His face is on the one dollar bill and it passes through our hands all the time. Do you know whose face it is? Of course, it’s George Washington. During these times of economic slowdown which require us to re-evaluate our expenditures, I have given good ole’ George more thought than usual.
I recently made a visit to the library to borrow a book. With call number in hand, I went to the shelf to search but the book was missing. However, another book nearby grabbed my attention. ‘Inventing a Nation’ by Gore Vidal; the title caught my eye and captured my interest. The idea of actually inventing a nation, intrigued me. To receive such a large vision and carry it to fruition sounds like a daunting, yet exciting venture. Despite the stack of unread books on my nightstand, I couldn’t resist and checked it out of the library.
Within the first few pages, I learned George Washington lived above his means with a lavish lifestyle neither his wife’s fortune nor his own could afford. I also learned he could be a generous man. He offered his service and expertise without pay until our country was successful and could reimburse his expenses. Being a famous figure, he often entertained other famous people with the finest food and drink.
By 1787, the states were broke and so was George Washington. This is the likeness and legacy we have plastered on America’s dollar bill. After the latest stimulus bill passed, I asked myself, “When will we learn?” When will we as a people and nation live within our means? When will we buy only what we can afford? When will we save for a rainy day? When will we save for retirement and leave some for our children?
Our country started out broke and over 200 years later, we still find ourselves broke. George Washington had many admirable qualities not to mention the most daunting task of inventing a nation. However, did he leave a legacy of poor financial stewardship for our country and those who followed him?
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