I'm watching the Senate blowhards with my seven year old, Ibrahim. In response to the "BREAKING NEWS" banner hogging up a third of the screen, he inquired, "Is this really happening? Is it really 'breaking news'?"
Savvy news-watcher that my son is, he must have learned to associate "breaking news" with trivial stories packaged in an ominous headline intended to hook viewers. But, I explained to him, "No, Ibrahim, it's really breaking news this time."
Then I proceeded to lecture him on the situation with the economy, how dire it was, and how it's been over sixty years since America has been in such a terrible spot. I was starting to lose him, but I caught his attention as I told him about how people are losing their jobs. And having trouble keeping their homes and feeding their kids. He wondered, "But can't they get new jobs?"
"No," I replied, "That's why Obama is trying get the people to pass this law. It's supposed to make new jobs to help Americans who've lost their old ones."
Clearly moved, he impressed me with the following:
When I save up enough allowance, I'm going to give it to the country to help make jobs.