I turned on my television this morning to CNN thinking that the unthinkable has happened again. Once more the life of a US President and its citizens was potentially in danger. A United States Coast Guard boat was on the Potomac River preventing a boat from entering a security zone near the Pentagon and that shots were fired, where President Obama was commemorating the events of 9/11. This was later proven to be more conjecture, simple overreaction, and another rush to bring "breaking news." Shots were NOT fired for those who were wondering.
Before this story my thoughts were to take the day off and maybe follow up on "Joe the Liar" but he, the entire debate on health care reform, the Obama Presidency, the war in Afghanistan, the economy, and the news media all have a common bond. During and since 9/11 we have allowed our fear to consume our nation and make decisions based on fear and reaction. Town hall outbursts, birthers, tea parties, and the all the naysayers of progress have used and are using these elements of fear to keep the status quo.
If no network journalist, radio personality, political commentator or analyst says what needs to be said, I will: the "fear card" has been used to try (and mostly succeed) to stop most of what is and has been proposed on the subject of the economy, health care, and just about everything else. This usually happens usually in this order. Ideas are usually misconstrued, taken out of context, and made into something else. Misinformation usually and eventually turns into fear and once people become afraid we act (and react) from that fear. For a long, long time either from television news to the previous administration and those in between from both parties, this fear was used to allow things like the Patriot Act to pass and be renewed, to allow torture, to go to war with the wrong country, to prejudge an entire group of people based on their religion for the actions of a few, and an excuse for the rest of us to dumb down in the name of being safe.
Last year, the fear of the economy, the financial crisis and the mortgage meltdown cause another quick reaction. Under duress we (you and I) bailed out the banks who still have not done all they could to help average Americans with the foreclosure market. A bank even had the nerve to foreclose on a house and insert one of its executives into it-and live in it! Really, here's the link to it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/11/wells-fargo-exec-in-charg_n_283031.html
They are still those who say that Wall Street is still working out of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
This fear is eight years in the making and maybe this is why there was a Representative shouting out to the President during Congressional Addresses, or why town hall meetings are becoming hostile, or why there are suddenly Tea Parties for those concerned about government spending. Maybe it is our fear that is erupting coupled with the many false alarms that our national media delivers to us for the sake of "breaking news." Thanks a lot CNN for adding fuel to the fire!!!
Finally to so many of those whose lives were changed eight years ago and the rest of use who watched in horror, I ask that we remember and honor those who we lost but we no longer fear the past and more importantly fear our future.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Saying "Liar" in a Crowded Captial: The Conjecture Continues
I have been gone for a while tired and drained of writing about the frustration the terrible news of the world and the state of how things are. From murder suicides happening across the country, a 18 year kidnapping in California where the victim bore the children of the (alleged) kidnapper, school shootings, the War in Afghanistan, and all of the negative news; what has risen to the top of my outrage list is one man, Representative Joe Wilson (Joe the Liar) of South Carolina calling the President of the United States a liar on the floor of the United States Capital, making a major address to the Congress and to our nation.
I am not sure if the American public has been "dumb-downed" by episodes of Jerry Springer or Maury Povich to find this type of disrespect acceptable. I don't know if it was just me but I couldn't tell the congressional town hall meetings and these tea parties apart from scripted daytime television. Did Rep. Wilson of South Carolina misread his invitation or daily agenda yesterday and though he was going to a town hall meeting where heckling the United States President was permissible.
What has happened to this country, we can't even disagree anymore amicably. Health care is a moral issue. No one should have to make the choice of who lives or dies based on money. I have always found it interest on what we choose to spend money on and what not. I remember learning in economics the principle of "Needs vs. Wants" in high school. We spend money on wars and prisons but not enough on schools and believe the price of health care is too much. I wonder if the House and Senate didn't have their public option-yes that's right each member of Congress has publicly funded health care for all 535 of them (included the one who cried "liar" in a crowded theater (the US Capital) -how quickly this would pass.
An Outraged Thought:
Finally, addressing those "outraged" people who did attend and support the tea parties, the town halls antics, and those who thought that the President was going to corrupt the youth and school students please, please, don't say you are outraged, because you bring total disrespect to the words and its meaning. I ask that you speak to what you know of which is stupidity, absurdity, and conjecture.
