“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
Patience is the ability to remain calm and composed when faced with delays, provocations, or boring situations without complaining or becoming angry. It encompasses tolerance and endurance, which are often needed to achieve long-term goals or handle difficult people or tasks. It is the noun form of “patient.”
Synonyms: Forbearance – Tolerance – Endurance – Composure – Serenity – Fortitude – Equanimity – Stoicism
Please point to the word in this list that best describes life in modern America.
Take your time…
I couldn’t find it either. That’s because we lack patience. America is the land of instant gratification. Think about it… If your doctor is five minutes late for your appointment, you’re ready to burn the office down. You start fuming, huffing and puffing, venting all your frustration on the nearest employee, usually the receptionist or nurse. When your service-tech is 30 minutes late, you reach for the phone and scream at the receptionist. And… when dinner is late, you’re ready to beat the cook – unless the food is terrible, then it’s a blessing. My point is that we Americans have no patience. Our entire country is built on immediate gratification. We expect, no, we demand everything RIGHT NOW!
When we read or hear something that challenges our established beliefs or sense of certainty, our passions take over, and we react aggressively and often with violent vituperation, anger and fury or a tirade, a prolonged, bitter outburst, aimed at the person initiating the message.
– I really love big words… like vituperation: bitter, abusive, and harshly critical language.
Here’s my perspective, and I’ve used this several times before… We are “Spring-loaded in the pissed-off position.” It means we’re ready to erupt into rage when triggered, and Americans are very easily triggered; hair-triggered, if you will.
– Rage: intense anger or fury.
– Synonyms: Madness, ire, passion, frenzy, wrath
We live for instant gratification: the desire to experience pleasure, fulfillment, or reward immediately, without delay. It is driven by the brain’s reward system releasing dopamine, which encourages impulsive actions aimed at quick satisfaction rather than long-term benefits. Common examples include scrolling social media, eating fast food, and online shopping. When blocked, people might feel frustration, discomfort, or anxiety.
When was the last time you quietly read a book for a few hours?
Patience should motivate you to develop long-term self-discipline, resilience, and better mental health because such restraint promotes a shift toward proactive goal-setting and emotional regulation, breaking the cycle of impulsive, short-term pleasure-seeking. Unfortunately, this trait is rarely acknowledged in the American vocabulary of character traits.
We want what we want, and we want it right now!
Our response to the overt military interventions in Iran shows Americans’ desire for quick results. We look for fast solutions to complex problems, and the partisan divide makes this worse by increasing ideological differences. This heightens polarization over the government’s role, cultural values, and economic policies.
It’s another tactic in their arsenal to further divide the nation; all part of a divide-and-conquer strategy where leaders or elites intentionally create or exploit divisions among the people to stay in power and prevent unified resistance. They do this by stirring up conflict along racial, class, or ideological lines, distracting from systemic issues and controlling what we know and how we learn it. Supporting tools include disinformation, misinformation, and outright lies.
Finance:
“How we live is so different from how we ought to live that he who studies what ought to be done rather than what is done will learn his ruin rather than his preservation.” ~ Niccolò Machiavelli (1532)
This quote by Machiavelli from The Prince warns that focusing on ideals (“what ought to be done”) rather than reality (“what is done”) leads to downfall. It stresses that we must be pragmatic and accept the harsh realities of politics to survive, because pursuing virtue among vicious people results in destruction.
Rather than saving, planning, or working on a budget, we borrow to feed our desires. I agree that there are times when borrowing is necessary, but these times should be exception rather than the rule.
We do everything on credit. EVERYTHING!
We even run our country on credit.
When I started writing this commentary, the national debt was projected to reach $39 trillion by April, growing by $5 million every minute, $300 million each hour, and between $6 billion and $8 billion every day. It’s now mid-March, and we’ve already surpassed that projection.
Interest payments are becoming one of the largest federal expenses. If this doesn’t worry you, you’re either dead or in denial. I believe credit is an essential part of life, but using it wisely is key to maintaining personal and financial stability.
Nobody I know can pay cash for a big purchase, but carrying an average credit card balance of $11,500 isn’t sustainable. If you only make the minimum payments without paying down your debt, you’ll end up paying a total of $35,551.48—an extra cost of $24,055.48, which is more than twice the amount you borrowed. The real question is, how badly did you want or need that item you charged to justify paying twice its original price?
