By Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe
THE DANGER OF THE “AT LEAST” MENTALITY IN LIBERIA: A NATION CANNOT DEVELOP ON MEDIOCRITY – PART I
The “At Least” Story
Liberia is a country blessed by God but betrayed by its own standards. For more than a century and a half, we have lived below our potential—not because of destiny, but because of the poison of low expectations. And nothing reflects this more than the national slogan that continues to damage our progress:
“At least…”
“Past governments were bad, but at least this one is trying.”
“Past officials hid stolen money abroad; at least this group keeps the stolen money here.”
“Our schools are poor, but at least children are learning something.”
“Hospitals have no medicine, but at least nurses show up.”
“Our roads are substandard, but at least some are being built.”
But “at least” is the language of mediocrity, and mediocrity is the enemy of development.
“At least” is the lullaby that puts citizens to sleep while leaders loot them awake.
It convinces a nation to clap for crumbs and call small things big achievements.
No country has ever risen from poverty to prosperity on the back of “at least.”
Nations rise when citizens demand excellence, accountability, and integrity—not excuses.
The “at least” mentality is dangerous because it normalizes failure. It transforms corruption into a tolerable act. It turns bad governance into something acceptable as long as it appears slightly better than the worst.
The moment we say “at least,” we lower the bar.
The moment we lower the bar, anything becomes acceptable.
A road that washes away in one rainy season becomes a miracle.
A government that punishes small thieves but protects big thieves becomes “better.”
A hospital with no medicine becomes “progress” because the lights are on.
Liberia is not held back by lack of resources. We are held back by lack of standards.
We must reject the insult of low expectations. We must stop comparing one failing system to another failing system and calling the less-worse one “development.”
The time has come to replace “at least” with “at last”:
At last integrity.
At last competence.
At last accountability.
At last leadership that matches the potential of the Liberian people.
If we want real progress, we must raise our expectations so high that mediocrity cannot reach them. We must spark conversations—in classrooms, marketplaces, street corners, community halls, and political forums—about what Liberia truly deserves.
Liberia will only rise when Liberians rise in their expectations. Now is the time for change from at least to at last.