I am not sure if the American public has been "dumb-downed" by episodes of Jerry Springer or Maury Povich to find this type of disrespect acceptable. I don't know if it was just me but I couldn't tell the congressional town hall meetings and these tea parties apart from scripted daytime television. Did Rep. Wilson of South Carolina misread his invitation or daily agenda yesterday and though he was going to a town hall meeting where heckling the United States President was permissible.
What has happened to this country, we can't even disagree anymore amicably. Health care is a moral issue. No one should have to make the choice of who lives or dies based on money. I have always found it interest on what we choose to spend money on and what not. I remember learning in economics the principle of "Needs vs. Wants" in high school. We spend money on wars and prisons but not enough on schools and believe the price of health care is too much. I wonder if the House and Senate didn't have their public option-yes that's right each member of Congress has publicly funded health care for all 535 of them (included the one who cried "liar" in a crowded theater (the US Capital) -how quickly this would pass.
An Outraged Thought:
Finally, addressing those "outraged" people who did attend and support the tea parties, the town halls antics, and those who thought that the President was going to corrupt the youth and school students please, please, don't say you are outraged, because you bring total disrespect to the words and its meaning. I ask that you speak to what you know of which is stupidity, absurdity, and conjecture.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Remembering the "Other" April 29th
I am sure that when most people think of April 29, they will think about 2009 and the end of the first 100 days of Barrack Obama's presidency. Some will speak of the calm that he has provided, others will say that he actually answers questions and is seen as very humorous and leveled. Others will criticize every small detail that the President has done but I think that we can hope for better days in our country just like we did on this same day in 1992.
You all remember April 29, 1992, right? The day of the verdict of the Rodney King trial in Los Angeles where police officers were filmed on tape beating a black suspect. The (white) police officers were acquitted of the crimes and the outrage spread like wildfire. A mob was born and as with most mobs senseless violence and rioting happened. It was once of the worst days for our country, the miscarriage of justice, and one of the first times that I felt outrage and frustration that this could happen in America.
We have turned the page in some sense, but I am not making a racial argument as much as I am a change in perspective. One thing that I can admire everyone on (The Parties of Yes we Can, Just Say No, and I am an Independent but Not Really) is that we are not having the trivial conversation that Obama is the Black President. For the most part we are talking issues seen and unforeseen (Pirates, Pandemic Flu, Torture, Iraq, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Banks, Cars, Newspapers, Health Care and so much more) I am sure that this may be more subjective than in 1992 but there is no obvious presence that he is doing a great job because he is black or he is doing terrible.
Of course there are the partisan pundits but some of you must realize that most of these baseless arguments that they make are nothing other than to make news and for them to remain important and paid. I was surprised during the Chicago Tea Party a few weeks ago that a CNN reporter was bashing Fox News and later found out that she was rejected when she applied to work there. Look how much the people who criticize the politicians get paid. MSNBC pays Keith Olbermann (former ESPN Anchor) an estimated $7.5 million per year. The leader of the Party of No, Rush Limbaugh has a $400 million contract through 2016 for his radio program. There are others that I can mention, as CNN "grades" the President and government, the spectators, the pundits, and the networks are profiting. Did you notice that none of the networks with their 100 day coverage didn't even mention the Rodney King trial or the Los Angeles Riots of 17 years ago? I wonder why? (and you should too!)
It is a great comparison and brings a fundamental question of our "progress." In my humble opinion, the Presidency of Barrack Obama has not ended racism and prejudice, it has just ended one chapter and started a new one. Just like the first 100 days, it is just the beginning and like many beginnings, it is just the start. There will be many 100 days for this President. The honest and fair grade for our new President is an I for incomplete because he will be judged more for his last 100 days than his first. Finally we can all say that on April 29th, something good happened but we can still remember the history of 1992 so we don't repeat it.
You all remember April 29, 1992, right? The day of the verdict of the Rodney King trial in Los Angeles where police officers were filmed on tape beating a black suspect. The (white) police officers were acquitted of the crimes and the outrage spread like wildfire. A mob was born and as with most mobs senseless violence and rioting happened. It was once of the worst days for our country, the miscarriage of justice, and one of the first times that I felt outrage and frustration that this could happen in America.
