Worries

I am worried about my country. It seems like wherever I look in the news, there are tales of corruption, incompetence, malicious partisanship, and simple stupidity. No one seems to have both the courage to act and the ability to inspire others to act.

Of course, the news focuses on the bad things and on politics, which I think has always been divided. But my peers would be no better, were they in those positions. Even those I like I might not trust with much responsibility. I have flaws, too, of course--I'm not saying I don't. I'm just as guilty of not doing the right thing, then trying to pass the blame.

In human terms, the answer is plain. People need to take responsibility for their actions, strive to be honest and selfless on a personal level (as well as professionally), and help their families do the same.

As someone trying to be "better than all that," I know it's easy to say and hard to do. "For what I do is not the good I want to do, no, the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing."

I wonder if Cicero knew that he stood at the end of a great republic. For my own sake, I hope we don't need a Cicero today.

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