America Celebrates A Birthday

Half empty or half full?

There’s much to fret over, if you’re the fretting type. Unemployment is stuck above 8%. The economy is shaky and vulnerable to ominous developments in Europe. Politically, the country has never been more divided. The recent Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act enraged half the country, gave cause to gloat to the other half, and gave unity and closure to no one.

But if perchance you’re not the fretting type, if you prefer to see our collective glass halfway full, then there’s encouragement for you, too.

The economy is showing unmistakable signs of improvement. Housing prices are up all across the country, which is bound to boost other sectors. Eurozone leaders have just reached an agreement to protect their banks (without the growth-killing austerity that earlier agreements called for), so it looks like the worst-case European scenarios are averted.

Oh, and that Supreme Court decision? There’s cause to celebrate there, too — regardless of how you feel about the ACA.

How awesome is it that We the People willingly give final say to, and accept the judgment of, a branch of government to which we’ve granted no enforcement or budgetary powers?

On July 4, 1776, our nation broke with the ancient tradition of might makes right, of taxation without representation. Twelve years later we enshrined a radical and untested form of government: representative democracy and the rule of law.

Two hundred and twenty-four years after that, it’s still working. Not only that, it’s brought us unprecedented prosperity and has made us a model for the world.

So is the glass half empty or half full? Is our country on the right track or hopelessly off the rails? Come July 5, we say go back to being as pessimistic as you like.

But on July 4, please join us in celebrating all that’s good, hopeful, and transformative about the USA. Happy birthday, America, from all of us at Caler&Company.

The C4:

1. If you choose to see the negative, there’s lots of that to see. The worldwide economy and our domestic politics are undeniably worrisome.
2. But there’s cause for optimism, isn’t there? The economy isn’t breaking any recovery speed records, but it is improving. We’ve just seen a momentous Supreme Court decision and we’re moving toward a momentous election — both are testaments to the enduring strength of our Constitution.
3. May we humbly suggest that you spend this Fourth of July setting aside pessimism, setting aside partisanship, and simply celebrating the American ideal?
4. Oh, what the heck. Why not spend ALL of July doing that?