“I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. I got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline-powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too.” ~ Steve Martin
Regarding the national debt, there is no “minimum payment” like there is for a consumer credit card. The government must pay the interest owed on its debt, but it does not need to pay off the principal (the debt itself) all at once, since it can continuously “roll over” or refinance debt as it matures.
If the U.S. makes all required interest payments, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that net interest costs on the national debt will reach $16.2 trillion over the next decade (2026–2036). Annual interest payments are expected to increase from $1.0 trillion in 2026 to over $2.1 trillion by 2036, driven by higher debt levels and rising interest rates, in addition to the existing debt. Note that there are no mandated minimum payments on the principal (the amount borrowed), but interest will compound, leading to an estimated national debt of $56 trillion by 2036.
Over 60% to more than 70% of Americans express strong concern or negative feelings about the U.S. economy, mainly because of high inflation, living costs, and housing prices. As of early 2026, about 38% to 46% expect the economy to worsen, and many believe the country is in a recession. We’re worried because it affects us directly, but we often overlook how the national debt impacts us — it raises interest rates on mortgages and loans, boosts inflation, and limits government spending on services like infrastructure or defense. High debt results in higher interest payments, which can slow economic growth, reduce future income, and require higher taxes or cuts to government programs.
There is a direct connection between the national debt and your personal finances, but we don’t recognize it because it’s intentionally hidden from us. We lack understanding of macroeconomics, microeconomics, and even how our personal financial systems operate. We often spend more than we earn, but we fail to see the bigger picture—that everything in our world is connected. What happens in one area directly affects many, if not all, others. They rely on each other; they are interconnected.
We can tackle the national debt by promoting financial literacy, advocating for balanced budgets, supporting economic growth through local businesses, and holding elected officials accountable for long-term fiscal planning. Practical steps include volunteering for debt-related campaigns and improving personal financial health, both of which benefit the overall economy.
America’s borrowing habits (public debt) directly influence personal borrowing (private debt) by shaping the economic environment, interest rates, and credit access. When the government borrows heavily, it can cause a “crowding out” effect, making it more expensive or difficult for individuals and businesses to obtain loans.
About 50% of states require economics in their high school graduation curriculum, while fewer than 3% of colleges include economics in their coursework. Is this what we consider a well-rounded or comprehensive education?
AI explains that it’s very unlikely the US will ever fully pay off its national debt. Although it could be achieved through significant tax increases or spending cuts, the debt is usually rolled over indefinitely, and paying it off completely could trigger a global financial crisis. The goal is to manage, not eliminate, the debt.
AI further explained that government borrowing encourages personal borrowing and that high levels of U.S. government debt can normalize debt, fostering a culture in which consumers and businesses depend on credit. This environment, marked by easy access to credit and often the need to cover high living costs, motivates households to borrow for homes, education, and maintaining lifestyles, creating a “culture of consumption” supported by debt that is common in the U.S. It reflects a cultural tendency toward instant gratification, and the low wages that follow force people to rely on credit for survival.
Can you spot the pattern here?
This all seems to blame the government, and while that’s technically true, the reality is we had control at the beginning but did nothing to limit our spending. We allowed it to happen.
Paying off the national debt isn’t advisable, but it can be reduced through significant tax increases, substantial cuts in federal spending, or a mix of both. However, most economists contend that fully paying off the debt is a bad idea because it could disrupt financial markets, slow down economic growth, and eliminate important safe-haven assets.
Drastically cutting spending or raising taxes to reduce the debt takes money out of the private sector, which can slow economic activity and lead to stagnation. While lowering the deficit to a sustainable level of 60% of GDP is a worthwhile goal, completely eliminating the national debt is generally seen as unrealistic and undesirable, since many economists believe some level of debt is sustainable and vital for effective economic management. According to leading economists, the sustainable level of debt is roughly $19 trillion or $21 trillion less than our current level.
The financial system favors those in power, making it difficult for ordinary people to afford goods and services. As a result, we end up adopting their methods, which diminish the little control we have over our lives. Whoever controls the money controls your life.
“Whoever controls the money controls YOU.” ~ Sharon Law Tucker is a self-help and personal growth author.
I’m not going to explore the history or development of banking; unfortunately, we mostly depend on these bankers’ choices. Let’s be honest: banking is the most common institution in our lives, and despite strict regulations, all these rules were made by the bankers themselves.
You all remember the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the 11,000-page Democrat-Socialist healthcare law, which was supposed to lower healthcare costs for everyone, but it was actually written by the very industry it was meant to regulate. Oh yes, the health insurance industry drafted this bill at the request of Barack Obama. It increased consumer costs by over 150% from 2013 to 2019 and is expected to rise another 60%.
