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Governing Preventively, Not Reparatively |
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Written by will samson
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Sunday, 28 January 2007 |
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One of my greatest sadnesses about the American invasion of Iraq is that there were many people offering well-reasoned critiques that suggested, at the least, we should slow down and be more deliberate. Now we have a big mess on our hands that could have been prevented. As a nation we seem too quick to make mistakes, perhaps believing we can innovate or muscle our way out of any problem. Rather than prevent problems, we create them and wring our collective hands looking for a solution. This is a way of governing that is not only unsustainable, but should be contrary to anyone seeking to live by Judeo-Christian principles. Scripture speaks often and at great length of the need for wise rulers who plan for the future. There are a number of issues that, it seems to me, demonstrate a lack of preventative thinking. Here are three - a short-term, a mid-term and a long-term issue - that come to mind as examples of what I am speaking about: Short-Term - Iran: The rhetoric from the Bush Administration regarding Iran is sounding increasingly like that which led up to the invasion of Iraq. Will we have the foresight to learn from a mistake for which we are still suffering the consequences, or will we rush into another ill-advised foreign policy crisis?
Mid-Term - Ethanol: It seems to me that one of the least healthy domestic policy moves of 20th Century America was to encourage, through subsidies, the growth of products for which we did not have markets, with corn being one of the most glaring examples. Michael Pollan does a brilliant job expanding on this in The Omnivore's Dilemma. Now, in our rush to innovate our way out of the problem of the depletion of natural resources, many in Washington are encouraging the use of ethanol, a product that still uses twice the energy it creates. Will we have the discipline to restrain our use of resources, or will we once again fund inefficiency?
- Long-Term - National Debt: As a nation we are accumulating debt at a record rate, in the belief that there is a brighter future ahead. But what if, as was suggested in this post by Nathan Gardels, the world markets are shifting away from the United States? Will the American government have the strength of resolve to prevent further erosion of the American position in the world's economy, or will we continue spending like a gambler who believes his house-beating hand is right around the corner?
Original content by: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Willzhead/~3/82943452/governing_preve.html.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 05 February 2007 )
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