The Value of Complaining

I just read an article in the Wall Street Journal that waxes eloquent about one of the key "benefits" of the recession/depression, an increase in gratitude and a decrease in complaining. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123612215614023427.html

While I agree that individuals may be more content if they are grateful for what they have and don't complain about what they lack, I would strongly disagree that a decrease in complaining is a positive change for American society. Gratitude and contentment are dangerous things. Discontent breeds innovation, entrepreneurialism, and change. Someone who's grateful they have their job takes less risks. They're much less likely to pursue their dream, experience new things, or even hold people to account for subpar behavior.

On example in the article is Mr. Hirsch, a director at Credit Suisse. While I'm sure Mr. Hirsch is quite happy that his clients are content with a 35% loss in their investments, as a fund manager he should be expected to outperform the market - value companies based on actual, not perceived, value (anyone else notice the falling P/E ratios?). His clients SHOULD complain.

The United States has been successful because it's population is traditionally not content. Immigrants, whether us or our great-great(etc)-grandparents, who form the backbone of this nation, are inherently not content with their 'lot in life'. We landed on the moon because we 'wanted more'. Be glad that Jenner or Pasteur wasn't content or grateful. I've heard rumor that MLK was a complainer.

In these troubled times, we NEED people to complain. Fearful acceptance got us into the Iraq war. Complacence led to the collapse of the credit markets. Things do not always work out for the best, and the ostrich-head-in-the-sand strategy can only make things worse. So I'm going to do my civic duty - I'm going to continue to bitch and complain.