By Chris Trout | May 5, 2008
Quick… What do the US presidential primaries and grant writing have in common? OK, take a minute… Did you get it?
Both are addicted to deficits.
Now imagine politicians who, instead of harping on all the urgent problems only they can fix, name it that the US is the richest country in the world, has incredible resources - both human and financial - and is fully capable of using those strengths for the good of the entire world, including its own citizens. (Imagine if they even named the very different strengths of other countries and suggested we could learn from and count on others' strengths?)
Imagine grant proposals that, instead of painting an "ain't it awful" picture of the folks they propose to help, outline all the strengths of the target population as evidence that they are ready to be successful at the proposed project. What if strengths and readiness came before dire need and were the strongest part of our case?
Whether it be at parent meetings, in mental health care, or in our own lives, being addicted to deficits is like being committed to building a house without using any of you best tools.
We have a choice. Who will make the first move?
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