LYNCH PEN: Leaders need to set an example of personal sacrifice

— Somewhere in this seemingly endless circle of increasing prices and unreliable government statistics, there is a warning. When and where we can hope to see some semblance of sanity I do not know, but surely sooner or later we will have someone put politics aside and put our nation on a path to stability. Our current president made promises that no one could reasonably expect to fulfill in his quest for the White House.

Whether the voters’ selfish desire to see personal benefits in those promises resulted in his election, or his dynamic speeches resonated with more voters than McCain’s lackluster delivery doesn’t mean much at this point. The 99 percent outnumber the 1 percent in potential voters but the 1 percent have the wealth and the Super PACs are going to. influence our next presidential election using that wealth.

But, unfortunately in my opinion that is only part of our problem. A recent newspaper article discussed tuition increases for Northwest Arkansas Community College. They may be needed urgently and it is my belief that NWACC has been one of the greatest assets to our area in my lifetime, but can we afford to add to the cost of college training at this particular point in our country’s recovery? Our nation’s unemployment is much greater than the artificial number released by Washington statisticians who are trying to influence the populace with numbers that omit the chronically unemployed and underemployed. We have many in our area still feeling the effects of the housing crash atthe same time our employers are seeking people to fill positions that require training beyond a high school diploma. How can we train or retrain the unemployed if the system continues to increase the cost of the education?

Having had the benefit of the GI Bill, my degree from the University of Arkansas was partially funded by the government. I believe during my working years I returned the financial assistance by extra taxes paid to our government. There are certain economic advantages to furthering one’s education that can benefit society far more than welfare checks and food stamps.

That statement is not intended to minimize the need for government assistance.

Because helping the unemployed during periods when jobs are scarce or not available, is necessary. However, helping those persons retrain for new careers or further their training in their field of expertise may be a better long-term solution for our economy. Haven’t we been told something about “teaching someone to fish,” rather than “giving them a fish”?

Furthering one’s education provides for economic opportunities otherwise unavailable but it provides far more than financial compensation. The benefits that come from personal growth are equally important even if they are difficult to measure in dollars and cents. We frequently hearthe stories of the computer company started by the college-drop out and many young people fail to hear the whole story. When someone drops out of Harvard to start a company, they most likely come from a family that could afford an Ivy League school before they started the company.

The rags-to-riches stories sound good and they do still exist, but the people who want to duplicate MicroSoft need to find out a bit more about the founder’s family background before they drop-out. Having a father in banking opens lots of doors.

If our nation is going to continue to be a leader in this world, we need people who dream big and start the MicroSofts but they need a well-trained workforce who can help them grow the business. A lift-truck operator who takes pride in his work and contributes to the daily operation of the company is an asset and a valuable employee. However, if he or she wants to continue to grow professionally they need an affordable opportunity to achieve their goals.

Somehow we have to get beyond politics and have a leader who sets an example of self-sacrifice and helps America grow strong internally as well as internationally. A leader who sees the whole picture and will appoint a supportive team that gains respect through dedication and honesty and that will make the tough decisions the future requiresof our great nation.

When I listen to our current president and the four remaining Republican candidates, my desire is to hear someone, anyone, separate themselves from the status quo and talk about “ sacrifice.” Our nation seems to be obsessed with personal wealth and being entertained. No one seems to understand that the nation as a whole needs to look at what we are losing by re-electing senators and representatives who allow personal pride and self interests to affect every aspect of their decision making.

Our now deceased President John F. Kennedy had some personal faults, but he left us with a great challenge when he said “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” We need to take that as a very personal challenge.

If we could elect a president who would set a standard of personal sacrifice and establish an example for the financial community, the congressional delegation, the unions and their leadership, and all of the other influential bodies in our country, I believe the rest of us would gladly follow. Where are we as individuals going to benefit if we build up our personal wealth but have a nation with no soul? Someone has to grow the food and someone has to build the factories, but we are on a collision course with economic disaster if we keep running a federal budget deficit to bail out Wall Street banks, subsidize manufacturing companies and to pay for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.

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Editor’s note: Leo Lynch, a native of Benton County has deep roots in northwest Arkansas. He is a retired industrial engineer and former Justice of the Peace. He can be contacted at prtnews@ nwaonline.com.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 02/29/2012