Drama - a negative and a positive.

• Position: FROM THE EDITOR

The political drama we've been exposed to over the past several years--and particularly in recent months--seems to be presenting itself at an accelerated pace, beginning with the financial crisis of 2007-8, which led to its "solution," the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. Then came the presidential election of 2008, followed by "stimulus" bills, mortgage fixes, the health care bill, 2010 midterm elections, Dodd-Frank Act and the debt-ceiling debacle, er, debate. And on and on.

The big drama in Washington also seems to have precipitated the U.S. loss of its AAA credit rating by Standard & Poor's, as well as to create in August the deepest stock market declines since the financial crisis took center stage.

It's hard to know what the coverage of election 2012 will bring--or the turnout of the electorate. It would seem to me many Americans are getting more and more frustrated with the drama from our elected officials and may simply go about their lives--and continue working hard--and listen less. I'm hopeful that they remain part of the process.

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Now, let's consider drama in a more positive way--such as the dramatic results technology has achieved over the past 80 years. As you read the cover story on 80 Years of Technology and the Financial Executive, you can see the thread of technology that has connected organizations and business eras and catapulted them to astounding heights. IBM Corp.'s Carl Nordman, global leader of the Financial Management Research team in the IBM Institute for Business Value, has artfully crafted a history of accounting and financial technology tracing the advances that have made your job what it is today. Easier? Arguably. But certainly more fully developed, and with capabilities never even dreamed about by your predecessors.

Among the other articles in this September issue is the special feature on gaining and maintaining growth. McKinsey & Co. consultants Scott Keller...