Tomorrow We Vote
At a luncheon for lawyers last week I overheard an attorney at the next table exclaim “If the Phillies win the World Series and <he named his candidate> wins the election for president, call me and we’ll celebrate. Otherwise, I will be too depressed to talk.” I imagined this man with the blinds pulled shut on Wednesday if his hopes were not fulfilled. We talked afterward and found we shared some common opinions.
Well, the Phillies have now won the World Series and only one thing is left to be done. Tomorrow we vote.
Interestingly, more than one person has expressed the view why would someone want the job of President at a time such as this. Over the weekend, the media reported us to be in a condition of “deflation” – one where price reductions result as products fail to be purchased. If a “deflationary spiral” followed, more workers could be laid off due to decreased demand. All of this links into the current Wall Street, mortgage, and credit crises. Consumers with less available cash and those faced with mortgage foreclosure are less able to buy even where they would like to.
Fortunately, in Chester County, Pennsylvania we seem to be less seriously affected than in some regions. One of my clients, a Realtor from Florida reports an average of 150 new mortgage foreclosures per day in her area.
When faced with uncertainty, there are some positives to keep in mind now and for the next four years.
Crisis Can Pull People Together. After the horrible attacks of September 11, Americans will recall members of Congress assembling on the steps of the Capitol Building and Democrats and Republicans together singing “God Bless America.” This spirit of cooperation lingered for some time later and needs to be recaptured.
We are not at the Great Depression today although there will be challenges. Sharing, enjoyment of simple pleasures, and a common purpose seem to be what pull people together in time of common need.
Community Makes a Difference. The expression “No man is an island” reveals a critical fact. A crisis shared is less devastating than one experienced alone.
A story I heard years ago bears this out. When an earthquake struck an Italian town, it leveled many buildings to the ground. One elderly woman, caught in the rubble for days, in her emotional state refused to be pulled out. When her neighbors approached and told her what they had lost, she allowed them to bring her to the surface. She knew she was not alone.
Bends In the Road Help Us to Realize What Is Important. My friend, the fellow attorney, expressed his philosophy. Many of us who have investments have taken losses but we will rebuild together. In the meanwhile, money is not a primary consideration. Family, relationships, service are all obviously much more important. Even as to those looking to build wealth, optimists are at work. One of my clients pointed out that this is a great time for dollar cost averaging.
Detours Force Creative Solutions. I am not one to argue for crisis but reverses when faced creatively can have favorable results. Years ago John Kennedy pointed out that the Chinese word for crisis consists of two characters – one represents danger and the other opportunity. Examples are everywhere. Many scientific breakthroughs were made when experiments went wrong in the lab. When the original City of London, England burned to the ground in 1666, it was rebuilt to be much larger and stronger.
Having stated what to look for in the next four years, here are developments we could do without.
We Could Do Without More “Yes” People. Whoever occupies the White House would do well to reverse a perceived tendency of looking only to others who will confirm his preconceived beliefs.
A friend of mine who is a financial planner uses the expression “Mini-Me’s.”
A leader who is ready only to listen to others who agree deprives himself of the opportunity to know the full range of alternatives. Not all answers are equally valid but the world is too complex now to listen to only one. If there are creative solutions, there has to be a leader at the top who will listen to them.
We Could Do Without Unnecessary Division. There is enough to bicker about without finding cause for dissension. Most people want answers, not blame.
Having said this, the Phillies have won the World Series and now it is time to get up, get out and vote.
About the Author Janet Colliton
Esquire, Colliton Law Associates, P.C. Janet Colliton has practiced law for over 38 years, 37 of them in Chester County, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Her practice, Colliton Law Associates, PC, is limited to elder law, Medicaid, including advice, applications and appeals, and other benefits planning including Veterans benefits, life care and special needs planning, guardianships, retirement, and estate planning and administration.