"How the Mighty Fall"

Finishing up "How the Mighty Fall" by Jim Collins, which has been a good intermittent relief from the density of Augustine. Notice what he says about companies who face turbulence:

"Beware, if you get caught in the stages of decline during turbulent times - if you succumb to hubris, overreaching, denial, and grasping for quick fixes - your fall will be faster and more violent than in stable times...if you've fallen get back into solid management disciplines now."

I recognize that this is a book on companies - how they fall or succeed, but principally its not a stretch to relate this to the operation of a country. We are in tough (turbulent) times, ok, we all recognize this and hear about it daily. Even more clear, the US is entrenched in hubris, overreaching, denial, and grasping for quick fixes. Why is it so necessary that Obamacare pass in two weeks? It's a perceived quick fix, that will lead to further decline. The Cap and Trade bill that will reduce global temperature by .1 degree over the next 100 years. Wow. Why is that so pressing to get through? It's overreaching and denial that makes Biden says, "we had no idea it was this bad."

If we don't have discipline especially in spending, the market will never correct itself and my Madeline's children will have a ball and chain of taxes attached to them.