Trust

So much of life is trust. We trust the sun will rise in the morning, even if clouds block its view. We trust birds will sing and chirp. We trust bed will welcome us each night and sleep soundly. We trust family will care about us, as we care for them.

Our friends can rely on us to be honest, true, and supportive. We rely on friends for the same.

When I buy groceries, I know what to expect in the package when opened. I also expect the store to replace the product if the expectation does not measure up. I trust the people I work with; we have done so for years and know them well. I trust they trust me in return.

When deciding on a large purchase (complicated, costly, long-term, etc.), I rely on documentation and legal protocols to protect me. In return, the other party to the deal can do the same. We share trust in the legal protocols.

Negotiating with others on matters of mutual importance is another venue where trust plays an important role. Upset any part of the trust relationship, and the relationship itself is poisoned.

That is the situation today in Congress. Among citizens and their institutions. Their government is held in question. Trust? Not so much now.

And that is a sad reality.

We need to fix this. Now.

For many years, our Congress has played games with itself. Political parties focused on power relationships instead of shared goals of desired outcomes for the nation. For whatever reason, the power became THE means to the end. Now we are at the end of the compromises that build progress toward a shared objective.

The objective is lost. The power struggle is the only thing working, not the desired ends of the people.

Trust. Is. Golden. Trust in a co-worker. A family member. A legislator in the next seat. In a president or senator or congressman. 

Even state political parties participate in this game. Watch news conferences of the governor of any state as he/she deals with the unknowns of the COVID pandemic. Decisions are parsed and shaded for any number of reasons. Mostly the ‘public’ does not like restrictions of masks, social distancing and giving up restaurant and bar life and schools for the kids. But what if those same people were in the position of making decisions that would affect the health and safety of millions of people? What actions would they make? What decisions would they impose on others?

Same with our new President. A few weeks ago, Trump could do no wrong; now the shoe is on the other foot. 

This is childish behavior. It has serious consequences if left to run its course. We must change this.

What we all need is an end to COVID. So, let us do everything possible to defeat the pandemic.

Next, let us get the kids back in school so we can trust their education is back on track. A bonus: parents can then return to work without the kids home all the time!

Let us work out a return to work as we figure out the new normal. The economy should recover more quickly after that. It will take time to heal from a year of horrendous upset. Give it time. It will do what it does naturally.

Then, let our elected representatives sit down and identify the things we agree on and work towards common goals. Some disagreement is natural but focus on the long-term results we hope for. Compromise as necessary to gain a foothold in solving our common problems. Let that working relationship percolate a bit until trust returns firmly to the relationship.

Let us tackle the ideological issues later. They are not life and death issues now. Trusts is.

February 2, 2021