Don’t Make Me Come Down There

I love Dolly Parton’s new song. She said God gave her this song in a dream. It hits so close to home. The title is, “Don’t make me have to come down there.”

It’s an amazing song about how God is so disappointed in us and how we’ve screwed things up. In one stanza, He says, he let us try his patience, as all good Fathers do. But now we’re on His last nerve and he says, “I’ve had it up to here with you.” Another verse, He instructs us to go to our room and pray until we can do the right thing.

Do you remember when you were a kid, and your father was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? When he said it, there was nothing left to say.

Many families have had difficulties for the past few years, and many are struggling. Small businesses have suffered severely. Many small business owners who have spent their lives building their business, have had to shutter the doors. Many have huge amounts of debt left to pay with not enough income with which to pay. Tough choices must be made.

At the kitchen table, when the adults, Mom and Dad, sit down with the family to make plans, after Dad has lost his job or had substantially reduced income, the scene can be very unpleasant. The family sits down and tries to establish a budget for long-term family survival. It’s not easy and everybody has to sacrifice.

First you list down your income or liquid assets, the money you have available to spend, then you list your expenses. You have fixed expenses that must be paid, rent or mortgage, utility costs, car payments, etc. and then there’s everything else. Then Mom and Dad announce that everything that isn’t necessary must be cut out. Only things that are necessary will remain in the budget. Therefore, dance lessons, karate lessons, nail and facial appts., newspaper and magazine subscriptions, dining out, movies, vacations, etc. can’t continue.

The children pitch a fit, cry and moan about how important their self-interest is. His or hers is much more important than the other siblings. Some reasons are because he or she is older or younger, or more deserving for whatever reason. They make their case in a passionate way. But Dad, the leader, explains that it’s not what anybody wants but it must be done. Otherwise, there’s no money to pay for the necessities and the family won’t have a home or food.

The Children aren’t happy, and they cry, get angry, pout for a while. But Dad knows best. He stands his ground for the survival of the family.

The children will point out that they have college funds that can be spent. There is a savings account that can be raided. Dad points out that money is not to be spent. It must be left untouched and used only as a last resort for emergencies. The kids are angry and the whole family is upset with Dad. But Dad knows he is responsible for his family and hangs in there. That’s leadership. It’s desperately needed for survival.

Some leaders today are exactly like those spoiled children. You will soon see it in full display when the North Carolina Legislature begins negotiations on the tough work of completing a budget for the next biennium.

We had lots of money for our last budget. Money was raining down from the printing presses in Washington. Covid money was “manna from Heaven.” We used it to plug many holes that were needed. Temporary funding was provided for day care workers and long-term care providers as well as many other necessary expenditures. Over and over, we specified that these were one time funds and would not be available in the next budget. Everyone understood at the time.

As all things within Government, once something is given, it’s nearly impossible to get it stopped. Sure enough, right on cue, the lines are forming with gnashing and wailing about how those “one time” funds must be replaced with other monies.

Some of our elected officials are like spoiled children who really don’t care about the long-term survival of our state or country. They only care about their own self-interests.

Strong leadership will be needed. Hopefully, we’ll have some fatherly (and motherly) leaders who will stand firm and do the right thing.