The New Year Dimensions of Resolutions

We are all very wise and rational when we make personal Resolutions for the New Year. This yearly planning for success is done by the individual, formal groups and large institutions, even if they are not necessarily interpreted as resolutions. They are a number of issues that have significant dimensions and which we may very well have an interest in this New Year.

The United States (U.S.) Congress and the President working together in 2007 is of international concern. By now the whole world knows that the democrats in the United States will control the daily activities in Congress while the republicans still have their President. So will they work together? Already we have heard that the President may very well send more troops to Iraq, while "Senator Biden" and others may be planning to stop him with whatever legal powers available. They battle lines may have been drawn from December 2006. To hope that the two parties work in the interest of the voters and the international diplomatic and business communities is no simple matter. No one wants to see a gridlock affair cause any downward shift in the U.S. economy and cause obstacles to good international diplomacy. So here, the New Year resolution of hope is important.

Lower cost of Medical Care is another big hope. Last year Wal-Mart started and implemented a very good plan to reduce the costs of some prescription drugs to consumers. Not long after, Target and others were reconsidering their aspect of service in this respect. Will more of the kind of decisions made by Wal-Mart come in 2007? We hope so because as the nation people live longer, they will need lower cost drugs without comprising the quality of the drugs. We hope pharmacies like Rite Aid, Walgreen and others will do something great for the consumers in this context this year. They will have the millions of customers living longer to take of in their interest, so we must hope they will do the same.

Crime Control in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and other cities. Last year in Philadelphia where I current live, there were over 400 violent deaths. Now those who have lived in the Historical City longer than I have, will tell us all that this is very high and out of control. Hence, we cannot ignore this issue but must hope that the City Officials, from the Mayor...to the Police Commissioner, and the City Attorneys will work with the citizens (harder than in 2006) to reverse this serious problem. There are speculations about the reasons for the problem, but blaming others is not the answer. We hope all the parties involved will make some resolutions of some sort to get this problem solved early in the New Year.

Violence in our schools and against children is a crucial issue that concerns all of us. Last year saw some kind of resurgence in violence against children and in our schools. Especially in the second half of the year, there seemed to be more and more media reported cases of killings and shootings. And this was not just in America. In 2007, isn't good to hope that the kind of violence we saw and heard of against our kids will not take place this year? How to solve this problem is difficult, but schools that are drastically improving their security and parents that are exercising better parenting control over their children are helping. But let us not forget that local community efforts will help when we work with each other and the police to prevent or solve this great evil against children. To work together or hope for better is really necessary.

Interruptions in International Peace was constantly in the news last year...from Iran and North Korea nuclear ambitions, to the continued Iraq violence and various Middle East conflicts. Although none these issues seriously affected the United States, the Iran and North Korea issues will have more serious implications for global peace in 2007 they are not treated as critically essential international affairs. No one generally likes war. But when issues likes these occur, America will undoubtedly have to say and do something in a significant way. U.S. Leadership in the world is still a very important. We are very aware that the middle-east issues have long existed before our existence. Nevertheless, when something can be done by the U.S. to help prevent or curtail any conflict or war, the United States must do so. The United Nations will have a New Secretary General and we must hope his diplomatic efforts and team will receive the best support and respect from the Global Community.

These therefore, are only some of the issues that require some resolutions and efforts to correct or improve in the New Year. I personally believe the better Health Care matter is most important, but we cannot overlook issue and hope that the U.S. Congress and President will work together. Resolutions are good. Hope is a must for all of us. But to do something to help is very necessary. Let us hope for the best in 2007.