Give Hope a Chance

HILLARY
When I turn on the TV, or look on the internet, all of the news seems to be getting worse. 700,000 newly unemployed people, war in Gaza, embroiled political figures, etc. When I look to see what my country's leaders are doing about I find that they are spending their time fighting over rules and procedures, literally for hours on end. I try to keep myself hopeful for the future, but I wonder what I am to think when I see so much distraction from our leadership. Is there really anything that I can do in Gaza? Is there anything that I can do to help our economy? Or am I simply left to strengthen my own position and hope for the best for our nation, and the world?

JACK
I don't believe we have ever had as many problems with which we have to face today. I also observe that most people are worried, upset, and dismayed by what they see happening all around them. So much of the population is involved with their own personal problems that have sprung forth from lack of planning and government that just hasn't worked. So right now we are in the midst of an economic crisis, multiple wars, and seemingly distant problems — such as global warming. The real question is how do we as individuals deal with all of this? How do we handle all the information? How do we see our standards shattered and continue to go about our daily activities? Most importantly, how do we find a comfortable place and where do we find the direction of our energy?

Our first obligation is to ourselves, our families and then community around us. Years ago, in the midst of my building a commercial enterprise, I created the phrase "all business is personal." This came as a revelation to many people who always thought of business as a hard-nosed, impersonal entity. In having that mental set I was able to build a business that was fulfilling and highly personal, and as good fortune would have it successful as well. Now, on a larger scale, I am coming to the realization that all politics is personal. However, the way to resolve our problems is by first dealing with our personal choices. And these are immediate and pressing – How do we make a living, and help support our community? We have discharged our national and worldwide obligations by voting for and supporting the candidates of our choice. At this point, it is up to them to execute their responsibilities.

HILLARY
But if they don't? If they spend their time jockeying for their own positions, as we suggested that individuals do in this time, what are we to think or do?

JACK
As citizens we have made our choices and the die is cast. It is not our job to micromanage what they do. It is up to us to observe it, and if we do not agree with their courses of action, at the next opportunity we have to vote them out of office. But I do see a bigger problem here in what you say. At this writing, the new administration has not even come into power yet and we cannot look for huge corrections in tiny slices of time. It took us a long time to get into this much trouble, and we must give our elected representatives the chance to make it right. I know I have disagreed with some choices for different jobs, but fortunately as time went on they look like the right decisions to me. The people that come into power on January 20 have an unbelievable daunting job to do. Our constitution is set up to give them time to make good things happen. Thankfully, we do not deal in votes of confidence or violent revolutions. My belief is that, as individuals not involved in government, we should keep a watchful eye and hold our criticism until the policies have had some time to take effect. In the meantime, we must work for the improvement of our own positions and that of our communities. One of the great American characteristics is that we have a proactive nature, and try to move with the times. The feeling in the air is that of enormous change. We have moved from a laissez-faire attitude to one of oversight and transparency. It certainly is discouraging to bear witness to the violent deaths of innocent people, but we have to, at this point, trust our new government to make the right moves. At the same time, we must do the best we can to improve personal living conditions.

HILLARY
Trusting my government does not come naturally. I was born after JFK was assassinated, after Nixon resigned, and grew up with Iran-Contra, Whitewater and now Iraq, Katrina, and an economic tsunami. But I hear you, and want this incoming administration to be successful, and I want to believe in the best that our country has to offer its citizens and the world. So, I'll try to be more optimistic over the next 100 days. After that, if we seem to be getting no better, and if our politicians continue to spend their days on their own self-interests and not focusing on the grave issues we face, I will have to reconsider a game plan for my own personal involvement.

JACK
Good. We have survived over two hundred years and there is a good chance we are going to work our way out of these problems and into a better life.

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