The poet E.E. Cummings once wrote "Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question." Given the hardened and cynical political discourse that is playing out in our local and national politics, it seems to me that our imaginations would be better served by turning our focus from answers, to questions. All of us know, at some level, that the name calling political hallabaloo isn't going to take us anywhere productive, unless you're a political candidate. Oh, sure, if you have an issue that you are passionate about, like health care, the war on terror, or some other political hot potat, you want some damn answers.
But it seems we're losing patience and are now caught up in a title wave of answers, many of them seemingly detached from any useful or inspiring question.
If our country is to turn itself around, to get out from under the sagging weight of debt, doubt, and doom, we'll need to reconsider problem solving by proxy, and re-frame our debate from one of claiming the best answers, to creating the better question. The quality of our questions, whether part of a political discourse or in our businesses and corporate life, will determine the quality of our answers.
Perhaps we should spend more time crafting beautiful questions, and less time looking for simple answers.
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