| Looking Back III |
| Thursday, 05 January 2012 20:04 | |||
 January 2012 – Over the past two years around this time, your editors have made mention of what it was like in the 1930’s and how much worse it was than what we’ve had to endure since 2007 – about the time things began looking bad. This is Part III. We mentioned earlier about how some special people came from that experience – leaders who helped Americans find an inner strength, which was later paid back as the U.S. rose in power and influence throughout the world. We also pointed out that as a group, back then we were used to doing more with less, were more loyal, and in some cases easier to convince then as now. That, and the fact that folks back then didn’t have to contend with 24/7 in-your-face news coverage. In many ways, this technological phenomenon has created everything from false hopes to misunderstanding to confusion. And just last year, the outgoing Governor of Pennsylvania suggested we were all “Wusses”, and I think he was sticking it to us a little, in order to help us keep our heads on straight. The dust is still settling on 2011, and while some swear that the events that occurred within it were just as bad as those from 2007-2010, we think many feel otherwise. As 2011 plowed through its days, there was a little light emanating from the end of the tunnel, and while the news was still skimpy, sales did increase, unemployment did drop and opportunities did appear. However, with all this, the situation in Washington remains much the same – but something tells us that all may end soon, after the first Tuesday in November passes by. Regardless of what the polls say or what the supposed pundits spit out, the American public is not stupid. Collectively we are not only a smart bunch, we’re brave. If nothing else, the current “Occupy” movement has made that very clear. The trick now is not to be swayed by platitudes, half-truths and lobbyist lies (like why would people scream that to be forced to buy medical insurance by the government, as President Obama’s new medical law proposes, is wrong, when for years we’ve been forced to buy insurance for our cars…), but to stick to what is now called the “new normal’, and work together toward a more positive world that is fair to all concerned and will make good things happen. It won’t be easy, but if the outcomes are sound and the decisions based on lots of good thoughts (we have ours; you have yours. Hopefully in combination we’re right), we will answer Governor Rendell’s challenge and set the stage for extending our ‘new normal’ into a period of prosperity, 21st Century style.
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