State of the Union

In the early part of every early, The President of the United States presents his perception regarding the state of our union.  This act is prominently viewed by many Americans and can be considered one the most principal speeches of their presidency.  Unfortunately, the key word in the opening sentence is perception.

 

Perception is a very powerful and profound word, which paints a mental picture of what the politician wants us to see or in some cases what we personally want to hear!  To expand on this premise, the analytical exchange of how perceptions influence our mental image can best be illustrated on the current political debate concerning the federal debt limit.

 

On one hand, we have some that have been in Washington so long that their mustard seed has penetrated the rocks and foundation of our self-governing institutions.  On the other hand, there are those who are just biting their time for re-election by positioning themselves as the people’s candidate.  Each candidate presents their perception of what will or will not occur if the debt ceiling is not raised or if budget cuts are not instituted.  The candid reality is that regardless of what their position is, the actual measure of their leadership is based upon what personal price they are going to sacrifice.   Sacrifice is not easy and has been something that is learned at an early age.

 

I recall in my early age how my mother and father were raising us with a set of core values.  My mother wanted the best for her kids and she was willing to sacrifice to ensure they had what we needed not what we wanted. Mothers are the backbone of every family and they taught us how and when to be compassionate, and when to be firm.  They constantly reminded us to act civil even when it was the most difficult task to perform.  I could hear her now telling us to hold our head up regardless of what other people say because we were not what others say we were but what we did!  As constituents of the this great nation, it should be fair to judge our politician not on what they say but what they do.

 

As our executive and legislative elected officials continue to negotiate our children and grandchildren’s future, I muse myself on what my mother would say.  I am sure she would be uttering, pay what you owe before you borrow anymore.  Maybe, by the grace of God, my mother can come down from heaven and whisper in our politician’s ears; Pay What You Owe Before You Borrow Anymore and leave the perceptions to the stressed out stock brokers and millionaire economist if there are any.