The year 2020 has brought many concurrent events creating powerful imprints on our lives, nation, and economy. Almost 250 years ago, our nation was conceived on the cornerstone ideal that “all men are created equal with inalienable rights” eloquently written in our Declaration of Independence. Like any nation, individual, or institution—America has fallen far short from this original ideal. But we do have our history to reveal our nation’s moral arc trajectory. As Martin Luther King Jr famously espoused, “the moral arc of history is long but bends towards justice. This, I too, firmly believe.
Almost everyone agrees that America still needs to improve on its equality and justice (as any nation does)—I have not heard anything to the contrary. However, through America’s history, we can see the many efforts to narrow its inequalities and injustices from laws and policies passed ending our original sin—slavery; giving all peoples the right to vote; compelling diversity at our universities, our workplaces and institutions; implementing stronger sentences on crime to foster safer communities; and providing financial aid to some of the lesser fortunate (i.e. Welfare, Affordable Living, Child Support, Food Stamps, Medicaid, Opportunity Zones, etc.). We must learn from history on which policies lift up individuals and which policies do not.
We now know that some polices to curb crime in lower-income neighborhoods have had some devastating effects on certain communities. Some of these former criminal justice policies have been reformed – including the 2018 First-Step-Act Bill reducing sentences for nonviolent crimes and other reductions for low-risk individuals. In addition to more needed criminal justice reform, we should also look how some policies have income and work restrictions to receive the financial aid—thus potentially dissuading able-working individuals from working. Any potential financial aid that dissuades work should be evaluated very carefully. Work is the MOST important factor to one’s self-confidence, independence, and freedom.
We must ask ourselves if our previously passed financial aid improved the situation or not. Let us look at the evidence. The Opportunity Zones Bill passed in 2017 (most unaware about this) encourages direct investments into lower-income areas across America by providing investors with tax breaks—thereby creating many jobs in neighborhoods that would otherwise be ignored with development. I believe Opportunity Zones will have a far greater impact helping lower-income individuals than previous bills because this bill focuses on Americans—not our government—creating jobs and work in lower-income areas. This means we are learning.
Many minorities have been wrongly hurt in America. This latest great tragedy with George Floyd is a prime example and has initiated a fervent debate on structural changes needed. With 30 million unemployed individuals from our government’s forced shutdown creating much restlessness, our country quickly plunged into a national protest of George Floyd’s death. Unfortunately, opportunists and political activists created a situation with a lot of rioting, looting, and violence distorting the essence of this protest. Now many businesses and individuals have been wrongly hurt – including some police officers who have been killed and injured from all these riots. And now part of the message is focused on defunding the police. Today, we even have seven blocks in Seattle taken over by anarchists as the Seattle Police evacuated the premises of its Capitol Hill Police Department.
Justice is being and will be served for those responsible for George Floyd’s death. Also, lawmakers are actively exploring many reforms to enhance accountability and transparency throughout our country. Reforms will undoubtedly be passed soon. And let’s also understand that the free market creates many innovations that are greatly contributing to more accountability and transparency (i.e. mobile videos, social media, internet, etc.). America is not perfect as no country or person is. But history has clearly shown that she is bending towards greater equality and justice. There is a very compelling reason why millions choose every year to move to America—and millions more would like to come. This is as true today as any.
It is sad to see many speak so poorly about America. It is also sad to see diversity of opinions discouraged and shamed nowadays. In America we are supposed to cherish diversity, which also includes different opinions from ourselves. After all, diversity of opinions is the essence of forming better outcomes. Let us not all conform to the same thinking—let diversity of opinions and freedom of speech continue to reign.
Do not feel dire or despair with all the unfolding events—including the market’s volatility. America, as she always has, is finding solutions through this chaotic, democratic process to ever-more-closely align herself to its original ideal “that all men are created equal with inalienable rights.” This is America’s beautiful rudder and mission statement to continue to guide us into the future. Be sure to vote and allow your opinions to be heard and not silenced.
Inspiring story there. What occurred after? Take care!