We have turned the page in some sense, but I am not making a racial argument as much as I am a change in perspective. One thing that I can admire everyone on (The Parties of Yes we Can, Just Say No, and I am an Independent but Not Really) is that we are not having the trivial conversation that Obama is the Black President. For the most part we are talking issues seen and unforeseen (Pirates, Pandemic Flu, Torture, Iraq, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Banks, Cars, Newspapers, Health Care and so much more) I am sure that this may be more subjective than in 1992 but there is no obvious presence that he is doing a great job because he is black or he is doing terrible.
Of course there are the partisan pundits but some of you must realize that most of these baseless arguments that they make are nothing other than to make news and for them to remain important and paid. I was surprised during the Chicago Tea Party a few weeks ago that a CNN reporter was bashing Fox News and later found out that she was rejected when she applied to work there. Look how much the people who criticize the politicians get paid. MSNBC pays Keith Olbermann (former ESPN Anchor) an estimated $7.5 million per year. The leader of the Party of No, Rush Limbaugh has a $400 million contract through 2016 for his radio program. There are others that I can mention, as CNN "grades" the President and government, the spectators, the pundits, and the networks are profiting. Did you notice that none of the networks with their 100 day coverage didn't even mention the Rodney King trial or the Los Angeles Riots of 17 years ago? I wonder why? (and you should too!)
It is a great comparison and brings a fundamental question of our "progress." In my humble opinion, the Presidency of Barrack Obama has not ended racism and prejudice, it has just ended one chapter and started a new one. Just like the first 100 days, it is just the beginning and like many beginnings, it is just the start. There will be many 100 days for this President. The honest and fair grade for our new President is an I for incomplete because he will be judged more for his last 100 days than his first. Finally we can all say that on April 29th, something good happened but we can still remember the history of 1992 so we don't repeat it.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sour Grapes and Misinformed Tea Parties
I don't know what else can be possibly done to the continuing attempt to discredit the President of the United States. As we approach Day 85 of Mr. Obama's Presidency, the Party of No along with others have been unsuccessfully attempting nicely and not so nicely to discredit Mr. Obama. So far these attempts have included:
Speaking of sour grapes it is now April and there is still one United States Senator missing from the party in Minnesota. Al Franken has been declared the winner (again) in the Senate race that should have out-seated Norm Coleman. It has been reported that he will likely appeal the results (again) and the Party of No has continually stated that they will block any attempts to seat the should be Senator Franken. Talk about sore losers, but that wasn't the talk when Al Gore was the loser despite that fact that he did win the popular vote. The Party of No back then told Gore to think about his country and he graciously bowed out to the one of the most legendary thefts in our history.
And now in the not so good spirit of the Boston Tea party with the help of what rhymes with Box News is this tea party-like protest of President Obama and his 85 day old policies. I call it desperation and just like the banks, the auto industry, and the newspapers. Is this all that the Party of No has left? They too have sacrificed long term success for short terms gains. In the short 12 years (1995-2007) of their dominance in Congress and the eight years (2001-2008) in the White House, like Citibank, GM, Chrysler, and the New York Times, the Party of Just Say No has not created a blueprint for the future of their party. They have no plan, no idea, and no identity. Their base is slowly dying off and as more of the country are waking up and separating their personal and social views from the practice of how our government should work.
The Party of No and their agents (Rush, Hannity and Glenn Beck) the unofficial leaders of this group. They argue of how much money Mr. Obama has spent and how he is going to raise taxes and why he didn't adopt his daughters' dog from a shelter. They nicely criticize his decisions and resort to lies, smoke and mirrors. Sound like anyone else you know? Wall Street? Is this a return to yellow journalism? Fox News will be "reporting" from the events of these tea parties on April 15 and will continue their operation to misinform, confuse, and distract their audience from rational thought in a "balanced" attempt to report the news.
This is a tell-tell sign that the Party of Just Say No's ship is sinking and fast. I just hope that they can take out the Pirates on their way down.
- Attacking Mr. Obama's citizenship which has been clearly proven. Yes, there is a birth certificate but these just say no guys and gals and their political commentator friends keep this baseless story alive.
- Making the continuing claim that Mr. Obama is trying to raise taxes. Taxes are actually down and most do not go into effect until 2011.
- Been attacked by the former Vice President Cheney that he is making our country less safe.
- Has been deemed not qualified for receiving an honorary degree (he's the President of the United States.) He should use Arizona State degree when he does it as target practice.
