It's Not About Winning

Upon hearing the defection of Sen. Spector to the Democratic Party, a friend contacted me to gloat. Cheers and catcalls of “you’re going down!” “you guys suck.” “chalk another victory up for the blue!” reigned in. Sure it was in friendly banter, but I felt like I was back in school. And that is the point, this isn’t a game, this is about life, it is about how we live. My frustration wasn’t about a blow to a party, it was about how off base we are.

Red vs. blue, donkey’s vs elephants, right vs left. We talk about the dumbing down of America, but I guess that also includes stunting the growth of maturity. We’ve reduced life’s decision to a game of votes. And somehow, we’ve allowed ourselves to be distracted by that instead of focusing on how we live. And from the information floating in the media and in blogs throughout the ‘net, most of those are more interested in sides than solutions, on “who” said what, instead of “what” was said, on “positions” rather than on “principles.”

In following the President’s press conference the other night, I heard a lot of great answers, but not details. I heard about success, I heard about overcoming, I heard about winning. But I didn’t’ hear HOW. Those already enamored by the President, didn’t care about the details, just happily appeased with the proposed end result. They didn’t’ care about the direction, just the euphoric vision of how he interprets that vision to be. It seems discernment among the public is seriously lacking.

Am I saying this because “my side” is losing? I don’t care which mascot gets the prize. I care about having a fulfilling life. I care about the opportunities for me and my family. I care about the safety and well being of those close to me. I care about making the world a better place when I leave then when I came. As I sit back and watch the current administration take public money to buy power, I have to ask if my concerns above are threatened.

I tend to ask questions based not on what I hear, but on what I don’t. Maybe you can answer it for me?

• How will be pay off the debt we’re incurring to pay for all these programs? And who will do that?

• How will the government, which hasn’t run a successful program (both profit or non-profit), run the auto industry? And if you want to “get out as soon as possible” when and how?

• Why is it good to raise so much money that we don’t really have, to make drastic changes to a healthcare program which is currently already covers over 90% of the population?

• How will “being nice” and appeasing keep us safe against enemies that are ideologically opposed to “who we are?”

• When dealing with enemies caught on the battlefield, those who risk death to kill as many Americans as possible, are caught. Why is it EVIL to get life saving information through techniques that: don’t leave any marks, don’t leave any scars, create NO permanent damage physically or psychologically, and never put the subject into life-threatening situations? And what other ways do you propose to get that information from those people that are trained and willing to die anyway for their cause?

• How is capping the success of one person, to give to another who isn’t, empowering and better for society rather than enabling and creating an even bigger burden?

...because the only win I'm interested in, is life.

Looking for a Party

No I didn’t teabag, but like many other Americans, I share frustration with the current state of affairs and concern for the future of a great nation. So I’m looking for a party that shares, not defines, my principles. I don’t care about the name, I don’t care about who is endorsing, I don’t care if it’s COOL, or if it’s new. I care about results. The following 15 points describes the type of leadership I will support in order of priority:

1. National Defense –The number one privilege is to live life in safety and liberty. Any governments’ #1 priority is to keep its member safe both at home and abroad. Being the Nice guy has NEVER stopped or prevented aggression on the contrary, it encourages it (ever deal with a bully problem at school?). Fear of not being liked in my opinion is not a good policy for defense or leadership. Preventive is always best, but we need to be in a position to do so. Was it a coincidence that renegade leaders in Libya and mad nuclear sceintiests fell in line shortly after the attack on Iraq?

2. Freedom – we are who we are because of our rights. The constitution is timeless and the Rights differentiate us from the rest of the world. If you’ve spent any time in Russia, especially outside the tourist areas, you’ll notice the reality between real freedom and suppression.

3. Law Enforcement – Freedom without Rules is chaos. Try playing a game without rules, without parameters, without disciplined skill. Not very fun and not very safe. There may be the freedom to play, but what you can actually do is limited to your abilities and knowledge of the game. Although we have freedoms, there are limits, and there are consequence when we test and go beyond those limits, regardless of intentions. There is a way society works, and law enforcement is there to make sure of that. Again, prevention is best, but when not, enforcement should be swift and with resolve in a way that supports prevention.

4. Opportunity – I’m a second generation immigrant. My parents with little but their education, and my father learning a new culture and language, they were able to build a very successful life and impart those values in their children. America should return to a performance based culture, which gives EVERYONE opportunity, not handouts, regardless of status, culture, religion and any of the other ways people segregate. Like any good game, the value is offered, the qualifications set, and rules enforced. The results belong to those who choose to participate. The only real failure goes to those who choose not to. Government should only participate if it plays by the same rules. Inefficiency should never lead.

