If Our Leaders Ran The Government Like A Business

During this presidential election, I have realized something. Most of the men running for office (president, congress, or otherwise) are successful businessmen. Many have built businesses from the ground up. Others have worked their way up through the establishment into positions of power. Most of the candidates have managed teams of hundreds, or even thousands to meet revenue goals, make profits, stay within budgets, and remain competitive. They’ve made very difficult decisions, and they’ve made compromises for the sake of progress.

What would happen if these same men ran the government the same way they ran their businesses?

Would we have trillions of dollars of debt? Or, would the budget be balanced?

Would we be investing our time, energy, and money in a bad investment (an endless war) that is weakening and dividing our nation, and draining our bank account, or would we cut our losses, and bring our troops home?

Would we be making enemies with our vendors (other countries) by setting up camp to monitor them in their respective offices without their permission?

Would the executive team be trying to find a compromise to tough problems, or simply trying to stop the progress of those with differing viewpoints?

At this point, after what they’ve done in office, would these men be employed? I know if I gave them a performance review, they wouldn’t.

A huge problem with how the country is being run is that nobody feels a sense of responsibility or accountability. We’re electing leaders to enter into the most powerful and sacred positions in our country, and then allowing them to do whatever they want with a limitless budget, no rules, and no goals.

Then, we, as the board of directors, are not doing anything about it when these people fail us.

We have the Constitution laid plainly before us as a guidepost. It has withstood the test of time, and yet few of us are willing to read it, let alone hold those making decisions for our country accountable to it.

The mess we are in is as much our fault as it is the fault of Congress or the President. Yes, they are standing in the way of progress, and making very poor, corrupt decisions. But, we’ve done nothing to stop it.

These leaders are accountable to us! They report to us!

I think sometimes they forget who gave them their office, and who pays their paycheck.

They think we’re not watching. And too often, they are right. If you ask me, it’s time for some performance reviews. It’s time to empty out some offices. It’s time to set some real goals. Measurable goals. Goals we can use to hold these people accountable.  Then, we need to hold these people responsible for reaching those goals.

Many people are wound up about the presidential election right now. Yeah, it’s a big deal… but let’s be honest with ourselves… until we can de-polarize our congress, and fill it with people that will play nice together; until we can find tolerance and acceptance for people with different viewpoints and beliefs than our own, we are going in one direction… and that direction is bankruptcy, collapse, and extinction.

The irony is that so many people are oblivious to it… most of all, the ones who can control it.

I’ve been puppy shopping, and I WANT ALL THE PUPPIES!

I’m amazed at how busy I’ve become in these first few weeks of the year. Finding balance in life is impossible, isn’t it? Every time I focus on improving something, I feel like it’s at the expense of something else. Getting out of a rut like that is just not an easy thing to do.

Maybe adding another responsibility, like a puppy, will help me do less. *eye roll*

On a more positive note, at least I’m pushing myself to grow and develop. 2012 is quickly turning into a good year. A year of new. A year of change. A year of opportunity. A year of smart decisions, and big things.

Ok, 2012 never left.

Well, it was never really here in the first place. So I guess the title of this post should read, “2012 Has Arrived, And So Have I… Again.”

It seems like I commit to this blog in spurts. I’ll write consistently for months on end only to abandon my dear blog (and my dear readers) for months on end (a year in this particular case).

I blame Tumblr for my absence.

I’ve found that although Tumbling can be a delight – even an addiction – it has also slain my desire to write with a great slaughter.

I miss writing.

I miss it like I miss a good night’s sleep on a business trip. (Yes. I go on business trips now.)

Here are some other goals I made for myself for the year of 2012. One goal not on the list that is of note is that I will probably own a dog this year… I realized my desire for one during lunch today when I visited a pet store with puppies. Adorable, lonely, playful puppies. Puppies with sad eyes.

I want one.