" A Job Well Done?"

I've spoken of my Dad before on this blog and his effects on me as a man. When I was sixteen years old I got my first real job. A dear friend of the family said he could get me a summer job at Riverview Park, at the time Riverview was the premier amusement park in the Midwest. Riverview was open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, six days a week being closed on Monday. My job was not very glamorous, I arose each day and took the C.T.A. bus to work, where I was one of those people who cleaned up leftovers from someone elses good time. To be more specific, all the garbage, all the midways, all the undigested treats that were tributes to the roller coasters (yuck); you know the people you never see, but you must have to make the park a pleasant place each day. I did my share of complaining each night. My Dad took me aside and said " Remember you are getting a paycheck and you are obligated to do your job to the best of your ability, whether your job is pleasant or not. It's all about your good name and your integrity. What you do, how you present yourself, not only reflects on you, but, also on your family." I understood what Dad meant, as my father was a great example of integrity in his work ethic; he took great pride in doing a good job. My Dad's words stuck with me throughout my life. When I was a squad leader in the infantry, I tried to lead by example showing my men responsibility and pride, making them better soldiers, and perhaps better men.

Every job I've ever worked I've tried to do my best, I owed this to my employer, and in a way to myself. Last week, we saw allegations of members of the S.E.C. spending hours on the job watching pornography instead of doing their prescribed duties. It has also been alleged that many of them were making a very generous salary while they were "entertaining" themselves on the internet. While they were doing this, men like Bernie Madoff were busy swindling thousands of Americans out of their life savings.

This issue transcends political philosophy, it is a question of integrity and responsibility. How does anyone feel entitled to waste time on a job that is supposed to be a watchdog for the good of the American people? This attitude of "just getting by" is not limited to government, we see it in daily life at every level of society. Americans used to be lauded for their ambition and perseverance toward success. Somewhere, we lost the drive to do our best as individuals, we decided to settle back and do as little as possible. When we tolerate this attitude in our society, we will certainly decline as a nation. Perhaps that is why public entitlements have become so attractive today; "just give it to me" seems to be gaining popularity and hard work and ethical behavior is falling by the wayside.

America needs to redefine itself, we need to once again exhibit a "can do" attitude. We need to instill pride in a job well done. If we can accomplish this we can change our nation from a "give it to me" to a "go out and get it" society. When we begin to restore responsibility and pride, America will be on the way back to the glory and prosperity we seek. It all starts at home with a few words of wisdom.