- Not receiving a single Republican vote on his recovery act, the budget, and besides smiling for the camera, no visible support from those no people.
- Oh, I forgot, he's been called a Socialist, an elitist, and been deemed the guy that want to take the gun lover's guns away. Have you seen the news recently, people and guns don't go well together?
Speaking of sour grapes it is now April and there is still one United States Senator missing from the party in Minnesota. Al Franken has been declared the winner (again) in the Senate race that should have out-seated Norm Coleman. It has been reported that he will likely appeal the results (again) and the Party of No has continually stated that they will block any attempts to seat the should be Senator Franken. Talk about sore losers, but that wasn't the talk when Al Gore was the loser despite that fact that he did win the popular vote. The Party of No back then told Gore to think about his country and he graciously bowed out to the one of the most legendary thefts in our history.
And now in the not so good spirit of the Boston Tea party with the help of what rhymes with Box News is this tea party-like protest of President Obama and his 85 day old policies. I call it desperation and just like the banks, the auto industry, and the newspapers. Is this all that the Party of No has left? They too have sacrificed long term success for short terms gains. In the short 12 years (1995-2007) of their dominance in Congress and the eight years (2001-2008) in the White House, like Citibank, GM, Chrysler, and the New York Times, the Party of Just Say No has not created a blueprint for the future of their party. They have no plan, no idea, and no identity. Their base is slowly dying off and as more of the country are waking up and separating their personal and social views from the practice of how our government should work.
The Party of No and their agents (Rush, Hannity and Glenn Beck) the unofficial leaders of this group. They argue of how much money Mr. Obama has spent and how he is going to raise taxes and why he didn't adopt his daughters' dog from a shelter. They nicely criticize his decisions and resort to lies, smoke and mirrors. Sound like anyone else you know? Wall Street? Is this a return to yellow journalism? Fox News will be "reporting" from the events of these tea parties on April 15 and will continue their operation to misinform, confuse, and distract their audience from rational thought in a "balanced" attempt to report the news.
This is a tell-tell sign that the Party of Just Say No's ship is sinking and fast. I just hope that they can take out the Pirates on their way down.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Can We Resurrect Common Sense?
I can't pinpoint exactly when common sense died, ceased to exist, or whether it has been in hibernation, but it is a fact that its absence has had a profound effect on us all. The category of the utterly stupid, mundane, and moronic things that people shouldn't do is growing at an alarming rate. Common sense would have eradicated most of this and it is time for Common Sense to make a comeback.
Nothing outrages me more when smart people avoid their natural instincts and do very stupid things. It's even worse when people have the ability to profit from their dumb exploits by filing lawsuits to make it someone else's fault. Remember the lady that put the very hot coffee between her legs, burned herself, and has the audacity to sue and win a lawsuit against McDonald's? The original damages amounted to $2.86 million but that was later reduced to less than $640,000. Read the full story here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald%27s_Restaurants
How about the man that sued a cleaners for $54 million dollars for his lost pants? This saga has lasted for nearly 4 years (May 2005) and the man who sued was a former judge. He should have known from all people that this was groundless. Then again he tried to abuse the system. This story is at http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/18/pants.lawsuit/index.html.
Add this to the countless internet e-mail scams that just don't sound right like finding true love in Nigeria, Russia, or other parts unknown. How about shipping goods across the world and expecting to profit and then surprised to know that you just conspired in the possession of stolen property. How about that click online with the promise of something free. There are many other embarrassing ones that we would not confess to anyone.
My parents (who are not so outraged) taught me the important tool of common sense and not to say I have not been tricked or lied to, my odds were just improved. I don't take too many free lunches or reply to my spam mail and trust anyone just because they know my name. I also don't trust everyone in a business suit with a smile. After 11 years in the financial services industry, please don't. Remember these folks played a large role in the financial crisis which brings me to some of my suggestions of the new rules of common sense.
The Outraged Citizen's rules of Common Sense
Here a just a few tips that could be useful:
Nothing outrages me more when smart people avoid their natural instincts and do very stupid things. It's even worse when people have the ability to profit from their dumb exploits by filing lawsuits to make it someone else's fault. Remember the lady that put the very hot coffee between her legs, burned herself, and has the audacity to sue and win a lawsuit against McDonald's? The original damages amounted to $2.86 million but that was later reduced to less than $640,000. Read the full story here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald%27s_Restaurants
How about the man that sued a cleaners for $54 million dollars for his lost pants? This saga has lasted for nearly 4 years (May 2005) and the man who sued was a former judge. He should have known from all people that this was groundless. Then again he tried to abuse the system. This story is at http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/18/pants.lawsuit/index.html.
