The Solution to the Economic Crisis? Ask House!!

The economic crisis brings to bear the importance of understanding systems in development problem-solving because when properly used, even such a world calamity like this can be quickly and easily solved.

Take an average episode of House. A patient comes in with heart problems, lung problems, kidney failure, he’s coughing blood, and his eye pops out. In the end, House gives him a simple injection, repairs any necessary physical damage and the body begins to heal itself.

House uses a systemic approach to problem solving. Rather than treat every ailment that comes along, he uses the symptoms (and sometimes causes them) to identify the malfunctioning system which then exposes the cause.

Treating the symptoms,( i.e. replacing a kidney, implanting a pace maker) may provide short term relief, but is much more costly and still doesn’t address the cause. Whereas replacing missing whatever mineral, repairs the system which expands the lungs, which gets the heart pumping normally, which improves circulation, which relaxes eye muscles, etc.

The economy, like a body, is a cooperation of various parts, driven by profit (greed) and balanced with loss (risk), which when working together creates a strong whole. The crisis happened when poison (subprime loans) was introduced into a system in which the threat of loss was removed by politicians who refused to regulate causing economy to react, adjust and eventually malfunction. Basically banks stopped lending, businesses faced closure, people lost jobs, selling stopped, which gave businesses less money, and the circle continues.

The medicine of choice was a 700 billion bailout (to start) to save hurting businesses and banks. The question is if money is the solution and is it addressing the cause or simply treating symptoms? Let’s see, regulation and oversight still do not exist, the greed is redirected to handouts, hoarding replaces lending, the bad loans aren’t eradicated, but the balance brought by the threat of loss is.
If this were a hospital, a malpractice suit would ensue. But the priority right now is survival.

The solution is easy, we have the wrong people in the wrong system. We have finance wizards solving a money problem. Yet money isn’t the problem since we just injected over a trillion into the economy. We need systems people solving a people problem.

Why waste a lot treating symptoms of a system, when a simple injection would do; which is basically what the defectors in the House have said all along.

Education: To Think or What to Think....That is the Question

Education is the key and cornerstone to each and every society and the answer to the world’s social problems. The choices made by both people and societies are made based on learned perceptions and beliefs. Yet, if those choices do not lead to solutions, rather perpetuate negative development…than education is no longer the answer but the problem leading to the conclusion that the learning has been less about education and more about indoctrination.

Indoctrination is instilling a set of beliefs and information from a specified point of view. Anytime value or judgment is attributed to presented information it is indoctrination; right and wrong, good and bad, etc.

Education is the development of skills to interact with information/beliefs in order to develop your own. Information and values on information are presented without judgment.

The attributes of indoctrination include controlled information and values to a set pre-defined result. Information is easily presentable and therefore easily measured through recall. The methodology of learning is memorization and therefore the skill set achieved is remembering. The outcome of indoctrination encourages imitation and therefore progress is actually devolving.

The attributes of education are controlled information with various values to a personally defined result. Information is experienced and measured through problem-solving. The methodology is understanding or application of information developing discernment. The outcome of education leads to innovation and therefore an evolution of information.

I’m not against indoctrination, success breeds success and in many cases it is necessary when there is a lack of experience or areas where there are few role models.

However, indoctrination alone hinders development restricting free thought, experimentation and personalization. It is also a problem when educators take it upon themselves to impart values and replicate themselves in someone else’s children.

A 5th grade teacher was just filmed in the US criticizing her students’ presidential choices. Central European Universities haven’t publicized a new idea in decades. Students of the Koran come out of some schools promoting violence even though the scriptures support the opposite.

In developing nations, do we want to ignore progress only to repeat the last generation?

Do you want your children learning about Social Justice from Bill Ayers?

Is the person you’re learning from the person you want to be?

It is the goal to learn how to think….or what to think?

If answers to the above are “No,” then it is necessary to perform due diligence on your learning institutions to see if the presentation of information is value-based.

EVERYONE does what they believe to be in their best self interests. Belief is limited to access to information and perception. So, if the progress that is expected is not happening or happening in directions they seem to go away from self-interests, look in the key development institutions. Either the information is not available, or indoctrination is.

Who's "The Man" now?

