It's Obvious - Just Pick up the Piano

I seldom write articles that are strictly political in nature. When I do I usually offend enough people to put a real chill on this activity. However, in viewing the current national and international scene I feel compelled to address some serious issues from the perspective of a non-expert. Since I am not an “expert” I will be unable to develop some convoluted way to confuse these matters beyond recognition.

I am reminded of a time when my wife and I were moving our furniture to our new residence. We had some help from a couple of fellows, one a real worker and the other, a supervisor. Dee’s piano was in the front of the moving van and the last item to be removed and carried into the house. Even though it is a spinet, it is still extremely heavy and difficult to handle. Supervisor looked at the piano, analyzed the situation, and began the dissertation. His directions became so convoluted that I thought we would have to bring in an engineering team to move this single item. In frustration I looked at Worker and said, “Would you pick up the other end of this piano?” He did so and the two of us carried it into the house and carefully put it in place. Supervisor was still verbally analyzing everything when the music was ready to play. Sometimes the obvious is the most difficult to see and the time comes when someone needs to say, “Just pick up the piano. The strategy is just not that difficult.”

As I said, I am not an expert but I do have as much expertise as most professional entertainers, politicians, and news commentators. The fact that I interact with “real” people that live in the “real” world gives me a bit of advantage over the above mentioned individuals. Real people, those who have to solve problems on a daily basis, generally use a wise process. They identify the problem, determine legitimate solutions, and count the cost of implementing those solutions. Often in examining multiple problems they recognize that there is a common solution as these problems are interrelated.

Unless you just popped out of a cocoon, you will see the same problems as I do. You will most likely prioritize them differently but you will still identify each of them as significant. This list is limited but I see a common solution that will, to a considerable degree, solve all of them.

1. Terrorism is a threat to all American citizens.
2. The Middle East and Near East are exploding with revolutionary activity.
3. The United States military is spread thin as it provides protection for American interests.
4. Taxes at the local, state, and federal level are too high.
5. Revenue for government programs is too low.
6. Inflation is beginning to have a greater negative impact on American lives.
7. Unemployment and underemployment are undermining the American economy and the American dream.

As we look at this list of problems, is there a single solution to solve them? Is the solution affordable as we count the cost? I believe the answer to both of these questions is, “YES.”

In the next article we will look at how to ‘pick up the piano’.