| Looking Back |
| Thursday, 30 December 2010 17:40 | |||
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December, 2010 – Looking back on what I shared with you a year ago, I compared our current economic struggles with the Great Depression, and the incredible boom years that followed it.
I pointed out that what happened back in the 1930’s was much worse than what we’ve had to endure today, but from its depths came some special people, who helped Americans realize the strength they had within them – which was paid back in spades as the U.S. became the first true “superpower” during the period that followed World War II. I wrote last year that as a people, 65-75 years ago we were more easily satisfied and easier to convince than we are today, but were no less angry with what most of us had to face. Were we stronger then than now? The jury’s still out on that one, although many have already provided a number of answers. The Governor of Pennsylvania recently suggested we were all “wusses” – always trying to find the easy way out. Governor Rendell is, as far as I’m concerned, a good guy and a decent administrator, and I think he said this to goad us a little. There are indications that not only is the worst over, 2011 will be a pivotal year, and we will see unemployment drop, sales increase and opportunities appear. Even the folks in Washington, with a changed face following the November elections, are showing a renewed tendency to work together. Our President, with whom not all agree, is still held in high esteem, as compared to former heads of state during the middle of their first (or only) term; at least that’s what the most trusted polls are telling us. So what do we do now? We should stick to our more austere ways – those we have been developing, either consciously or unconsciously since our world began to collapse in on us. The fact that the news is better should not be a reason to return to our profligate mode of living. Even though they are over-used words, we must face the future with cautious optimism; keep thinking it through, look to the positive and work hard to make good things happen. There are as many challenges before us as there are chances, and while the future looks more promising than it did 12 months ago, it’s not going to be easy to bring about positive change. It will take all of the above, working together. Maybe we can then make the Governor of Pennsylvania proud of our efforts! Happy Holidays.
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