There has to be a pony in here somewhere!

You may recall the story about how a psychiatrist was asked to treat twin brothers with extreme personality differences. One twin was a total pessimist and the other a total optimist. After weeks of interviews and observations, the psychiatrist decided on treatment. She set up two separate rooms; one to observe and treat the pessimist child and the other to observe and treat the optimist child. The psychiatrist had her teams set up and ready to observe. She was sure that she had found the solution for each child to begin to deal with each condition.

She first brought the pessimist child into a room full of brand new toys. To her amazement, the child broke down crying. The psychiatrist asked the little boy what was wrong. In between sobs, he shared that he refused to play with the toys because he was afraid that he would break each toy that he played with.

Thinking that she would fare better helping the optimist pare back his sanguinity, the psychiatrist led the optimist child into his room. This room was full of horse manure. To the psychologist’s surprise, the optimist child jumped onto the pile and started digging. Amazed, the psychiatrist asked the optimist child why he was so excited to be playing in horse manure. With a glee that can only come from optimists, the boy shouted, “With all of this poop, there has to be a pony in here somewhere!”

Those of you who know me well know that I am “the eternal optimist.” Yet, unfortunately, there has not been a lot to be optimistic about regarding the most recent financial regulation reforms being discussed and argued in Congress. Dubbed “Fin Reg,” the proposals are supposedly an effort to “fix” the financial system in the United States. The new regulation was supposed to eliminate “too big to fail” and help create jobs. It does neither. In fact, the proposals are actually an attack on capitalism and will hinder growth, not help it.

I have been digging through the manure coming from Congress over the course of the last several months regarding the new “Fin Reg” – I have yet to find a pony

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