Complaining
A common response to the question, “Do you have any complaints?” is, “No, what good would it do?” While somewhat cynical, it does have great meaning. Complaining and whining require fuel: energy, time, mental and physical work. We only have so much of that fuel in any given day. Our “batteries” can become exhausted and drain. It’s far better to put that fuel into resilience, “bouncing forward,” and making the best of the hand you’re dealt. That’s what my most successful corporate and individual clients do: They deal with reality rather than bemoaning it.
Vigilantism
Many years ago, a Japan Airlines plane crashed with great loss of life because of a structural/mechanical failure. Although not his fault nor the company’s the CEO resigned, because it happened on his “watch.” I always respected that.
However, the man who killed the CEO on United Health is simply a murderer, no matter how great his unhappiness or unfair treatment with that company. If the fire department fails to put out a fire fast enough, should someone kill the chief? If a school isn’t producing sufficient learning for kids to get into their college of choice, do we kill the principal? If you inadvertently (or advertently) cut someone off on the road, can the other driver justifiably kill you in his or her road rage?
If you agree then welcome to Lord of the Flies, without law or order, and only the most dishonest and calculating survive.
Leaf Blowers
The latest kerfluffle in many municipalities is over gas-powered leaf blowers and other gardening equipment thusly powered. The intent is to remove the pollutants from the air and lower the noise level. That’s commendable in isolation, but when you consider the fact that vast numbers of blue collar jobs and small businesses rely on these, it looks somewhat different. The equipment would have to be abandoned with no resale value, new equipment purchased, and batteries for electric equipment need to be frequently changed during the day, requiring more of them, and more pollution in creating and disposing of them. These prices would either put these people out of business or drive up the costs to homeowners considerably.
We haven’t shut down the tobacco business, with its clear relationship to illnesses. We aren’t planning to shut down the oil business to enhance the attraction of electric vehicles. Similarly, we shouldn’t be sanguine about hurting these small businesses.
De Tocqueville, in Democracy in America, called this the “tyranny of the majority.” That was in 1835.
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