Lessons Learned in 2012

A controversial Newsweek cover with Bachmann, entitled "the Queen of Rage" (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A presidential campaign marked by flawed candidates, attention and tons of ads focused on certain states, and actors debating empty chairs shows what money and too much time on our hands can do.

Given the opportunity to vote for change, people chose to stick with the same President and most of the same Congress, leading to the same kind of gridlock that has ensnared this country.  The fiscal cliff is the latest example.

After Aurora, Newtown and countless other places where shootings have occurred, the time to talk about what to do about guns and the people who use them is long overdue.  That is, until the next big thing comes along.

The NRA wants to put armed guards in every school.  Great idea, except that it's easy to suggest something drastic if you're not the ones paying for it.

In countries where dictators are either dying or cling to power, some forms of democracy might be the cure that's worse than the disease.

September 11 is still a powerful date in world history.  What happened in Benghazi, Libya is one reason why.

The U.S. Supreme Court isn't always as conservative as you think it is.  For one thing, they let Obamacare live.

Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, climate change had a lot to do with all those storms, heatwaves and droughts, no?

The Minnesota state bird is the loon.  Michele Bachmann acted like one on the presidential campaign trail, but she got herself re-elected to Congress anyway.

Never take a job involving national security if you can't keep your own secrets beyond the bedroom.

Those states who talked about seceding from the union because their presidential candidate lost, even in jest, should be careful of what they wish for.

To videogamers, war must be a hell of a lot of fun.  Try fighting in a real one sometime.

To soldiers coming back from Afghanistan:  Is all this public adoration for real, or just a phony marketing gimmick?

Is the economy improving?  It depends on whether you have a job, live out on the street, or both.

Rush Limbaugh can lose dozens of sponsors over his demeaning comments about women, yet still remain on the air.

Reports of the death of this planet, as Mark Twain might say, were greatly exaggerated.

When Apple speaks, people listen--then buy their latest smartphone.

Reality TV is rigged.  Wow.  What a shock.

Other than "American Idol" and "Survivor", are the winners of reality TV competitions remembered years later?

Newsweek magazine was dying a slow death long before Tina Brown got her hands on it.

Morning TV can be fickle.  Just ask anyone who works for the "Today" show or "Good Morning America".

"Someone That I Used to Know" is Billboard's top single of the year.  "Call Me Maybe" is the best-remembered song of the year.

Mike Wallace, Dick Clark, Neil Armstrong, Sally Ride, Andy Griffith, Whitney Houston, Larry Hagman, Nora Ephron, Davy Jones, Robin Gibb, George McGovern, Harry Morgan, Andy Williams, Andy Rooney, Arlen Specter, Donna Summer, Gore Vidal, Ray Bradbury and Maurice Sendak all died this year.  Who will take their place?

The next twelve months will determine whether 2013 is a lucky year or not.