OpEdNews - Page 2 of Article: How Do YOU Measure Success "" and how does Washington Measure It?

In 2001, the average price for a gallon of gasoline, nationwide was $1.35. We've spent the last three years, (so this is not just a market spike or economic aberration,) averaging $2.87 a gallon.

The price of bread is up 147%, the price of eggs are up 154%, and the price of milk is up 181% in that same time period.

Yet the cost of living raise for social security only went up 2.3% this January 1.

Makes you wonder, how anyone in government measures success, doesn’t it?

Let’s take the issue of War and Peace. Is success achieved by finishing and ending conflict, investment of treasure, and bloodshed - or is it achieved by prolonging it? On the strategic or the operational level to most Americans success is only achieved when it is ended. War is an unacceptable and bloody mess that is only tolerated as a last resort (not a first) and then only for a short period of time. The election of 2006 was supposedly about just that point, but this administration in Washington has insured they did not listen, and in fact, communicated that they knew far more and better than we, the lowly electorate. They knew far more about prosecuting a War and demanded that it continue in order that they might escape political embarrassment it seems.

Not. Success isn’t measured in Washington by ending either the Wars in Afghanistan or Iraq, butis better measured by maintaining them in perpetuity and without paying for them as we go. Who gains from that? Is it the defense contractors or America? We already know who the losers are: the Mothers and Fathers, Husbands and Wives, Sons and Daughters. I might note that recently I got a request for assistance from someone who had already been to these bloody political civil wars twice, released to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) and is now being recalled at the age of 47.

These wars have disrupted his family but most notably his three children for the past five years.

They haven't had a Dad for baseball, that first date, or major emotional challenge. Has that price also been paid by the families of the Congress and staff of those not in the business of War? As a 28 year career Army Officer I think I have a right to ask this?

In the issue of sound economic policy who gains by a weakening dollar, by fewer and lower paying jobs, by a vanishing manufacturing base, or exporting business investments abroad?

With every investment dollar we export we also export our best and brightest ideas that might just keep our nation technologically and industrially competitive for the next generation. Meanwhile we lag behind in energy research to find a better alternative to the internal combustion engine for example. Why? Because we are controlled by the lobbyists for the energy companies and the engine companies that now have monopolistic control of our technology. But Europe, and Asia, continue their move forward.

Will our next crisis be trying to catch up to Japan on their more efficient automobiles, or will it be to simply try to provide meaningful work to buy bread for our citizens. You choose the scenario and play it out to either your Republican or Democratic fantasies.

It seems incomprehensible to me, that anyone in their right mind, having ever balanced a checkbook, could ascertain that we have met success economically in this decade except that 5% of Americans who have done so on the backs of the rest of us.

There is no issue quite as stark or brash as that of fiscal discipline to me. It’s as simple as measuring whether or not the books are in the red or the black. Well, excuse me for being so tart as to say that what we see angers every one of us; unless we are so stupefied that we actually believe someone other than us poor working stiffs will be made to pay for all of this overspending, overindulgence and pilferage by those supposedly at the helm in Washington. But the real cost – the true cost isn't always measured by how much is stolen or pilfered by the help. Often it is better measured by how often the help let others steal from us with a wink, a nod, or just complacency.

No, dear readers, what is wrong in Washington is the same thing that goes wrong in business and even in homes from time to time. The measurements for success (and therefore the priorities,) are purely out of kilter.

It is purely unacceptable to think that stacking the courts provides this nation anything more than a minority approach to governing.

It is unacceptable to think that we can go on forever killing people, invading other sovereignties without due cause and without provocation as THE super power, without creating other superpowers who feel the need to tame us since they view us as the World bully.

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