The Loss of Goals
by
Matt Giwer (c) 1994

      Decades ago we had a nation that could transformed itself. Singly, together, even with the government leading the way we did great things for their time. The Erie Canal, the railroads, the Interstates, men on the moon: it may be premature but the epitaph is, the days of grand enterprises are over.
      No grand undertaking was unanimously supported nor did any of them come without great cost not only in dollars but personally. When we grew the infrastructure of our country we grew the nation. Starting with a piddling group of ex-colonies near bankruptcy, the nation grew its farms and its industries to the richest and most powerful nation on earth in hardly one hundred and fifty years.
      In absence of serious threat of war most powerful status is unnecessary to consider. In fact we are still the richest only a few of the oldest merchantile countries enjoy a comparable standard of living for their citizens. However there has come a change in the country.
      As a people we have ceased looking toward growth and expansion and new horizons. Rather we have turned toward living off of what exists. We have come to a time of saying, we have worked hard enough, it is time to retire.
      The signs are everywhere. We no longer look upon business as an opportunity but as a source of guaranteed employment and financial stability. Business is looked at as a resource for social needs rather than as a means of improving the country.
      The regulations we all support for business make it difficult to start new business. The taxes we support for business are sources of funds for local projects. Yet business is only a middle man collecting taxes in the price of goods and services from us and giving it back to us as the government.
      We tax ourselves and yet hold we are doing good. This belief is so strong that even suggesting it often results in an accusation of being pro-business, as though there is something intrinsically wrong with being pro-business.
      The consequence of this change in attitude is we no longer have grand schemes to better the country. The vision to change the country is expensive, is fought with every law and regulation the country can muster, and it is not appreciated.
      Take a trivial example. The nation's railroads, at least in the northeast could be revived to a viable competition with the airlines. Were that to happen the airlines would improve also and we would all be winners. Yet to do so the railroads must comply with every law, rule and regulation of a mature industry, an industry we are trying to consume as our national retirement fund.
      The age of great accomplishments for this country are over. There will be no more projects with goals that strike even ourselves with their audacity. In the 60's we dedicated ourselves to walking on the moon by the end of the decade. Today, we might get around to going to Mars some day if something doesn't distract us.
      We are preparing to usher in the new millennium with a "good enough" attitude toward our future. We are calling a close to the end of great achievement. It is our attitude that has changed, not out abilities.