I’m looking forward to the day when…
make people a pariah as much as wearing fur does today.
Just not sustainable.
What others to add to the list?
Wendy Cunningham of the World Bank in Washington says the old social contract that college equals a job is fast disappearing.I suspect that the “old social contract” was based partially on the notion of “well, you seem to be responsible enough to complete a degree at a university, so we can trust you do to this job where, like college, you just follow the rules and you’ll be set.”
The days of "I have a degree in medieval studies, I deserve a job" are over, she says.
Image via Wikipedia
It would be easy to dismiss Tom Friedman’s new book, That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back, as a rehashing of his previous themes.
To some extent, that’s fair, but where this book differs is in its objective.
Whereas, for many years, Friedman has been a keen and astute observer of the way the world is changing because of globalization, this book is meant to be a really loud wake-up call, to give America and Americans the awareness and the sense of urgency of what will happen if we don’t act, decisively, to change our current trajectory.
In this respect, my thinking and his thinking align perfectly.
He cites the 4 major trends affecting us
as the forces at the core of the threat to the American Dream and the promise of the middle-class lifestyle.
He (and to be fair, this book is co-authored with Michael Mandelbaum), also addresses what 5 areas need to be our focus if we are to overcome the challenges.
Now, while I don’t agree with everything they suggest, given my recent travels, I certainly agree with most of them.
They are optimistic…when all is said and done, America has historically risen to the challenges, but the road won’t be easy.
We MUST cultivate an environment of radical innovation and entrepreneurship in this new environment, make it easier for the right people to come into the country, make it easier for people to start businesses here, and provide the right type of education for our citizens.
These are easy things to say…not easy to do, particularly given the somewhat paralyzed nature of our government, which the authors address at length.
But, the book is a reframing of the discussion. Instead of saying, “oh, we have the best school in the county or the state,” ask, “how does our school compare to Shanghai, Sinagpore, or Helsinki?”
In my mind, that’s exactly what we should be doing. And it’s something we need to start doing NOW.
94% of the book is an assessment of the challenges and on those, I agree.
Where I walked away a bit disappointed was the solutions:
While both could make a difference, it left me feeling a bit lacking in terms of specifics.
Still, I fundamentally believe that most Americans do not yet fully appreciate the challenges of the new world order and on that score, I’d read the book.
If the resulting anxiety can help increase our odds of solving the problem, then I’m all for it.
I saw this picture behind Mark Zuckerberg recently. Plenty of brands from all over the world.
None from China.
Given my recent trip there and the “Great Firewall of China,” I was thinking about the fact that, despite their massive population, it could be more and more like we’re on different planets.
Those of us who share via Facebook (and can access the unfiltered web) and those of us (Chinese), who can’t.
I wonder if it means that all of us will develop one shared perspective while the Chinese continue with their own?
Image via Wikipedia
“It’s kind of like an ocean where the water is calm on the surface, but underneath, it’s quite dangerous.”
One of my Chinese associates was telling me about the massive changes to Chinese society and culture brought about by the dynamic growth.
It gets all the attention, of course, but the consequences for the average Chinese, in his opinion:
There’s no social safety net, so you are very much on your own and, as is traditional, it is expected that children will take care of their parents.
But, with the One Child policy, you have a situation where two children (a husband and a wife) are responsible for 4 people (their parents) and because costs have skyrocketed, more and more of the income generated by the working couple is devoted to their own lifestyles.
That leaves less money for their parents.
In his opinion, it’s not sustainable (and, in fact, he told me that the government is reconsidering the One Child policy in part because of this).
What’s more…and this SHOCKED me…he shared that many of his friends (educated, English-speaking) are emigrating to US, Canada, NZ, Australia, UK, etc. and that (according to him), China now has one of its highest emigration rates ever.
I’m a bit dubious of that statistic, but the perception-in his mind-that economic security is in jeopardy in his future in China is real…and that’s quite astounding, given how so many people view China as the new “land of opportunity.”
Guess you can’t judge a book by its cover, eh?
Image via Wikipedia
I’ve been doing a lot of traveling recently (here’s the map) and it’s given me the opportunity to think about economics and globalization.
It’s also given me cause for concern because I genuinely believe and fear that most of America has no real idea of the dramatic changes that are coming as a result of technology and networks.
We’ve had it so good for so long that, even some hiccups, bumps, and bruises may not dissuade us from the sense that we are entitled to a certain lifestyle (see yesterday’s post re: Michael Moore’s movie, Capitalism: A Love Story for more on that.)