Just like the rules that favor the bankers, the ACA benefited the health insurance industry that developed it.
Can you see the pattern yet?
It’s not about us, you, or me; it’s all about them and their power and control. So if you think this is all bullshit, please think about the choices you have regarding your capital and your medical decisions.
Now think about how we pick our Congressional representatives. Who really chooses the people we’re told represent our interests? Is it you or me, or does the partisan political machine decide who best fits our needs? Did anyone ask you, or were you told?
What options do you have when opening a bank account? You can choose from several savings options depending on your deposit amount, and several checking account options based on your account balance. Your bank might also offer a credit card, which is typically determined by your FICO score. FICO was created by the Fair Isaac Corporation to assess your likelihood of repaying a loan.
This number influences our lives beyond just finances because everything we do is connected to this evaluation. The average FICO score in America is 715 – the top score is 850 (1.76% of Americans), and the bottom score is 300 (14%). More information is available on the Interweb; simply search for FICO Scores.
We often don’t realize how complicated these temporary, random, and fleeting factors are until they hit us hard. By then, it’s usually too late, and recovery can take more than five years after major setbacks like divorce or bankruptcy. So, you go through the recovery process, and suffering is almost inevitable. I speak from personal experience. I’ve survived two divorces and a bankruptcy caused by medical issues. I believe I’ve written about these before. It’s possible, but it requires determination and patience.
“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” ~ Jean-Jaques Rousseau
So… what if I act… what if I decide I don’t want to wait?
The average personal debt in Merka is $104,755, mainly driven by mortgages, with credit cards accounting for about 12% of disposable income. Total household debt hit a record $18.8 trillion in 2025 and is expected to increase by another $2 trillion this year. Credit card debt stands at $1.5 trillion, student loans amount to $1.7 trillion, and mortgage debt reached $13.2 trillion. Around 40% of owner-occupied homes are free and clear, representing 30 million owners. That requires fortitude, patience, and a bit of luck sometimes.
Patience can be measured, even though it is often viewed as a psychological trait; there are aspects you can evaluate if you want to assess yourself.
– Response to delay: How long can you stay calm?
– Impulse control: Are you able to complete a boring task without giving up?
– Emotional Resilience: Do you experience strong irritation or anger when things go ‘out of control’?
– Interpersonal Patience: Managing Difficult People Effectively.
– Life Hardship Patience: Enduring long-term life obstacles.
– Daily Hassles Patience: Tolerance for small annoyances like traffic or long lines.
There is a downside to patience, too.
Excessive or poorly timed patience can be harmful, serving as procrastination or passivity instead of a strength. Main risks include staying in toxic, unproductive situations, missing crucial chances by waiting too long, and having your efforts seen as weakness or laziness.
– Procrastination and Inaction: They can serve as excuses to delay difficult tasks or necessary changes.
– Tolerance of Toxicity: Being excessively patient can cause you to remain in unhealthy relationships or toxic work environments longer than needed.
– Missed Opportunities: Waiting too long for the “perfect time” can cause you to lose the advantage to those who act more quickly.
– Reduced Assertiveness: People might exploit your patience, mistaking it for weakness or a lack of ambition.
– Internal Emotional Toll: Suppressing the desire for action can lead to anxiety, stress, or sudden emotional upheaval.
“I was going to procrastinate, but I kept putting it off…”
When we wait too long for information or gather too much, it can lead to confusion or prevent us from gaining real strategic value in understanding a situation. You miss out on the innovative wisdom that comes from trusting your instincts and initial impressions.
There are many lists and tools for self-evaluation online, but if you’re honest with yourself, you probably already know the answer, maybe not a specific number, but a general sense of your patience level. I know mine, and to be honest, I’m not usually very patient. Some of the areas listed above trigger my ‘spring-loaded’ reactions. Others depend on various personal factors, just like everyone else.
Some people actually become more patient as they age, thanks to increased wisdom and perspective; others find their patience shrinking due to ideological, physiological, and psychological reasons. Ask those who know me for their assessments and opinions. You can also form your own views from the things I’ve written: all available on “The Federal Observer.” I understand who and what I am because I have a good sense of self.
Here’s the answer to the question forming in your mind right now – where is this headed?
