ten years. Remember, as long as we are on this side of the dirt, we can stop worrying and start living.
Have a Healthy, Happy New Year Everyone!
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Contributor's Note
When we look back, sometimes we see things that taught us useful lessons to go forward.
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