I’ve given a lot of thought to
what happened in our recent national election. It’s obvious that many people
voted for change. That was a theme when Barack Obama was elected in 2008 and
for Donald Trump this year. So what kind of change are people looking for?
Those who have suffered economic downturns are seeking to get back to where
they were in the past. This is a valid concern.
But there is another dimension to
seeking change. It is based on nostalgia. My wife and I go through this at
times. We lament that as kids we had the ability to go out and roam through our
neighborhoods from morning until dusk. Kids can’t do this anymore. We miss
those days. When I started working, many people in the middle class had career
paths with good opportunities for advancement and raises. We were able to
purchase a house early in our marriage. Today careers are more chaotic, many
people are received no raises for years or minimal ones at best, and it is
extremely difficult for young couples to buy a starter home.
This emotional pull to the nostalgia
of a better time can overwhelm the logical perspective that many things have
improved in our country. We need to find the balance of positive change that
moves the country forward with inclusion and a impetus to improve conditions for
all members of society.
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