Patch and Pray

I gather that the public is tiring of Mr. Obama.  I actually understand that even if I don't happen to share the perspective.  People seem to have a fairly dim view of his ability to deliver what is most needed at this time: JOBS.  The problem though is that Obama is not the problem, the problem is the system.

Here's what I think: the problem is that for at least a couple of decades, probably three, so that's a good thirty years, the US has hung on to modus operandi that are inimical to the nation's best interests.  By allowing lobbyists to stymie the development of reasonable, balanced regulation; by allowing the beneficiaries of the status quo to hamper the establishment of any legislation that would negatively impact their profitability; by focusing less and less on infrastructure and development, I believe this nation has dug itself a pretty deep hole.  The massive natural gas explosion in a community in Southern California some weeks ago is, I think, proof positive of how far the nation has to go to get itself back on track.

One commentator on the television used the phrase "Patch and Pray" to describe the approach to maintenance of national infrastructure.  He said, "We have been using a 'Patch and Pray' method" with infrastructure for years.  As someone who hails from a country where Patch and Pray is the order of the day, I think I know it when I see it. In a great many arenas in this country, P&P is the way things are done.  The problem with Mr. Obama, is that he doesn't seem to think that the patch and prayer method is a good one for existing national challenges.  More than that, he's not even about to pretend that they are. 

Where fault lies really, is in all of us who are expecting quick solutions to deep and in some cases, intractable problems.  Where the fault lies is with the President who simply hasn't done nearly enough to sell the American public on the notion of personal sacrifice (ie, you can't eat out 4 nights a week or  otherwise spend like a maniac, and still be OK financially in the long term).  This is true both of citizens and of states, and indeed of all these united states.


Americans are very enamored of their freedoms, and I understand that.  I too love my freedom, but with freedom comes responsibility, both to self and to others.  Far too little time is spent teaching, talking about or focusing on the responsibility part of freedom.  This is where I fault the President.  I'm not annoyed that he hasn't created more jobs, nor indeed that the deficit is out of control, nor even that the health care legislation is pretty crappy but better than nothing.  No, I'm annoyed because he has allowed people to develop this sense that he was 'Barack the Magician' who would change (aka fix) everything that was broken once he came down from the mountaintop with his magic plan of action.  Nothing could be further from the truth. He can do nothing without committed foot soldiers ie, citizens who are responsible about their use of resources (both financial and natural) and make an effort to create and add value nationally.


Time should have been invested making sure that people understood some economic fundamentals such as, if it is small business that is the heart of job creation, we need more successful small businesses.  That means ME and YOU.  If small business is the heart of job creation, then that means you and I must patronize these establishments to ensure their longevity.  Time should also have been spent educating consumers that reckless consumption (and not just on overpriced houses in an overheated housing market) helps no one.  It only drives bank profits (which do not generally redound to consumer benefit) and drives consumers to the brink of financial ruin.

Taking a patch and pray approach to national infrastructure is a bad idea.  Taking a similar approach to national development (and yes, America is still a developing nation as all nations seek to be) is even worse of an idea.  Prayer is a marvelous thing, so too is hope.  But neither is a particularly good strategy for responding to national or life challenges.