Now that we have a new year, I've been wondering what it will hold. Economic issues have been temporarily displaced on the front page by terrorist threats inside our boarders. We can expect both these major issues to consume our attention and that of national leadership through the year.
My sense is that, after a year in office, we are seeing some of the shine wear off the idealism of the new administration. Reality and polls will do that. I think we will see some modification of administrative position regarding the war against terror...the first being acknowledgment that it really is a war. Some of that change is contained in the recent air safety discussions. I expect more to come. We are being probed by an enemy which will not stop...something which cannot be ignored by a responsible administration.
I hope for some modification of policy regarding economic recovery. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that expansion of government does not drive economy and that expansion of business does. The administration and congress would do well to immediately scrap the stimulus approach first employed; stop any further distribution of stimulus funding and the resulting debt; and create tax incentives for the creation and stimulation of small business. Profit is not evil. Profit creates jobs and drives economy. Through the year, we will see an increasing number of congressional candidates who understand that basic principle positioning for slots in the next round of elections.
Unemployment will continue to be an issue through 2010. The growth of unemployment rates has peaked, but there is not yet a down movement in the rates. We may see a slight down trend develop by the fourth quarter of the year. Even so, families with primary earners out work will continue to make decisions on purchasing...including college education purchases.
There is some light in all of this. Tough times breed tough people. Thinking Americans are making decisions about life-styles. We will gradually see entitlement replaced by innovation, and that is the seed of recovery.
One other thing...God is working among people in a manner that we have not seen in a while. It happens when folk become hungry and afraid. We realize that the arrogant thought that "I can." is insufficient for the times and that it must be replaced by, "I can't, but God can."
As long as we remain hungry and afraid, there will be continued turning to God. My prayer is that a true cultural and spiritual revival will emerge in our country which is unrelated to economy.
More later.