Congrats goes out to the success of Barak Obama and therefore equal opportunity. Unfortunately that also means Affirmative Action took a hit, sending those who choose to hide incompetence behind claims of racial inequality running for new excuses to fail.

What the election also does is reaffirm to American Citizens and to the world abroad that the “Land of Opportunity” gives the hope to achieve, not the disenchantment to complain.

Affirmative Action and many groups like it may have good intentions in helping all to reach the “American Dream,” but their methodologies such as racial quotas and non-universal testing only enflames the influence of discrimination rather than lessening it.

I am a second generation immigrant. My father came to the US, learned the language, studied at school, adjusted to a completely new culture, worked hard to achieve his dream, and now retires watching his own children succeed.

Growing up, I don’t recall EVER hearing him use cultural differences as an excuse. Of course there was ridicule, of course there was resistance, of course there were problems, but that was NEVER something that would deny him of his goals.
We were raised to work hard, do our best, use our heads, and never give up. We were also raised not to expect or even wait for life to “give us a break,” “help us out,” or “always be fair,” but to take what life gives you…both good and bad…to make yourself better.

For my father, or his children, there were no government hand outs, no skewed or weighted measuring systems, nor did we expect it. And we’d probably reject them even if we did qualify just out of sheer pride.
Because the truth is, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights IS our Affirmative Action. It WAS built to level the playing field. And it IS what makes the U.S. the Land of Opportunity.

Many questioned the unparalleled support that was given to Barack Obama by the mainstream media. Yes he did run an incredible campaign and the opposition was less than inspiring, but the lack of scrutiny in letting the public know about who he is instead of immortalizing him was laughable.

So much so, that the only explanation I can find is that the influence of Affirmative Action is so ingrained in society, that well…I guess he needed help! And how unfair to also give equal time to the old white man.

Regardless, Barak Obama is our next President and of course for the sake of our country and the world of which it is highly influential, I wish him well.

However, where Affirmative Action goes wrong, although it may help one get a position by enhancing qualifications or handicapping others, it certainly doesn’t guarantee performance.

Accomplished people like Condilezza Rice, JUD Clarence Thomas, John Thompson, Meg Whitman, even Oprah didn't need a lot of help to get them to their success. Are they the exception or the rule?

Obama brings the national spotlight to equal opportunity. And regardless of how he does, the US should finally be balanced to equality based solely on performance. There should be no more excuses.

Because “The Man” is a different man…and it’ll be interesting to see who is blamed now.

Power over Fear

When I was 10 years old, my parents took me to a night seminar on the evils of Rock n Roll. The presentation was mostly about demons, drugs, and death; aligning it with Rock using media, marketing and music played backwards. The driving beat of the drums, the screaming guitars, all language of the devil trying to seduce to the dark side.

I was an energetic, imaginative child. You can imagine what this did to my psyche.

Once home, I went immediately to bed, and when the lights turned off…it was on! I started to see things. Shapes would form in the middle of my cluttered floor. The Beatles were hiding under my bed, KISS and Meatloaf would show up in my closet. I froze. I was scared to the point of sickness. I was so petrified, that even though my bathroom was 10 feet from my bed, I not only vomited in my bed, but laid in it for the rest of the night.

Fear is an incredibly powerful emotion. Based primarily on the avoidance of pain, it affects an incredible portion of our lives. Imagine the choices that would be different if fear weren’t a factor.

Would that relationship have ended…or better yet….started? Would you have been so worried? Would money still be in that rising stock? Would you be independently self-sufficient? Would life feel fulfilled instead of left wanting? Would that pain feel so bad? Would we be fighting that war?

There are two types of fear. One based on understanding and respect, such as with fire, your father’s anger, or Al Franken in the Senate. The other is the emotional “fight or flight” response caused from a lack of knowing or a lack of control that hits when entering a dark room, your teenager not coming home on time, or talking to the cute stranger across the room.

It is not that the dark room, missing child, or possible rejection are not real issues. But it is how we deal with the issue that is important. We could let emotion take over and react irrationally, or get control to respond intentionally and strategically.

