watch?v=amsqeYOk--w). Mischel then did follow up studies to see if those children who could resist eating the marshmallow immediately would translate that willpower into more success in life than those who couldn't.

(True confession: Had I been in that study, I would have eaten that marshmallow within seconds of the adult leaving the room. I would have jammed it into my mouth without a second thought.)

Those who were children in the early 1960's are now, of course, adults charged with the responsibility of running businesses and the country. And judging by the fix this country is in, I'm not the only one who struggles with not eating the marshmallow immediately. We seem to be a society struggling with delayed gratification. Pay now for a reward later? Uh uh. We don't really like to do that. And marshmallow eater that I am, I totally sympathize.

But I think we have to get over it. Including me... After all, we're not five-year olds being asked to hold off on a treat. We're adults responsible for our society, including the health, safety, education, and welfare of our fellow citizens. We must pay now to get services later. It's the way it works. And that means - yes, the dreaded "T" word: taxes.

Speaking of... do you remember when California had a tax surplus some years back and there was a big ruckus about whether or not the state should return it. The checks would amount to something under $100 per household. I remember one particularly emotional letter to the Los Angeles Times in which the writer commented that while that money might not mean much to some people, it would pay for a nice dinner out for her and her husband. Eat the marshmallow now. Don't wait until later.

I hate paying taxes. And I pay a ton of them. But I support tax increases that protect my health and welfare. Like education. And health care. And the fire department. And the police. And the park system. We need to stop kidding ourselves that there is all this waste in the system that, if eliminated, would pay for everything. That's magical thinking, and it does not work. So could we, the voting population, and our politicians please put the rhetoric, emotion and slogans away so we can actually get something done? I want reformed health care. Because I don't want to catch your disease. I want great education. Because I want informed, intelligent people running our companies and our country. I want firefighters to save my home. I want roads that aren't falling apart. I don't want to have to say a prayer before driving over a bridge.

We're not children anymore. Time to not eat that marshmallow and go for a longer term reward. Please?

Posted by terrymckenzie ( Sep 29 2009, 08:00:00 AM PDT ) Permalink Comments [2]

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