Editorial
Front Page - Friday, May 14, 2010
View from the Cheap Seats
Sunny skies
Bill James
I feel like the last four or five columns I have written have been nothing but fluff. Over the six weeks I was in trial, I skipped at least half of the weeks; and just threw together a few paragraphs for the weeks that I actually bothered to write something. I wrote just enough to qualify what I had written to be a column. In the end, however, they were pretty good. That is, even if I say so myself.
This week is different. This week, I solve the World’s major problem. (In reality, I will only identify what is one of many worldwide problems and offer no answer to my own question). The problem deals with a concept as simple as hope. The problem is a lack of a positive view of the future.
If you are not careful, you can get a pretty gloomy outlook on what the future holds for the United States. PLEASE NOTE: This column has nothing to do with the inner core values and capacity to succeed that is possessed by the United States. It is simply a comment on the fact that, whether accurate or not, we appear to have some tough times in front of us.
While the skies ahead have lightened over the passing months, the forecast for clear and sunny days in the long range forecast seems to be missing.
Two years ago, we had an election based on the concept of hope. Today, we have a leadership that is learning how different reality is from the simple truths of the campaign trail. There is a good bit of work getting done in Washington. You may not like the results, but there has been quite a bit accomplished over the last year. All that being true, there is a lack vision for the future in our government. The campaigns are about no more taxes, no more bailouts, no more incumbents, no more big government. Who is offering something better for the future? People love to complain, but often fall short in the contribution to the future.
Two things that will
definitely bring out the voters
is the fear of something or hope for something. Why did so many people vote two years ago? For most, it was hope. For some,
it was fear of hope. This election seems to be devoid of hope.
It is all about nope. Nope is
fine as long as there is a yes somewhere.
What America needs is a little bit of positive attitude towards the future. Perception is reality and we need some positive feelings toward the future. Sometimes you have to step back and take account of where you are in the world to gain perspective. Without question, we are still the leaders of the world. Seventy years ago, our country could only dream of the kind of supremacy we hold over the world today. If our grandfathers could have seen into the future, I think they would have been happy with where we are.
That doesn’t mean that we are at our all time best, but overall things could be a whole lot worse. Negative feelings rarely bring about positive results. The truth about attitude goes for the individual citizens just the same. Your attitude about the world around you is a huge factor in the future world in which you live.
Besides, what if attitude had no effect on outcome? Why would you want to be negative about the future? Just so you can be pleasantly surprised? Why not enjoy the ride of a positive outlook on the future? At least, that way, you get to feel good for a while. The trick is, when things go bad, you have to remember that means opportunity is right around the corner.
Choose to view the future with hope. It is win-win. If the whole country did it, imagine what we could accomplish. There is only one person over which you truly have control when it comes to happiness and hope. That is you. Sometimes it is easy to forget that, even for those of us in the CHEAP SEATS!
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