My friend, Dave Sobel, was kind enough to send me a copy of Tom Peters’ book Re-Imagine!: Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age.
It’s one of those books where I started reading it and said, “Idiot! Why didn’t I read this 7 years ago when it was published?!”
What Peters passionately argues and what I’ve been thinking/saying/writing for the past few years is just HOW BIG the impact of all of these events are on every single nook and cranny of the economy.
He’s arguing for a sense of urgency and a recognition that now, each of us, is more responsible than ever for innovation and entrepreneurship around our own careers.
In synagogue the other day, I overheard a conversation between 3 people (none of whom I knew).
One said to the other: “well, they are renegotiating our contract now.”
The other: “So, is your job in jeopardy?”
The first: “Well, of course, I guess it could be.”
“It could be?”
I’m of the mindset that your job, my job, EVERYONE’S job is in jeopardy…every single day.
At a national level, America’s job, as it were, is in jeopardy every single day.
So, if you don’t get up and get started with that mentality, eventually that’s exactly what is going to happen.
Image via Wikipedia
The last time I was here was 7 years ago. Here’s my blog post from then…now you know why I blog!
It was also winter.
Summer’s definitely better. That I can say.
Well, technically it was the first day of Fall, but still, it’s a glorious city with great architecture, wide open avenues, and people with a great appreciation of life.
That is, in spite of some of the challenges they’ve faced.
I feel like when I was here 7 years ago, the country was on the upswing economically. They had survived their most recent panic and were rebounding.
Well, unfortunately, it seems like the story is being played out again. Last year, inflation was 30%. There’s a distrust of the government (at least by the upper/middle classes) because, among other reasons, the President is the wife of the immediate past (now deceased) President, Nestor Kirchner.
That is a representation of the widespread corruption that is common in many Latin American countries.
Still, despite it all, and despite the fact that Argentines need to be currency traders as a hedge, they have a wonderfully joyous attitude.
As is my travel philosophy, I spent a few hours walking through the San Telmo district and sitting in a café at the Plaza Dorrego, watching some Tango dancers and taking advantage of the free wi-fi.
It was a beautiful day, about 80 degrees and I stopped to think about how fortunate I am to be blessed to get to travel and see the world as it evolves. Especially to come back to a place where I had been in the past.
Honestly, the best thing about Argentina right now for Americans…it’s really affordable. Combine that with the weather and it’s a worthwhile travel destination.
On the one hand, Argentina is exciting. On the other, it’s a bit sad…I wish they didn’t have to go through this ongoing cycle or economic fluctuation.
My grandmother could never understand why someone would travel from America to Israel.
“Why do you want to go to a war zone?” she would ask.
Of course, since 9/11 (arguably Feb. 1994), the US is a war zone, but I digress.
What’s interesting now in Israel (and it’s been like this for a few years now) is the number of illegal immigrants from countries like Thailand the Philippines.
Working as home health care providers and cleaning ladies, the economic opportunities outweigh any security concerns.
I met a woman named Cheryl from Manila. She’s lived in Israel for years, has no concerns about security and her family has no concerns either.
It just makes good financial sense for her (and her family).
What a world we live in.
You’ve probably seen this by now, but I still think it’s very cool…and a great sign of how technology can break down barriers of communication.
Now, when you visit a foreign language website using Google Chrome (at least…and I think in Firefox, too), it will ask you if you want to automatically translate it.
You should read this article from TIME magazine.
I see part of what he describes already happening in my own business.
For those of you who don’t know, I have a personal assistant. She lives in the Philippines. She can do as much online as pretty much anyone you know.
And her rates are…shall we say…VERY competitive.
It’s my perspective that Americans haven’t fully come to appreciate this fact yet.
I'm definitely feeling the powerful reverberations after watching Al Gore in An Inconvenient Truth.
It came at a confluence of a few other items that heightened my awareness of the challenges around global warming.
In Scientific-American, I read Why Grassroots Initiatives Can't Fix Climate Change, which profoundly impacted me, particularly as a father:
Or think about it this way. Imagine you are living in the year 2108, and you are keenly aware that the political dislocations all around you were preventable catastrophes. Decades of turmoil caused by vast migrations of people who could not find enough food or clean drinking water; the crop-destroying volatility in the weather; the drying up of capital as investors withdraw whatever they can from unruly markets; the scourges of insects and disease set loose by the poleward advancement of the tropics—all of these are the legacy of your forebears who should have known better.
