What Do You Want?/Economy #1

The beauty of seeing and experiencing things we don't want is that they point us, when we stop to think about it for a second, in the direction of what we do want. Thus, it should be relatively easy today to sketch out the basics of what we would, as Americans, prefer to see with regard to our economy and the related subjects of our federal budget, taxes, and how we do commerce. And remember, none of us needs to be a Nobel prize-winning economist in order to have a say in what we would like to see. Lord knows, I'm not one, which will be made obvious when you read the following sketch, but I and you and all of us have a vested interest in seeing our economy do a whole lot better than what it's doing now and it's never too soon to hold the vision. Remember, it's all in an ideal world where nobody can say no and money's no object.

Here, then, is "economy sketch, draft one:"

• Our economy is healthy and thriving. Economists of many stripes agree that employment levels are consistently where they should be to support sustainable growth. Those of us who choose to work are working and we are secure in knowing that good jobs are virtually always available in America. As such, we are, collectively, relaxed about our abilities to earn a living wage, regardless of where we are and for whom we are working. We easily function in the ebb and flow of this powerful energy.
  
• America is a place where entrepreneurship is encouraged and rewarded. Incentives to develop new technologies and new industries and to hire workers are part and parcel of the spirit of innovation that we treasure. We count on those who are willing to invest time and dollars in the businesses and industries of the future and we make it as easy for them to do so as possible. Ultimately, we rely on truly free markets for the final verdict on the efforts of our entrepreneurs.
  
• In America, we are citizens before we are consumers and we place our collective needs ahead of the needs of particular businesses or industries. Thus, if an industry like, for example, coal mining (and production and consumption) is seen as detrimental to our overall physical and/or environmental health (as many argue that it is in the form of acid rain, deforestation, and black lung disease), a cooperative spirit of public-private partnership helps us to transition from industries and jobs that do harm into industries and jobs that contribute to our overall health and well being like farming and mountain restoration. Our willingness to be nimble in the face of such circumstances is reflected back to us as we trust an equally nimble government to act, when needed, as a facilitator of such transitions, not as the driver of them.
• We know that what we do in America affects every other economy on the planet and while our capitalist system continues to perform at a consistently high level and is viewed by many as an example of a system that works well, we do not impose our ways on others. Rather, we look for opportunities to support the growth of other economies as we do our own.
  
• Our tax system is fair and balanced. We are confident that our tax dollars - be they from the contributions of individuals, families, or businesses - are at rates that are equitable and reasonable.
  
• Needless to say, we don't all agree on everything. But year in and year out, we are confident that our federal budget reflects the priorities of the majority of us. Where we choose to spend our collective dollars is (and must be) a positive statement of our values. We recognize that needs shift and our budgets reflect our changing needs as well. Congressional appropriators are tuned in to collective needs and those who care to monitor how our federal dollars are spent can do so easily. Efficiency and honesty are hallmarks of how we manage our federal budgets.

Some questions to consider in response:

• What, if anything, has been left out of your vision of the ideal American economy?
• What are you willing to change in your personal financial life such that you can see it reflected in our collective financial life?
• What thoughts do you have about our ability to create an ideal economy?
  

NOTE: This series of "What Do You Want, America?" posts began on November 2, 2010, if you are looking for some context.