5. Government – the constitution is clear, the government is divided into 3 branches with 3 separate powers for balance. The legislative legislates, the executive – executes, and the judicial JUDGES. Problems arise when they extend or ignore their roles. Judges should NOT legislate or execute. Legislature or Executive should not be judging. And none of them should be running companies, unless they play by the same rules as everyone else.

6. Society - the US is by the people for the people not by the government/power/corp for the government/power/corp. We project and protect the liberty of the people. We’ve lost that. A high percentage of the social programs that are supported by the government, and not equally so by the people are…wait for it…corrupt! Why are the people paying for in taxes these organizations that don’t represent the values of the American people? Let the markets decide who succeeds in the market and likewise the people decide what affects our society. Why does this work? The American people are #1 in the world for giving and charities both home and abroad.

7. Responsibility – how can the government of the largest and one of the best economies in the world be SO inefficient and irresponsible with performance? It makes no sense. The only one remotely close that was serious about it was Ross Perot, that would’ve been interesting. Is it really so hard?

8. Education – there’s no reason for a country with the best universities in the world producing such poor education k-12. No reason. And there’s no reason that getting there demands more tax payer money to do so. In the world’s most competitive society of bigger, faster, stronger, our education is top-heavy, limping, and weak.

9. Legal – the US is the joke of the world in terms of legal compensation. Of course there needs to be law, and civil law creates societal balance but it’s out of control and ruining our economy. It adversely affects the costs of Healthcare, Education, and Production. The Legal system in the US currently runs as extortion, and it needs to be reined in.

10. Healthcare – only after frivolous civil lawsuits are under control can we begin to tackle healthcare. But tackle it we must. However the solutions must be fiscally responsible. There are many great proposals. Throwing money we don’t have into a system we can’t afford is NOT a solution. Simply copying another country is sophomoric, since we have some of the best and most creative minds in the world.

11. Taxes – another huge waste. Let’s have a policy that makes sense, that encourages growth, and competition both home and internationally. The best minds in the world are NOT in government, they are competing in the markets. We should be using living organizational principles to take advantage of that, not tax it. This is part of Efficiency (#7) Step 1: reduce government, Step 2: institute a responsible fiscal policy: a flat tax or fair tax. Step 3: reduce spending.

12. Corruption – corruption exists when there is a lack of regulation enforcement, a lack of transparency, and an arbitrary distribution of value/wealth. We need leaders who are not afraid to step up.

13. Accountability – in light of #12, strong leadership regulates itself firmly, not waiting for it to hit the press, or wait for a crisis event, but knows what it is doing and takes care of it. I would expect nothing less from the companies I invest in, why would I expect less from my government?

14. Moral Issues - I’m not a fan of government dictating moral stances, rather give it up to popular votes and state management.

15. Candidates - I don't think it's too much to ask to have the best most qualified candidates to choose from, not just the ones that have legacy, fill quotas, or are simply the "next-in-line."

Any suggestions?

Change without Transparency leads to Rebellion

People spend a majority of time adjusting to circumstances in pursuit of comfort. And once there, our natural inclination is to resist change until a new opportunity justifies it. Yet, even in the process of change, there are comfort levels, be it pace or degree, and forcing people beyond those limits regardless of intention will be met with resistance. In times of radical change, the onset of rebellion can be thwarted by transparent leadership.

Good leadership articulates an inspiring vision and guides the formulation of a strategy for its pursuit. Transparent leadership then at minimum shares that vision and the strategy to get there with constituents.

This is what encourages the athlete through the struggle of training, the patient through the pain of rehabilitation, even the student through school. This is how Winston Churchill was able to bring the English through WWII.

The lack of which has lead to the coup’s in Africa, the potential revolt in France and the tea parties recently in the United States.

Why?

In terms of understanding, the world is divided into two groups, How and Why. “How” people are focused on the here and now, they take information as is, they are more satisfied being told what to do and where to do it, then the reasons behind it. They can easily focus on their tasks. They are people of the present.
“Why” people are focused on the big picture. They interpret information and seek meaning, they don’t break information into its parts, but seek relationships between the information, and focus less on the what is and instead try to project on the what-will-be, they are focused on the future.

How people are satisfied with what is happening and their role in it, why people simply can not move unless they know where they are going.

