In an effort to reduce energy costs and lower greenhouse gasemissions, the European Union has begun the transition from incandescent lightbulbs to more efficient fluorescent ones. A similar process will begin in the United Statesin 2012. This can only mean one thing: it won't be long before the naysayerswill be criticizing the shift as ineffective or insignificant. We see it timeand again. The growing trend towards eating organic food and supportinglocal or sustainable agriculture, for example, has been met with critics whodispute potential health benefits and question whether eating apples from say BellePlaine, Minnesota is any more effective at reducing one's carbon footprint thanis eating pineapples transported from Hawaii. Then there are those who acknowledgethat hybrid and electric cars and solar and wind power may nominally reduceenergy consumption, but dismiss these alternatives as inconsequential incomparison to good, old-fashioned oil. And not an election goes by when someonedoesn't cynically declare that there is no difference between opposingcandidates, and then use this as a nonsensical excuse for not voting. There needs to be lively public discourse with passionatedebate, discussion and disagreement on the issues of our time, but lately itseems that every attempt to address a problem is met with resistance fromcontrarians who always see the metaphorical glass as half empty. Enoughalready. Every one of us has the ability to make a positive impact in the worldand every attempt to do so, no matter how small it may seem, should beapplauded, not diminished. I want to live in a world made up of hybrid-driving,bicycle-riding, light-rail traveling, commuters. I want to see more peopletoting baskets and reusable bags at farmers markets buying produce that wasgrown in our region and purchasing beef and poultry that actually roamed theland before becoming protein sources for our consumption. I want each of us tothink about how little space we needto live in and return to smaller footprints for our homes. I want a communitythat engages in the political process throughout the year, not just inpresidential elections, and I want every eligible voter to cast their votes. Iwant Minneapolis-St. Paul to retain its reputation as the most volunteeringcity in the country and continue to be one of the most generous areas forcontributing financially to non-profit organizations. And yes, I even want usto make the shift to those odd-looking, yet energy efficient, fluorescent lightbulbs. Fortunately, I know I'm not alone in wanting this for the world. Americans are an optimistic people. The overwhelmingmajority of us, I believe, tend to view our metaphorical glass as half full.All of our individual efforts to make our neighborhood, our city, our countryand our planet, should be supported and appreciated. The naysayers will alwaysbe with this, but they can't stop us from making a positive difference in theworld.