MOST OF us get all bent out of shape when things don't seem to go the way we planned it. Whole countries are no different in this regard. Over the past decades, Jamaica has seen more than its fair share of crises. Unfortunately, we have always tried to borrow our way out of them. The sad reality is that when we borrow somebody has to pay it back.

We are all in the payback mode as a society. In fact, we've been for a long time now. A significant chunk of our national budget goes to repay debt. Like any single family saddled with debt, this is absolutely unsustainable. At some point, we have to decide that enough is enough. We must address this albatross around the necks of current and future generations of Jamaicans. We now have a wonderful opportunity to do just that. And yet, one gets the impression that there is little attempt to comprehensively address this problem threatening the very fabric of our society.

Charter new course

I am a firm believer that challenges in our lives are there to teach us important lessons. We miss these lessons and we are sure to repeat mistakes of the past. Once again, I'm afraid we are wasting a good crisis! A crisis presented by not just our own past economic missteps, but compounded by the global economic meltdown. What an opportunity for all stakeholders in this nation to come together and consciously chart a new way forward! Can the powers that be pull us all together? Sadly, I don't think they will. But I live in hope.

I am, etc.,

CARL BLISS

cabliss@cwjamaica.com