Are We Hacking At Branches?

After more than a year of the Great Recession, many are pointing fingers at politicians, bankers, Wall Street tycoons, lobbyists, and at their neighbors for making financially irresponsible decisions. And what have we gained? Little of consequence.

 

Many seem to believe the problem doesn’t lie with us, but with a vague and indeterminate “them.” Few are willing to take personal responsibility for the nation’s problems and find it much easier to lament their plight, throwing up their hands in defeat. But they fail to acknowledge that: No single raindrop believes it is to blame for the flood.

 

Neither politician nor lobbyist sees their complicity in the corruption of our political system. The teen stealing a candy bar doesn’t view his actions as a symptom of growing dishonesty. The unfaithful spouse cannot envision endangering the sanctity of marriage. The classroom cheat, careless driver, dishonest businessman; all see their actions as separate and unique. But it is the combined actions of individuals that create our society.

 

And it’s not just our deeds; by failing to take action we are also responsible. When we—each of us individually—fail to hold politicians and business leaders accountable; when we fail to contact them to express our concerns, we encourage dishonesty and indolence. While only a small percentage of voters ever contact their senators or representatives, 100% of lobbyists do. And few take the time or effort to “vote with their feet,” and refuse to patronize corrupt businesses, while those same businesses spread their tentacles ever deeper into our daily lives.

 

Henry David Thoreau said: “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” Are we just “hacking at branches?” Have we misdirected out energy, noisily shaking our fists while avoiding our responsibility? Let’s strike the root and truly make a difference.

 

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