Excess as a symptom

Political events this year have unmasked several excesses. The excesses are symptoms of deep unresolved problems. The unmasking, although gratifying, is not the solution to any of the problems that span politics, economics, and society. What we see is politics and economics based purely on egoism and self interest does not work. That still leaves open certain big questions.

Will this be a country where politics is dominated by those with the wealth and power to promote their special interest to the exclusion of others? Will this be country where prosperity is for a few and poverty and economic uncertainty is for the many? Will this be a society controlled by a dogmatic minority, or will it be a society that recognizes pluralism and the right to choose one’s values through conscience and rational discourse?

It took a radical agenda to run the train off the tracks. It will take a radical agenda to lift the train back on the tracks and point it in the right direction.

The inability to control the excesses makes me pessimistic.