Sorting out the past can be difficult, but gaining a proper perspective on the present is next to impossible. Maybe that’s because the past makes fewer immediate demands. It usually waits for us to go looking for it.

The present is far less reticent. It grabs us by the lapels and forces us to take notice, leaving little opportunity to consider what preceded it or what might come after. For example, when movers, shakers, and opinion makers talk about the “fiscal cliff” or “unsustainable levels of debt,” it’s easy to forget that federal spending and the level of federal debt have been sources of controversy for more than 200 years. In fact, many of the “crises” that now absorb our attention are variations on longstanding themes.

Note:  We are trying something a little different in this issue. Since The Ledger is now all-electronic, and because many people seem less inclined to read lots of on-screen text, we decided to let images carry much of the story this time. Many of the images are from the digital archives of the Library of Congress, which is a genuine treasure trove of photos and prints.  If ever you need to be reassured that public institutions are deserving of your support, visit the Library of Congress web site:  http://www.loc.gov

Robert Jabaily, Editor
The Ledger

Credits:
Content: Robert Jabaily
Digital Strategy and Design: Tom DeCoff, David DeSouza, and Barbara St. Louis

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