business professional

Is Our Nation's Future In Jeopardy?

M

any of us marvel at and are
frustrated by the troubling
economic problems of the era.
Without question, these are serious prob-
lems and the prospect of a short-term
solution is dim. We have suffered horrific
losses to our net worth — by virtue of the
real estate freefall and a recession that,
for all intents and purposes, is starting
its third year. We wonder and debate —
what should we do as individuals and as
a nation?
In recent weeks, I've pondered the

future of our nation as I witness a deplor-
able commitment to partisan politics and
deadlock among our elected representa-
tives. I say to myself, "As a nation we are
only 235 years in existence. The Roman
Empire lasted more than 2,000 years
before its arrogance claimed its lifeline.
What chance do we have?"
At first blush — my conclusion — "It's
not looking good."
Last week, I happened to watch the
newly released miniseries The Kennedys
and gained a different perspective. I was

Please join us as
we celebrate
the 21st anniversary
of Yad Ezra, the kosher food
pantry feeding vulnerable families

reminded of the turbulent '60s — the
fight against communism, the battle over
civil rights, the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban
Missile Crisis, Vietnam and
our loss of cherished leaders
who stood for principle beyond
economics — Jack, Bobby and
Dr. King.
I realized that other than the
era beginning post-Vietnam
and abruptly ending on Sept.
11, 2011, we have been at war,
on its verge or just beyond its
conclusion, or in the midst of
some form of economic trauma
or civil rights controversy for
our entire history. Ultimately,
we face and overcome these
problems, and it is usually
because leaders emerge that have the guts
to stand for what is right and are able to
overcome those who seek to perpetuate
the mistakes of the past.
As we age, we gain the benefit of experi-
ence, as well as the knowledge that our
insight and what we know is limited by
our experience — which also applies
to our elected representatives and pro-
claimed political leaders.
So what do these revelations mean and
how to they bear upon the financial crisis?

Since controversy is part of our
American way of life, we should embrace
it rather than fear it. We must question
those in authority that dem-
onstrate an unwillingness to
seek new solutions and simply
continue to preach unsupported
claims of the past. We need to
take such action that we can to
improve our situation — and
we need to take such action
based upon the current times
without regard to what others
think is the right thing to do.
Individually, this means look-
ing at opportunities to recoup
the losses sustained as a result
of the economic disaster that
has ensued, by shedding debt
and seizing opportunity. As a country,
the time is now for leadership — for
someone to emerge that fears not what to
say because of political expediency — a
leader who can reach to our nation's soul
and carve a path that addresses what is
best for our future.

Ken Gross is an attorney with Thav Gross and

host of the Financial Crisis Talk Center, a radio

program that airs weekly at 10 a.m. Saturdays
on WXYT 1270 "Talk Radio."

Winning A Minivan

Jan and Mark Hauser
Honorees

Monday, October 24, 2011

Congregation Shaarey Zedek

Strolling Supper 6:00 pm
Brief Program 7:00 pm - 7:50 pm
Couvert $180 per adult

Richard Simtob
President

Yad Ezra

Feeding Hungry Jewish Families

Donna and Michael Maddin
Anita and Robert H. Naftaly
Dinner Co-Chairpersons

Michigan allows an income tax credit for individuals equal to 50% of the amount of the cash
contribution (subject to certain limitations) to organizations such as Yad Ezra that provide food or
shelter to the indigent (ends Dec. 31st). The fair market value of the dinner for tax purposes is $60 per
person. For information or reservations, call (248) 548-3663 or email lea@yadezra.org

40 October 13 2011

Prize lets JFS boost rides for seniors.

ewish Family Service took
possession Oct. 5 of a new
Toyota Sienna at Serra
Toyota in Farmington Hills.
JFS won the minivan by garnering
enough votes in the Toyota 100 Cars
for Good Program, a new national
program awarding 100 vehicles over
the course of 100 days to 100 deserv-
ing nonprofit organizations.
The new vehicle will be used for
the JFS Escorted Transportation
Perry Ohren, JFS CEO, receives keys for
Department that provides affordable the new Sienna from Dave Yunker, Serra
arm-in-arm and door-through-door Toyota's Internet sales manager.
transportation services to 1,100
individuals annually.
core needs."
"Winning a Toyota is amazing for JFS,"
With a new minivan, JFS will be able to
said Perry Ohren, JFS CEO. "There's noth- provide 2,500-2,600 more rides each year
ing closer to our mission than driving
to an additional 160 individuals.
older adults to doctors' appointments,
More than 75 percent of JFS transpor-
helping them to age in place in their own tation clients are older than 70, and more
homes. Thank you, Toyota, and thanks to
than 94 percent of the 28,000 rides annu-
all of our friends and colleagues around
ally are for medical appointments.
the country who voted for us.
For more information about JFS and
"We had budgeted needing to buy
its Escorted Transportation Department,
a new vehicle and now, in these tough
visit www.jfsdetroit.org or call (248) 592-
times, we can use those dollars on other
2313. I

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