From President Barack Obama to the many Republican candidates running for president, everyone is focused on beating the other party out of the White House, the Congress and every other elected office imaginable.

They toss around supposed “solutions” to our many problems and make it seem as if we can solve the nation’s economy, energy needs, or housing crisis in a 45 second stump speech. The truth is we need comprehensive solutions to many multi-layered and generations-old problems. What our nation needs now is leadership that can unite across party lines to actually solve a problem.

When was the last time this nation solved something? I am not talking about putting a Band-Aid on a problem so we can deal with it later like our elected leaders did with the debt crisis a few months ago. I mean a true, lasting solution to our nation’s many crises.

They can start with a very simple word: jobs. Jobs would jumpstart the economy. Jobs would lift the spirits of those who are under or unemployed. Jobs would spur business spending and borrowing. Jobs would increase the demand for products and slowly churn the mighty American capitalist engine.

However, it’s not that simple. In order to create jobs the government must get out of the way, reduce the red tape that is strangling the business community of America and set the table for economic growth. The business world knows how to make money and jobs and increase the wealth of a nation through economic activity.

Nevertheless, in a global society, those same businesses can move their company and jobs to another country if the environment in America turns anti-business. We must create an “open for business” mindset again in this country if we are to attract capital, jobs and innovative minds to our shores again.

So, when you hear the politicians speak about raising taxes, lowering taxes, cutting spending or reducing waste and abuse, ask them for their step-by-step plan that will allow this country to make its most important product: jobs.

The last bite…

I recently had an itch to start eating healthy by not consuming as many starchy carbs. Yea, that worked about as long as it took me to get hungry again. However, I did try it at a sushi restaurant in Galveston, Texas, last week.

I ordered edamame, a salad and soup. I also got a side of Sake to help wash the meal down. However, while I enjoyed everything I ordered, I wasn’t satisfied and had to stop at a supermarket on the way home for dessert. I opted for Jordan almonds, those almonds that are covered in chocolate and a hard candy coating.

I figured they had almonds in them so they couldn’t be that bad, right? Therefore, the lesson is this: if you are going to go healthy make sure you order enough of the healthy stuff so that 15 minutes after you leave the food establishment you aren’t stopping somewhere for another course that ruins your good intentions. I give eating less carbs 2 (out of 5) crumbs!

Buddy Boe, a resident of Garyville, owns a public relations and program management company and is well known on the local political (and food) scenes. His column appears Wednesdays in L’Observateur.