If one thing is for certain, the speech last night evoked strong responses from both parties.  While I always do my best to avoid the topic of politics, I do believe that one point that both parties and individuals alike agree upon is that until we clean up the toxic assets that were manufactured over the past 5-7 years, we will not be able to emerge and move forward with rebuilding this economy.  The depth and breadth of toxic assets that has touched every economic class, individuals and corporations alike, is literally crippling our ability to function as a society.  It is accelerating the erosion of the middle class as we know it and wreaking havoc throughout our entire economy. 

      We have seen the dramatic fall of the stock market, the bankruptcy filings of majors corporations, fortune companies being traded as if they were no better than junk, massive home devaluation, unprecedented job losses, a looming credit card crisis and a commercial real estate market that could just be the icing on the cake for a completely broken and broke economy.

     Dealing with those who are to blame is a critical issue and must be dealt with, but more importantly, providing direct relief to the removal of bad or toxic assets and they are known, should be this administrations primary focus so that individuals and companies alike can slowly begin to see a ray of hope in what has become a feeling of hopelessness by so many Americans and countries throughout the world.

     As a real estate auctioneer and a member of the National Association of Auctioneers, I believe that we should play a critical role in right sizing the housing crisis by facilitating the sales of property across this country to qualified buyers for the price that this market will offer.  This is only one of many complex solutions that will assist in the correction needed, especially in real estate, to help this economy get back on its feet.

      I am making no judgment as to which party or administration enabled this build up of what is now known as the perfect storm to occur.  I can only hope and work toward offering my opinion and make efforts to do what I think is best to fix a broken economy.  I welcome your views.