Gratitude

For things large and small. Mostly small. Those are the things we take little notice of but which have cumulative impact on our lives. A sidewalk that may be wet or snowy at times, but is not muddy and yucky. Curbs that keep storm water at bay but also slush from melting snow. Lights that go on when a switch is flipped. Hot water at the tap. A car that starts at first try. Tissue box at the fingertips. Windshield wipers that really work! Brakes that stop the car without throbbing. Wheels that seem round and smooth.

So many things that work well for us, and smoothly, on demand, without a hitch. And yet, do we think about these things? Do we even feel a little bit grateful for them?

I can’t answer that for you, but I can for myself. I do notice these things; but I am not always grateful because I am too much focused on what is not going well. Well damn!

It’s true, isn’t it? For you as well? How jaded we become in a life filled with good things. We note what goes wrong, not what goes right.

Here are a lot of things we should think more about:

• When a fire rages, the firemen arrive and take control
• When a burglar, a fight, a loud noise in the night wakes us, the police respond
• When storms rage we know public services will be on the scene to help us with floods, earthquakes, landslides, tornadoes, blizzards and a host of other natural disasters
• When I flush the toilet, it works! And the sewers take whatever I send to them
• Tap water flows on demand, quickly, safely and healthily
• My local community has great amenities: library, park district, fire protection district, schools, public services well planned and well financed with a minimum of long term debt
• The military is Johnny on the spot for all emergencies; they are prepared for the unexpected and often put their lives on the line for me without my knowing it
• Same for local, county, state and federal police agencies; they are on duty 24/7 to protect us all; they live with chaos at times, crushing boredom other times, and quick thinking threatening conditions almost always. They take responsibility for our well-being even as we quickly condemn them and suspect them of abuse and wrong doing even while warring gangs and crime mobs are killing each other
• Our schools continually receive assignments of social concern and engineering that have little to do with learning and development of the minds of students. Schools long ago succumbed to the weight of pseudo parenthood when the parents no longer cared for their own kids; yet teachers teach through it all and for unworthy salaries

 This list is probably endless. I am making a point that needs to be made, however. And it is this:

American citizens too often let others do what they should be doing for themselves; and yet they are quick to condemn and criticize details that they truly do not understand. They often don’t vote; they often reduce all government and governance to one sentence or one issue.

Life is complicated enough, let alone adding complications of communal life to the mix. If a person doesn’t like government, or doesn’t trust it, then do not receive the benefit of what government provides in your life: order, consistency and fairness. Don’t like what you get? Work to improve it. Run for office. Learn about the issues and their alternatives. Learn their costs. Help elected officials make informed decisions. And trust their good intentions whether or not their decisions coincide with your particular needs and wants at the moment.

There are 330 million Americans being served by many levels of government. All are working their best with the resources provided to them and for your benefit not theirs. They are not becoming millionaires on your dime. Most officials work long hours for mediocre pay to strengthen the community for the broadest number of people. There are more demands from the public than there is time or money to devote to them. Choices have to be made. Choices that have to be made in spite of mind-numbing conflicting issues demanding resolution at the same time.

We Americans get the kind of government we invest in and pay attention to. If you personally don’t like what kind of government you are getting, perhaps you ought to spend some time understanding the issues better. Then take a personal interest in electing the right people to control the outcomes you expect. Then, and only then, if you don’t get what you think you deserve as a citizen, complain. At least now you will know who to complain to, and why they should be listening to you!

Instead of turning on the TV and watching a political debate that is anything but, spend the time instead on more worthwhile study about the very governance you are paying for.

Now that should make you grateful. And me too!

December 15, 2015