Our lives are shaped by many factors, all of which influence how we respond to stimuli and our patience level. So, unless we control our emotions, we are at the mercy of the moment. It all comes down to choice. And, dear friend, everything depends on choice. Yes… everything. Especially the little surprises that come up every day. How you respond to these determines the future.
Here’s a straightforward example.
About 30 years ago, I had just suffered a heart attack and, as a result, lost my job. This single event plunged me into massive debt because the medical insurance I had did not cover the emergency hospitalization, simply because I drove to the hospital. If I had chosen to call an ambulance, I would have been covered. So, since I could drive, it was not considered an emergency. That was my choice, and I regret it to this day. It took about 20 years to recover from that diversion, but I eventually did. The main lesson from all of this is that I took steps to change my life. I’m certainly not perfect, but I remember that particular situation and all the factors that led up to it, and how difficult it was to stay focused on my goal. It was a wake-up call. It required perseverance, patience, and some luck… but mostly patience.
There’s a cartoon of two vultures lurking on a limb of a dead tree. One says to the other, “Patience, my ass. I’m gonna kill something…”
So, instead of waiting, I sought help, found several agencies offering great guidance, and followed their advice. I patiently stuck to the plan and came out financially bruised but intact. I could have waited for God, providence, or the universe to provide a solution, the magic bullet, but that seemed too risky and disadvantageous. I took responsibility and explored other options. And who’s to say that I wasn’t directed to the perfect resource I needed.
The ‘magic bullet theory,’ which suggests that something will appear to solve all of our problems. Originally, it was coined in medicine to describe a disease-fighting agent that targets all the microorganisms causing illness without harming healthy tissue. However, our wishful thinking adapts this idea and applies it to everything else in our lives, like all of our problems.
The idea of a “magic bullet”—a single, instant solution for complex problems—rarely works in real situations like business, personal growth, or health. While it might seem tempting, success usually comes from steady, gradual effort rather than a quick 90-second fix or “viral formula.” Relying on just one answer often causes you to overlook the real causes.
The decision to act or wait is really up to the individual, as are most things in our lives. There are only a few life events beyond our control:
– Genetics
– Medical and Health like cancer, although evidence exists that even these result from personal decisions.
– Death of a loved one – bereavement
– Natural Disasters
– Involuntary Career Changes
– Inevitability of Aging
– External Economic Factors
– External Socio-Political Shifts
Life events that happen without a person’s choice are often called “non-normative” or involuntary because they are unexpected, unpredictable, or completely outside someone’s control. These include natural events, traumatic incidents, and involuntary socioeconomic changes. Such events often require quick adaptation and can greatly change a person’s life path without their approval.
“Every choice comes with a consequence. Once you make a choice, you must accept responsibility. You cannot escape the consequences of your choices, whether you like them or not.” ~ Roy T Bennett
Note: I’ve lost my patience with our government, especially Congress – the opposite of progress. Their egomaniacal approach to democracy and the administration of America makes me wonder if their ineffectiveness and partisan bickering are worth preserving, or if we should start fresh with a new group, but knowing Americans as I do, we’d elect similar, if not worse, representation. The problem, as I see it, is a complete and utter lack of consequences, and it will continue until we hold them accountable.
“After all is said and done, more is said than done.” ~ Aesop
‘The devil you say…’
March 24, 2026
~ the Author ~
Charles R. Dickens Was Born in 1951, Is a Veteran of the Vietnam War, for Which He Volunteered, and the Great-Great Grandson of the Noted Author, Whose Name He Shares.
He Is a Fiercely Proud American, Who Still Believes This Is the Greatest Country on the Planet, With Which We’ve Lost Control and Certainly Our Direction. He Grew Up in Moderate Financial Surrounding; We’re Not Rich by Any Stretch, but Didn’t Go Hungry – His Incredibly Hard Working Father Saw to That. As Most From That Era, He Learned About Life From His Father, Whose Story Would Take Too Long to Tell, Other Than to Say That, He Is Also a Fiercely Proud American; A WWII and Korean War, Veteran Marine.
Charlie Was Educated in the Parochial System Which, Demanded That You Actually Learn Something, and Have Capability to Retain It Before You Advance. He Attended Several Universities in Pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree, and Chased the Goose Further to a Master’s, and Has Retained Some Very Definite Ideas About Education in This Country.
in Addition, Charlie Is a Retired Blues Guitar and Vocalist – a Musician. This Was His Therapy Career. Nothing Brings Him as Much Joy as Playing Music, and He Wishes That He Could Make a Living at It… but Alas… Life Goes on!