I have taken the Standard & Poor's downgrade of US debt pretty personally. After all, it is a statement about all of us and the prospects of our future. Let's put aside for a moment how little credibility any credit rating agency has after being just shy of criminal in the events leading up to the 2008 financial crisis and look at the impact of this on us as Americans.
America is defined by optimism and, quite frankly, this is a gut punch. The first reaction (unfortunately) is about blame. If you decide you need to blame a minority faction of newly elected congressmen and women (the Tea Party) in the minority party in one house of Congress then you must also blame the party who held both houses of Congress (including a filibuster proof majority in the Senate) since 2008 plus the White House. A "Fiscal Commission" was assembled led by good men from both parties. Its findings were politicized, denounced, and buried. What a shame. The time for leadership on this issue and the window to really get something accomplished has past for our current President. Now it is about grown ups sitting down and absorbing the gravity of the situation.
Previous Presidents share responsibility here as well. This transcends political party and our last balanced budget under Clinton was the direct result of the opposition party taking him to the edge (and beyond) and forcing a government shutdown. Why does it take this kind of drama and damage to do the right thing?
Barack Obama was elected on a surge of optimism and desire for something different. What we are seeing is the difference between sales and implementation. Leadership is a hard and lonely road and I cannot even begin to fathom the loneliness and pressure as President of the United States of America.
This is a defining moment for Mr. Obama and the rest of the people we have chosen to lead our country. If they can't come together to chart a path for the future, then we'll get a new set in 2012. Maybe, just maybe, there will enough courage in this batch to look beyond the next TV spot, fundraiser, or election.
I write this blog for many reasons. One is to give my daughters a record of who I am and what I was thinking at different stages of my life and career. As this news broke on Friday, I looked at both of them and actually wondered what kind of America they would grow up in.
Today I am concerned and saddened. There is no faith in our government and the leadership running it. I do, however, remain optimistic about America and our ability to achieve things others thought impossible. We will get through this and be a stronger nation as a result.
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