Theory vs Reality

There’s an old joke that tells of the young boy who asks his dad for help on a report describing the difference between theory and reality. His dad tells him to ask his mom and sister if they would sleep with a strange man for a million dollars. The son returns and tells his dad that both said yes. “So,” the Dad says, “in theory we’re millionaires, but in reality we’re living with a couple of whores.”

There is, and always has been, a wide gap between theory and reality, but we tend to lose sight of this all important difference as we look at the world around us. For instance:

THEORY: Banks are our friend.

REALITY: Banks want to make money and they use our money to do it by lending it to other people who need money. Unless, of course, the banks have invested in questionable assets that have lost value. Then, they hoard their money to protect themselves while we wither on the vine. Much like the current financial picture.

THEORY: Health insurance companies care about us.

REALITY: Health insurance companies care about us so long as we’re healthy. Once we become ill, though, they lose interest as they lose money paying our medical bills. The new law mandating coverage for children with pre-existing conditions has resulted in no new policies being written for sick children. The only way around this is to get a family policy and that will involve higher premiums.

THEORY: Complex decisions are made in a calm manner with little or no discussion.

REALITY: Complex decisions come out of input from many sources and generally involve bickering, belligerence, and cajoling. Much is being made of Bob Woodward’s new book in which he portrays the administration’s angst-filled discussions over the war in Afghanistan. Come on folks: a room full of high ranking politicians and military personnel is ripe for dissension when ordering a pizza! To think that decisions of this magnitude are made without discord is naive.

THEORY: One political party can solve our problems.

REALITY: Neither political party can solve our problems without cooperation from their counterparts on the other side of the aisle. This is called compromise and leads to progress. We are now experiencing partisanship personified where nothing is better than paralyzing the opponent’s agenda. And don’t think that it wouldn’t happen if the majority party was reversed.

THEORY: We want Washington (or our respective states) to quit spending money.

REALITY: We want Washington (or our respective states) to quit spending money on things that “we” don’t want or don’t use. All of those programs and projects that bring dollars to our doorstep? Keep ‘em coming! Just quit sending money to other doorsteps.

THEORY: We need independent politicians to solve our problems.

REALITY: There are no independent politicians. Republicans and Democrats rely on their respective “machines” to supply money and organization. That makes them beholden. Independently wealthy candidates, while seemingly insulated from party influences, have other agendas that may well be more dangerous than more traditional candidates.

THEORY: Our best days are behind us.

REALITY: With serious, adult leadership our best days are yet to come. It is time for smart folks to come together and strive to solve the monumental challenges facing us all. It matters not which party has a good idea or which politician will succeed or fail in a re-election bid. What matters is everyone pulling on the same oar at the same time. Of course, in light of the current political gridlock, you might well call this the greatest theory of all.