[The following article represents solely the opinion of the author and no one else.]
When I first heard it, I didn’t understand what “deep state” meant, except that whoever was using the phrase seemed to convey a sense of foreboding, implying a hidden cabal of people who want something that will cost “us” in turn. Somehow, the “deep state” is supposedly really in control, and its intentions are malicious.
One pave stone at a time, our country now has the opportunity to repair the potholes in our path to a better future. It will take all of us–Democrats, Republicans, independents and all the remaining political parties who siphon votes off for causes that cannot succeed without broader appeal. It will take a concerted effort to, as Biden says, quit seeing people who disagree with us as the “enemy”.
[THIS ESSAY REPRESENTS MY OWN OPINIONS, AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE POSITION OR VIEWS OF WD-40 COMPANY, NOR ANY OF ITS EMPLOYEES OR STAKEHOLDERS.]
I listened to the Democratic convention this week. With each speech, each testimony, I began to feel the hope that I have gradually been losing since 2016.
As we continued through Trump’s presidency, and especially through this year’s catastrophes, the fiasco of leadership in our country drained me. I’m far from alone. I know, democracy has always been a fiasco, but it’s the best of the alternative forms of government, by light years. The thing is, a democracy is only as good as the leaders we elect.
There’s a critical point in the evolution of an idea, an effort, a program and even a career field when the description of it is condensed into an acronym. The reason for it is that when language begins to refer to something often in several words which takes a long time to say, someone will find a shorter way to refer to it. For example, “earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization” becomes EBITDA. “Generally accepted accounting principles” becomes GAAP. “Learning and development” becomes L&D.