Add this to the countless internet e-mail scams that just don't sound right like finding true love in Nigeria, Russia, or other parts unknown. How about shipping goods across the world and expecting to profit and then surprised to know that you just conspired in the possession of stolen property. How about that click online with the promise of something free. There are many other embarrassing ones that we would not confess to anyone.
My parents (who are not so outraged) taught me the important tool of common sense and not to say I have not been tricked or lied to, my odds were just improved. I don't take too many free lunches or reply to my spam mail and trust anyone just because they know my name. I also don't trust everyone in a business suit with a smile. After 11 years in the financial services industry, please don't. Remember these folks played a large role in the financial crisis which brings me to some of my suggestions of the new rules of common sense.
The Outraged Citizen's rules of Common Sense
Here a just a few tips that could be useful:
- Buy only what you can afford and I'm not talking about your credit card limit.
- Free isn't always free, i.e. lunch, contest, giveaways. You are paying for it somehow and you just don't know it.
- No one has your best interest in mind no more than you do. That means that most people don't what you to do things for you, they want you to do things for THEM.
- Congress read bills before voting on them. Actually this goes for everyone. Read contracts and agreements before you sign them, especially if you were not the one who wrote it.
- Be mindful when reading your e-mail inbox. That virus you have on your computer maybe because of the latest naked celeb picture your "friend" e-mailed you.
- Be sure who your "friends" are. In the world of Myspace and Facebook your friends should be people that you actually and physically know. There are clear differences between a friend and an acquaintance. This will be clear when you are faced with obstacles later.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Looking Into A Mirror, Darkly
Amongst all of the murders, kidnappings, and other gruesome crimes that happens each day in our country we continue to say that we Americans still hold the high moral ground of the world. Our obsession with violence is manifested in most of our television shows, our movies, and our video games which has successfully de-stigmatized our nation and our children. In the past month alone the "Breaking News" has been:
Last week, the Afghan Government approved a law that made it legal for men to rape their wives and the outrage came from all who heard it. I saw the political pundits and the international community alike say that this was heinously wrong which cause its President to re-look at this this law. This week when President Obama visited Turkey and address is legislature and spoke positive thoughts of Islam, a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll was released stating that only 51% of US citizens trust our Muslim country allies and 48% say that they trust our Muslim allies less than our other allies. What troubles me is what if the men who committed the murders of these police officers or the shooting in New York was Middle Eastern would we have called these events "terrorist attacks?"
I am outraged that we don't see our country as it truly is...a crazed violent nation!
We Americans give so much of our opinion on international matters. We state how the crimes and genocide in Darfur are terrible, how the human slavery rate is the at the highest rate in human history, how terrible crimes are happening through out the world (which they are and I will say are awful). The problem is we somehow think and convince ourselves that everywhere else in the world these crimes are somehow savage or pictured as somehow worse because they occur outside the United States.
Remember during Hurricane Katrina some of the news media used the term "refugees" to identify American citizens who experienced and are continuing to experience a terrible ordeal that our government still has not responded to adequately. This was somehow used to make these citizens less than what they were CITIZENS of the United States of AMERICA. I am sure you have seen countless crimes in the heartland, in the suburbs, and in small towns where you can always see some eyewitness or neighbor say the oh so cliche comment, "Things like this don't happen here." The Pittsburgh police chief said it this past Saturday (or words to that effect) at a press conference comparing his city to my hometown of Oakland, CA in the disbelief that a man killed three of his officers. I interpreted it that we here are somehow savages and that other areas of the country have a more moral sensibility.
I have news of all of you. We are not the nation that should condemn or preach to the world about or use OUR religion(s) that we are somehow the moral country of the world. Here is a wake up call, we have more people in prison (2.3 million or 1 per 100 people) than the second ranked country China (yeah the country with the human rights violations we all complain about) with 1.5 million while China has FOUR times the population. Oh, I forgot to mention that when you account for people on probation and parole that number goes up to 7.2 million as of 2007.
