Published April 1974 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd The Pluses Outweigh the Minuses Inflation, the talk of recession, the energy problem, Watergate-these and other worrisome developments apparently have led some Americans to the pessimistic conclusion that our country is on the skids. Prophets of gloom here and there cry that America may be done for. Our problems are serious. But we surely should not let them overwhelm us; we should try, instead, to keep them in perspective. Inflation and energy shortages, are worldwide in nature-worse in several places than they are here. The United States has come through many serious crises before. It was born in revolution, and its union was cemented in civil war. It has withstood depression, world war, assassinations of presidents, and the trauma of the late sixties when rioters set cities aflame. When one is tempted to dwell too somberly on our country's present troubles, one should balance them against America's enormous assets. It is neither rationalizing nor chauvinistic to conclude that the pluses outweigh the minuses, and by a wide degree. Despite the inroads of inflation- and the gas, food, and other shortages - our standard of living and general technological progress continue to outdistance those of any other nation. And for every person involved in Watergate, there are thousands of dedicated public servants who recognize the proper use and limits of authority and power. This is no time to sell America short, however serious its troubles may be or seem to be. Our nation is resilient and our people resourceful. Our system has responded to crises and adjusted to change again and again within our constitutional framework. The time is again at hand for change: for restoring confidence in government at all levels; for improving our electoral processes; for tax reform; for increasing our productivity; and for insuring our self-sufficiency in energy and basic raw materials. Ours is a vital and dynamic country. Its strength derives from many sources, not the least of which is the common sense of its people. I am confident that that common sense will prevail now, and that our nation will come through its trials stronger than before. APR 17 1974