Terrible Two's

We had a wonderful time during Thanksgiving of visiting with our children and sharing some time with our grandson. Our grandson is at that delightful age of two years old. Most of the time he was a pleasant and adorable grandson, but there were a number of occasions when he demonstrated all of the negativity and stubbornness of a two year old. There are good reasons why two year old are called Terrible. During those times when our grandson was terrible, all he could say was “No. No. No. No.”

Upon reflection as I drove home, it seemed to me that we have a lot of terrible two personalities in public life at the moment. Leaders and decision makers who can only say NO. A lot of people in public office who are acting like two year old. They are all negative.

There was a major crisis in our financial markets a few years ago. The possibilities of a second great depression was supposed to be on the horizon if these financial institutions collapsed. The proposals were put forward to try to protect them and to bail them out. There were a lot of people who said No. No. Let them fail. No.

The reports out of Detroit this year are that the major automobile companies are enjoying an increase in sales and are headed towards a record month. The auto industry seems to have found its footing again. But there were a number of public officials who said often and loud NO to the proposal to bail them out.

We have a major, major issue in this country about immigration. We have a lot of people in this country who are illegally here. It is estimated that that number is more than eleven million. When it is suggested that a solution has to be found for that problem. The Farming industries are having a horrible time finding workers to harvest crops. There has to be found a way to deal with this issue, but there are leaders who just say NO. NO. Arrest them. Send them home. NO.

Everybody in the country agrees that the number one issue facing us right now is getting our people back to work. To find jobs for those who are unemployed. When proposals and legislation is presented that would put people to work on bridges, roads, harbors, rail tracks, grids, and lots of infrastructure, the response of lots of our public officials is NO. NO.

Our dependence on foreign oil continues to be a concern, but suggestions and alternative solutions to that dependency are put forward, lots of NO’s come out. When public health talks about the need for a cleaner and healthier environment, the response is NO and many even want to do away with Richard Nixon’s department of Environment. Concern about weather changes and global warming? NO. No. No such thing is happening. When there is recognition that the playing field is tilted in favor of the 1% wealthy in this country and proposals are made to balance that by increasing the taxes on the wealthy and the Fortune 500 companies, the two year old personalities cry NO.No.

The good news for my son and his wife is that my grandson will grow out of his terrible two condition. The only hope for the rest of us is that we can find some more mature people to elect the next time there is an election. The good news for 2012 is that there is an election.