An Outraged Thought:
How about we take a break from criticizing the rest of the world and take a very long look in the mirror. How about we take the AK-47 and the other automatic weapons our of that hands of citizens that turn to violence and handle our own house. We need to remind ourselves that the Second Amendment is the right to bear arms, that was a rifle in 1776. I cannot think that the founding fathers intended for everyone to own a weapon like an AK-47 that shoots multiple rounds like a rate of 600 rounds a minute: check for yourself, it's on Wikipedia. We need to take a look in the mirror and take care of our own business before we start preaching to the world again.
- Two police shootings where four police officers died in California and three died in Pennsylvania with shooters with weapons that no average citizen need. Update: The Pennsylvania shooter claimed that he was afraid that his gun rights would be taken away.
- A man kills 13 people and then himself in New York, because he is not liked and recently lost his job. Update #2: He shot 98 rounds in a minute!
- A man in Washington kills his five children and then himself because his wife is leaving him for another man.
- A young girl in California is kidnapped, killed, and God knows what else.
Last week, the Afghan Government approved a law that made it legal for men to rape their wives and the outrage came from all who heard it. I saw the political pundits and the international community alike say that this was heinously wrong which cause its President to re-look at this this law. This week when President Obama visited Turkey and address is legislature and spoke positive thoughts of Islam, a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll was released stating that only 51% of US citizens trust our Muslim country allies and 48% say that they trust our Muslim allies less than our other allies. What troubles me is what if the men who committed the murders of these police officers or the shooting in New York was Middle Eastern would we have called these events "terrorist attacks?"
I am outraged that we don't see our country as it truly is...a crazed violent nation!
We Americans give so much of our opinion on international matters. We state how the crimes and genocide in Darfur are terrible, how the human slavery rate is the at the highest rate in human history, how terrible crimes are happening through out the world (which they are and I will say are awful). The problem is we somehow think and convince ourselves that everywhere else in the world these crimes are somehow savage or pictured as somehow worse because they occur outside the United States.
Remember during Hurricane Katrina some of the news media used the term "refugees" to identify American citizens who experienced and are continuing to experience a terrible ordeal that our government still has not responded to adequately. This was somehow used to make these citizens less than what they were CITIZENS of the United States of AMERICA. I am sure you have seen countless crimes in the heartland, in the suburbs, and in small towns where you can always see some eyewitness or neighbor say the oh so cliche comment, "Things like this don't happen here." The Pittsburgh police chief said it this past Saturday (or words to that effect) at a press conference comparing his city to my hometown of Oakland, CA in the disbelief that a man killed three of his officers. I interpreted it that we here are somehow savages and that other areas of the country have a more moral sensibility.
I have news of all of you. We are not the nation that should condemn or preach to the world about or use OUR religion(s) that we are somehow the moral country of the world. Here is a wake up call, we have more people in prison (2.3 million or 1 per 100 people) than the second ranked country China (yeah the country with the human rights violations we all complain about) with 1.5 million while China has FOUR times the population. Oh, I forgot to mention that when you account for people on probation and parole that number goes up to 7.2 million as of 2007.
An Outraged Thought:
How about we take a break from criticizing the rest of the world and take a very long look in the mirror. How about we take the AK-47 and the other automatic weapons our of that hands of citizens that turn to violence and handle our own house. We need to remind ourselves that the Second Amendment is the right to bear arms, that was a rifle in 1776. I cannot think that the founding fathers intended for everyone to own a weapon like an AK-47 that shoots multiple rounds like a rate of 600 rounds a minute: check for yourself, it's on Wikipedia. We need to take a look in the mirror and take care of our own business before we start preaching to the world again.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Failure is Good...Isn't It?
One of the greatest lessons I learned in college was from a hard-nosed Belgium professor. Back then my goal was to become an attorney and this was my first legal studies course. This professor was hard nosed, stubborn, and didn't waste time explaining things. He hated the Latin language and did not allow anyone to speak Latin-based words. He cared very little of how his students felt and after a midterm where he failed most of the class, he said something that I have remembered clearly for the past ten years. "Failure is good...you Americans are all concerned about your grades, concerned about going to law school, and concerned about being successful. You argue too hard for your 'A' grades, well sometimes you just need to fail, because failure is good!" By the way I got a D in that class, but it was still one of the best lessons that I learned.