The War in Iraq is hated by those who view it as a response to fear, yet seen as ingenious by those who view it as strategic. The fearful Michal Moore’s of the world see fear, and run, emboldening fringe religious groups. The Bush’s saw opportunity and changed an ideological face-less war against US citizens to a land grab on non-US soil against professionals. The strategic response also gave opposition who previously had nothing to lose, consequences which make them think.

Everyone feels fear. Control over fear is a result of the assurance.and confidence that comes from knowledge or control. What alleviates that fear in the dark room? Light. The mother worrying all night? A phone call. Talking to that beautiful girl across the room? A comforting smile or an introduction from a friend.

Ever met a micro-manager, an over-protective parent, a jealous partner? They have immature behavioral responses to gaining assurance, they are afraid. Maturity comes from understanding and experience.

However, sometimes life doesn’t provide light, there is no phone call, or you are alone. Sometimes you’re thrown into unknown situations and forced to respond.

In my early days in Eastern Europe, I found a place to get corrective eye surgery at a fraction of the western cost. I mentioned it to a friend who agreed to do it with me. Although not knowing what to expect, we were emboldened to try. We knew there would be pain, but in the middle of the night, the healing pain felt like KILLING pain. I panicked. Lost my mind, thought my eye was destroyed. The pain got unbearable. I wanted to run, rip off the bandages and do……something! Then my friend shouted out from the next room, “Hey, did you feel that??”

There was something in the knowledge of shared experience that calmed me. The fact that he was going through the same thing, somehow assured me that this was normal. We both didn’t know exactly and had no experience, but doing it together, we were stronger, and with that strength came peace. So we both went back to sleep.

I think that’s why the Psalmist in need would sing: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…I fear no evil for You are with me, your rod and your staff …they comfort me.” He found something/someone to believe in, that would take him through the dark places. His faith, would alleviate his fear and help him continue his path.

So the question is…what important decisions are coming up? What are the decisions based on? Are you sacrificing relationships, opportunities, fulfillment simply to avoid the unknown? React strategically with assurance, instead of emotionally for avoidance. Abandon yourself to your faith and enjoy the peace that surpasses all understanding. It's better than sleeping in vomit.

Finding Election Day Peace in Divine Providence

This election year seems to be more heated than others. I’ve seen numbers of friends turn on each other simply because of a difference in political views. I’ve seen as much if not more divisiveness this year in politics than I’ve seen in religion. Basically the country is split. And although it is good to see more people more involved in democracy, it is a harbinger of danger come 5 November. The message needs to go out, that whoever wins the election, should receive the respect and authority from all US citizens that the President-elect deserves. For those who will find that difficult, divine providence is a way alleviate your concerns.

Those who believe in the divine are expected to find solace in their own beliefs, or why make the effort? A Christian by faith, not merely tradition or lip service, has the ability from a biblical perspective to abandon themselves completely to the will of the omniscient and omnipotent.

..do not worry about your life…your heavenly Father knows your needs…but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given. (Matt. 6:25-34)

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches.. (Phil. 4:19)

Commit your ways to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass. (Ps. 37:5)

And from the Apostle Paul:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God…and we rejoice in the Hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings because suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope… (Rom. 5:1-5)

The work and effort, then, of a believer is to focus on faith. Faith leads to abandonment that allows our souls to exist not in worry or fear, but in peace. The purpose of God taking our burden is to provide the freedom to obey and therefore exercise His highest calling…unconditional love (sounds like a divine “bailout plan”).

Abandonment to the Divine applies to politics and all authority structures, “Everyone MUST submit himself to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established!“ (Rom. 13:1)

Case in point, if the person I voted for doesn’t win, my faith and therefore the call of God, leads me to support him.

Divine providence tells me there is a plan. And good or bad, that plan is in place for a reason. I need to submit to that, regardless.

It doesn’t mean I agree. It doesn’t mean I do not exercise my right to voice against, in truth, it the people of the democracy who ultimately lead. But it does NOT mean I disobey.To not comply, is to negate the most important part of who I am, my faith.

When focused on faith, and allowing ourselves to be abandoned to the will of God, we release ourselves from the strains and destructiveness of worry and fear and are therefore free to respect authorities, honor God, and strengthen faith. Hopefully, enough will get the message and we can avoid tragedy after the election.