Our government doesn't just regulate business, it enables it. Business is the source of productivity and our standard of living. We have a lot of strengths to build upon. Good, smart regulation is important to set minimum standards and enabling it is important to foster that dynamism essential to a growing economy that provides the jobs and opportunities we all want to see.
Are we so focused on our entitlements and our arguments that we've forgotten what made us great — that is, hard work, math and science, technical skills, a dynamic economy, a sense of purpose, relying on ourselves and not blaming others, taking personal ownership of our future, and being able to individually act in our self-interest while not forgetting our collective purpose?
Some people in the world, and some countries even, believe our time has passed. That a once great economic and military power has taken the first steps on the path to decline; that we cannot resolve our internal differences to make the difficult choices needed as a society; that having achieved greatness, we've forgotten what got us here … and can no longer act. It has been proven over 200 years to be the most sustainable and responsive to change, appealing to the basic need for freedom and inclusion that resides in every person.
We must never forget, though, that the long-term stability of our system and our belief in the enduring strength of our system cannot be an excuse to not act when confronted by great changes in the world. We shouldn't wait for the crisis to focus on our collective purpose. We need to start acting now. We need government that pulls together, rather than one that pulls apart.
Paul R. Miller
U.S. Plastic Equipment LLC
Machining and Fabrication
Mantua, Ohio
