"I have not been true to my values and the behavior..."

This line was in the opening paragraph of a statement Tiger Woods made about the recent revelations regarding his personal life. I would counter by saying that Tiger has, in fact, been true to his values as we all are. Our actions demonstrate them far better than our mouths will.
Like many people in the world, I think Tiger would say he is a good person, overall. He may even fall into the category of people who will say they are "spiritual." Persons who have a problem with "organized religion" but want to believe they are able to maintain a relationship with God because of their own actions. People who are dismayed by the actions of others and surprised by their own failings, but vow to do better. These are commendable thoughts and are shared by those of us within organized religion.
But for me, it is the values I profess to share with Christians that do far more to hold my behavior in check than my own. I see examples of my willingness to step over my own values everywhere - it is easy to overeat. I don't exercise as I know I should (and tell myself I will start doing over and over again). Consider how popular New Year's Resolutions are.
There is something about standing with friends and saying in unison "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth..." that makes me rethink whether I am willing to do things that my heart/mind wants to.

A KISS to the Economy

David Brooks has an op-ed that offers a fairly simple, and non-partisan plan for re-invigorating the economy. But his most salient point is that what he suggests is nothing new, simply what we as a nation have done since our founding in a variety of ways whenever we fall into an economic depression following an irrational boom. Interesting reading, but sadly, in our current political climate these ideas would never get consideration beyond one day's exposure in the NYT or blogs like this which exist in oblivion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/opinion/08brooks.html?th&emc=th