When I was a little boy, living near railroad tracks, I remember my parents telling me to “stop, look, and listen” before crossing them. Today, “The Trio” (Me, Myself, & I), use the same three words; but, in a different context related to our recent “fiscal cliff.” Although we are not “out of the financial woods” yet, “The Trio” offers the following suggestions for the members of our newly installed Congress. “Me” recommends that they “stop” and really study our nation’s budget and current debt situation. “Myself” hopes that they will “look” at the details of each resolution proposed, and “I” wants them to “listen” to “We the People” who they were elected to serve.

“The Trio” also wants to remind their readers of the “Whammer Yardstick” created years ago by this blogger. They believe that this 3′ device may serve as a practical and useful standard to measure (evaluate) any future legislation. “Me” states that the first 12″ represents the use of “common sense.” Of course, The Trio knows that each person’s interpretation of common sense is based upon his/her life experiences. “Myself” uses the second 12″ to determine the “logic” underlying the congressional recommendations, and “I” wants them to justify whatever they propose as designed to “provide the greatest good for the greatest number of people.” (That is their constituents, not their lobbyists or core party members; but, We the People.) The Trio knows that all this sounds “idealistic,” but isn’t that what the founders of our nation thought when they drafted our constitution in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789.

Stay tuned. Better, yet, please feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section below. Let’s hope that our legislators, all all levels of government, will remember to “Stop – Look & Listen.”