I once worked with a development group that was quite successful. I had a good relationship with the leader and the staff and enjoyed growing with the group. One day the leader returned from a convention and started to change everything. Which startled the staff, but we followed. However, the changes being implemented didn’t make sense, and in many cases were not only against what we had done in the past, but were simply wrong. I started to ask questions and wasn’t getting answers. Our relationships started to split and my resistance was seen as a threat. I wanted to follow him, but I for some reason just couldn’t and didn’t understand why. Eventually, I quit.

Years later, I came to realize that it wasn’t some adolescent rebellion against authority or sophmoric resistance submission. But very simply, I needed, information and was paralyzed without it. I am a “why” person, and have a natural need to understand the big picture, to see the vision, the strategy to get there and how I fit in to it. Radical change was happening and I couldn’t find the rhyme or reason for it. Therefore I could not find my place, so I could not support it, could not be a part of it. And since the direction seemed to be off, I could not just blindly follow.

Radical changes are happening the US, and many people are demanding information, not because they are from another party, not because they are not the same color, but because, it is mentally impossible to move without that information. People are seeing steps that are inconsistent with their former path. There are things being done that are against what they had been living for, in some cases it just looks wrong, and in interpreting the decisions to where they are heading, the direction seems off.

No one seems to know the vision (Change is not a destination). So it’s no wonder no one knows the strategy to get there. The transparency that was promised is partial, which is actually propaganda. And unfortunately platitudes and diplomacy also don’t work because people NEED that information, regardless of which party is holding that office.

In history, radical change without transparency has ALWAYS led to either rebellion or oppression. Either the people will react out of need, or the authorities will subdue with force.

Let's hope the Transparency promised the US comes soon.

The Superhero exposes the problem: Jealousy

The US economy was rocked when Barak Obama FIRED the CEO of General Motors, what Michael Moore called a “…Superhero move.” What supporters missed is that the “move” didn’t just attack and remove a problem, but rather exposed one.

Michal Moore gloated over the bold unprecedented move, not because of mistakes that the CEO supposedly made (which have yet to be made public), but that, “it should send a chill through all Americans who believe in free enterprise.” “That the government is in charge here!”

What is clear here, is exactly what the founders of the constitution were afraid of happening, Government taking control away from the people. While Michal Moore and others cheer the latest move, it shows a huge ignorance to history and exactly how far away we are from American idealism.

No government in any country in history has ever successfully RUN its own companies.

But more than that, it exposes an even greater problem in American society. That which thwarts progress and development all over the world. A human emotion called, Jealousy.

U2’s Bono explained it best in comparing America with his native land Ireland. In America, he says, you buy a new home, you invite your friends, who upon leaving think to themselves, Man, I can’t wait till I get something like that. And start to plan their own bigger prize. In Ireland, a man buys a home, invites his friends, who upon leaving start throwing rocks through the windows!

America used to be the land of opportunity. The land of hopes and dreams that one day, with enough hard work and fortitude, each man can have his success, his castle. It used to be taught in schools, ingrained in children and filled in movies that the little guy can do BIG things. This used to be a land of optimistic hope. It was something that differentiated Americans from people all over the world.

In Moore’s representative attack on free enterprise, one in which he also benefits, he is actually denying people that right. It is exposes what is happening in our schools and universities, it explains behavior of community groups. We’ve become so accustomed to fight for the little guy. That we’ve left the “encourage people to fight and persevere to succeed” attitudes that made the US the most prosperous economy in the history of the world, and now instead trade hope for blame, fight for complain, and optimism for oppression.

Sure, Obama only attacked a BIG EVIL CORPORATE GIANT, who DESERVED what he got, because THEY ARE BIG. But the precedence is now set, especially with Geithners push to take over ANY company, to do the same to anyone, anytime, anywhere. The supporters do not even ask nor care why he was fired, only that he was.

Jealousy. Not a strong virtue. But becoming a prevailing US characteristic.

Under socialism there was a commonly understood phrase, “the tall grass gets the blade.” In those cultures, success and popularity were NOT good, because it created exposure which lead to attack. In these lands, you get a new car, people don’t envy, they call the police. If it’s something new and expesive, it was stolen.  If you got a promotion, it was corruption. If you have something nice, don’t’ congratulate and aspire to get your own, find things wrong with it and bring it down to your level.

The US used to be a place where people strived for the limelight. Now, people are starting to run away. It’s pathetic.

Careful, Mr. Moore, Obama’s next superhero move could be against you. I wonder who will be cheering then.

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.