Are we becoming French?
American are looking for change. All of the polls seem to indicate that Americans think that our country is headed in the wrong direction. President Bush has low approval ratings. Those of Congress are even lower. Obama is promoting "change". Clinton is advocating change. So is McCain. So why are we all so hip on change?
The French are an odd lot. They live in a beautiful country. They have great food and one of the highest standards of living in Europe. There are few countries in the world who have things better. Ironically, they are one of the most discontented peoples in Europe. They are unhappy with their standard of living, their politics and just about everything of importance.
Americans actually have life pretty good. We have an unemployment rate below 5% (theoretical full employment). Even industrial states which have been "hit hard" like Ohio (6%) and Michigan (below 8%) have unemployment rates which are below those of many countries in Europe. Yet, the polls show that most American think that the economy is in bad shape. While the greed and lack of common sense have created problems in the housing market, there is nothing which indicates that the Great Depression part II is right around the corner.
America remains a land of opportunity where even a poor person with moderate education can become wealthy. Poor Americans on average live in larger apartments than the European middle class. While the middle class is shrinking, the bottom tier is not getting larger. Rather, more Americans are moving into the upper class. Even well educated people from around the world are trying to get into the U.S.
We live in a country that has relatively little corruption. Our biggest burden is often choosing between too many options.
Overall, we have things pretty good. Of course some things can be changed for the better. However, it is important in the process of trying to change things that need to be improved that we do not ruin the things that are going well. Often government passes laws with good intentions but bad results. In the recession of the early 1970s, the Nixon administration implemented price controls and other laws designed to help the public. The results were just the opposite.
We should be careful as we call for change that we understand just what the change entails. The next time you want to hop on the change bandwagon, ask yourself? Are things really that bad? Or am I simply being French?
The French are an odd lot. They live in a beautiful country. They have great food and one of the highest standards of living in Europe. There are few countries in the world who have things better. Ironically, they are one of the most discontented peoples in Europe. They are unhappy with their standard of living, their politics and just about everything of importance.
Americans actually have life pretty good. We have an unemployment rate below 5% (theoretical full employment). Even industrial states which have been "hit hard" like Ohio (6%) and Michigan (below 8%) have unemployment rates which are below those of many countries in Europe. Yet, the polls show that most American think that the economy is in bad shape. While the greed and lack of common sense have created problems in the housing market, there is nothing which indicates that the Great Depression part II is right around the corner.
America remains a land of opportunity where even a poor person with moderate education can become wealthy. Poor Americans on average live in larger apartments than the European middle class. While the middle class is shrinking, the bottom tier is not getting larger. Rather, more Americans are moving into the upper class. Even well educated people from around the world are trying to get into the U.S.
We live in a country that has relatively little corruption. Our biggest burden is often choosing between too many options.
Overall, we have things pretty good. Of course some things can be changed for the better. However, it is important in the process of trying to change things that need to be improved that we do not ruin the things that are going well. Often government passes laws with good intentions but bad results. In the recession of the early 1970s, the Nixon administration implemented price controls and other laws designed to help the public. The results were just the opposite.
We should be careful as we call for change that we understand just what the change entails. The next time you want to hop on the change bandwagon, ask yourself? Are things really that bad? Or am I simply being French?
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