We Want It All.....NOW

I read this really interesting article in the NY Times recently about the Montana governor. His state’s budget is balanced (only one of two in the nation), and he was discussing how he and the people of Montana achieved this. He shot down cynics who said it was only possible because his state had such a small population. He explained it was simply a matter of discipline. That’s right…..discipline. This made me think about my parents.


My parents are rocking-awesome savers and planners. I remember learning about saving from a very early age. Ten percent of my income goes to tithe, ten percent to savings, ten percent to retirement, and the rest is for me to live on. My parents set a great example of living a life of delayed gratification; if they wanted something, they actually saved for it instead of just putting it on credit! Imagine that! In an era so hypnotized by instant gratification, I think this is a lesson we Americans desperately need.

Consider this on a national scale. We want first-class, state of the art, nothing but the best education, health care, technology, streets, buildings, public transportation, farming practices, space programs, military programs…..I could go on forever. In fact, not only do we want these things, we demand them. We have become so used to getting exactly what we want exactly when we want it that we have forgotten about a little thing called consequence. We (as a nation and as individuals) are outrageously in debt, living beyond our means, and still demanding more, more, more. To put this in perspective: I read an article this morning about recent criticisms of Senator Kerry’s environmental plan. One of the criticisms is that it will inhibit the ability of major corporations to make as much money because of environmental regulations. Seriously?!?! Which do you want more: to make money or to survive on this planet? This is exactly the sort of insanity I am talking about. We want it all, and this is simply not possible (nor is it healthy).

Interestingly enough, I see the same thing here in my Peace Corps service. America has set a dangerous and poor example. People here want an “American-quality” life, and they want it now. I can discuss and lecture all day about the prices we have paid for such choices, about the detriments this life-style has created for us and others, about the impossibility of it lasting, but to no avail. Someone else is living like that, and they want it too.

So how do we combat this? Many say it is impossible to reverse, and some days I agree. I see so many greed-crazed Americans that I think it is impossible, too. Then I think of the governor of Montana, of my parents, and of other righteous families I know that are living a life of good stewardship, and I have hope. Lamar and I have made a commitment to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. What can you do?