Behind Closed Doors

Many American's get upset when government officials and politicians do things behind closed doors rather than open to public scrutiny. After all, we are a democratic society and we want open government--not back room deals. On the other hand, we have a feeling that the majority of the negotiations aimed at avoiding the fiscal cliff are really taking place behind closed doors while the politicians ramp up the public rhetoric so that their political bases are satisfied with their leaders' positions. One should be looking not so much at what you see and hear in the media vs. what you can't see and hear as easily. For that news you have to dig a bit deeper. What we all should be looking for here is compromise. There is not a single side that will win the other side over. Each will have to contribute to the compromise with significant concessions. The true winner of the compromise will be America and especially the American economy. The latest employment report tells us that even though the numbers are improving, we still have a long way to go. The markets were relieved that Hurricane Sandy did not seem to have as great an impact on the report as expected. There is no denying the fact that we have come a long way from the depths of the recession and there is more work to be done. If our leaders start getting their work done behind closed doors, it certainly would help.