I watched the President's remarks yesterday while he explained his reasons for still giving GM and Chrysler a life line to survive until they come up with their next plans to rise out of the ashes. I thought about my Professor and knew exactly what he would have thought. His wrath would not only have been to the auto industry but to the banks, the newspapers, and everyone else. Let them fail.
I am outraged that failure is no longer acceptable
Failure is the basis of which success is built on. The best ideas have risen from the fundamental failures that have come before. Failure is the great test of whether one should try again. Failure presents the opportunity to rethink, to innovate, to envision. This opportunity is being taken away like phrases like "too big to fail." Failure allows us to take in the lessons learned and simply put not to repeat ourselves. A banker I knew in upper management once told me that, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." This was also about ten years ago, when we allowed failing companies to guess what...fail!!!
Our country has spent countless millions on saving our capitalist system in a not so capitalistic way. The billions that were spent could have been better spend. What did we really pay for: remodeling offices, purchasing corporate jets, giving "retention bonuses" to people who were not retained. We have been rewarding failure instead of penalizing and punishing it. The penalty for failure used to be that your company was out of business and someone would create something better. We have become a country of old ideas. Old is just old, just look at Congress. I can firmly see why things don't work there because the same old people have their same old ideas regardless of what party is in power.
What about the business models of banks or the car industry or newspapers? Did they ever have a blueprint to evolve? What genius thought of making those same gas guzzling cars, trucks, and minivans? Could the newspaper industry see their subscriptions decline and see the rise of craigslist, blogs, and the rise of internet usage to view the news? What about banks and the idea that refinancing the same house 7 times was still a good idea? Someone had to see all of this coming or were we all just marveled by the thing that was formerly called success. Where did all of the new ideas go? Remember the exact same thing happened to AOL years ago when they had over 45 million customers on dial-up. They didn't plan far enough ahead with to introduce broadband, got behind, and is now dying a slow death.
An Outraged Idea: Let's stop with the fear mongering and say good bye to one of these banks and automobile companies. Let's give some unknown genius the opportunity to create something that can start the next great economy. Let's take this old system off life support, let it die, and allow it to be reborn. Let us allow failure to be the beginning of our next economic boom.
I watched the President's remarks yesterday while he explained his reasons for still giving GM and Chrysler a life line to survive until they come up with their next plans to rise out of the ashes. I thought about my Professor and knew exactly what he would have thought. His wrath would not only have been to the auto industry but to the banks, the newspapers, and everyone else. Let them fail.
I am outraged that failure is no longer acceptable
Failure is the basis of which success is built on. The best ideas have risen from the fundamental failures that have come before. Failure is the great test of whether one should try again. Failure presents the opportunity to rethink, to innovate, to envision. This opportunity is being taken away like phrases like "too big to fail." Failure allows us to take in the lessons learned and simply put not to repeat ourselves. A banker I knew in upper management once told me that, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." This was also about ten years ago, when we allowed failing companies to guess what...fail!!!
Our country has spent countless millions on saving our capitalist system in a not so capitalistic way. The billions that were spent could have been better spend. What did we really pay for: remodeling offices, purchasing corporate jets, giving "retention bonuses" to people who were not retained. We have been rewarding failure instead of penalizing and punishing it. The penalty for failure used to be that your company was out of business and someone would create something better. We have become a country of old ideas. Old is just old, just look at Congress. I can firmly see why things don't work there because the same old people have their same old ideas regardless of what party is in power.
What about the business models of banks or the car industry or newspapers? Did they ever have a blueprint to evolve? What genius thought of making those same gas guzzling cars, trucks, and minivans? Could the newspaper industry see their subscriptions decline and see the rise of craigslist, blogs, and the rise of internet usage to view the news? What about banks and the idea that refinancing the same house 7 times was still a good idea? Someone had to see all of this coming or were we all just marveled by the thing that was formerly called success. Where did all of the new ideas go? Remember the exact same thing happened to AOL years ago when they had over 45 million customers on dial-up. They didn't plan far enough ahead with to introduce broadband, got behind, and is now dying a slow death.
An Outraged Idea: Let's stop with the fear mongering and say good bye to one of these banks and automobile companies. Let's give some unknown genius the opportunity to create something that can start the next great economy. Let's take this old system off life support, let it die, and allow it to be reborn. Let us allow failure to be the beginning of our next economic boom.
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