Wouldn’t you look back and shake your head at the feeble attempts at mitigation by the present age, the endless dithering over the reality of climate change, the head-in-the-sand policies that assumed addressing the problem could be put off for another day and that the future would be clever enough and rich enough to take care of itself?
Combine that with the powerful 20 minute (but well worth it) video of The Story of Stuff, showing how our consumption is digging us a hole from which we can't escape.
Put it all together and you are looking at a scenario where Surging Food Prices Mean Global Instability and where countries may have to engage in a Blood for Oil? or for food? foreign policy.
Not wanting this type of future for my kids, as Gianni sits here next to me, I am reflecting on the conversations I've recently had with some of my more liberal friends, challenging the Republicans for their lack of concern for environment/global warming. Fair, I might add.
What I realized is that there are different perceptions on the left and right about which pending disaster will get to us first.
The left thinks global warming.
The right thinks radical Islam.
Granted, the first destroys the earth and the second "only" Western Civilization, but I think we can agree that there are some good things to Western Civilization.
I wonder, then, if the opportunities for common ground, namely eliminating our dependence on (foreign and fossil) fuels in favor of cheaper, renewable energy are so great that the other differences can be put aside.
I'm not the first to realize this, of course, and you should take a look at Gal Luft's work at IAGS to see some areas of overlap, but is there enough folks who (for the most part) agree on these as core issues and don't care as much about secondary issues to create a true movement?
In some respect, as Jeff commented on the oil post previously (the most commented on post in Jer979 Blog history, btw), the best thing we can have right now to save the planet is $4/gallon (and rising) gas prices, since market forces will compel us to find other ways, but the "moral imperative" as Gore describes is there as well (full disclosure: I endorsed Gore in '88 when he ran for President; ok, I was a teenager, but still)
I know the steps/awareness is happening. Met with the folks at Discovery Channel the other day and they now have 100% recycled biz cards (they do feel a bit flimsy), but they are making a statement in another way. And it's consistent with their Planet Green efforts.
The question is: how much time do we have?
How about blood for copper? Or Zinc? Or Cobalt?
Just finished an absolutely fascinating series of articles about "ChinAfrica" in Fast Company. I HIGHLY recommend that you read them (and once you do, you'll get the irony of this suggestion: Print them out to read them, since they are quite long.)
Anyhow, the author details vividly how there is a mad rush going on in Africa (which China is winning) for natural resources that lie at the epicenter of modern wealth creation.
We're all complicit in it...US as end consumers, China as extractor, and corrupt African dictators as well. Combine that with a Chinese willingness to look the other way re: human rights in Africa and bribery and the US gov't (and consumer!) willingness to ignore Chinese policy...and we have the makings of a resource war.
In his book, China: The Gathering Threat
Reading these articles, you've got to wonder if he is right.
While a full on war may not be the end result, what could be are:
The NFO asked me the other day about rising food prices. "Will it get better?"
"Not in the short term. It's going to get worse before it gets better. Oil is at the center and rising living standards around the world contribute as well. Time to find other, cheaper sources of nutrition."
You know my investment policy is weighted (and has been for 2.5 years now) towards oil going to $200/barrel. And that I have some strong views on this topic (economically and politically).
Time to add another one.
A powerful presentation (both in content and style) on the impact of our consumption on the world around us (not just environmental).
20 minutes long, but worth it.
It was late last night and I was watching the Glenn Beck show.
He made an analogy to the S.S. St. Louis, which led to deaths of hundreds of Jews in Hitler's camps, and spoke of a young gay Iranian man, studying in London (whose boyfriend was executed in Iran for being gay), and was denied asylum in UK and Netherlands.
Then, Irshad Manji gets on and she advocates that we email the first openly gay Muslim member of the UK parliament.
I'm sitting in front of my PC, so what the heck?
Here's what I got back this AM
Dear Jeremy
I am the first openly gay member of the House of Lords. I was shocked and saddened to read about Mehdi Kazemi. Mehdi is a gay teenager from Iran and faced imminent deportation. He came to London to study in 2004. His boyfriend was executed for being gay in April 2006. Over 4,000 men and women face execution in Iran for being gay.
I raised this issue in the UK parliament on Tuesday and I asked the UK government to reconsider his case. I am please to tell you that yesterday the UK government said they would reconsider his case and I am hopeful that he will be allowed to stay.
Your emails and support are gratefully received and I will let you know what the final decision is. I have forwarded your letter to the government as a show of support from concerned individuals from America.
Thank you for writing to me and rest assured I will do my best to help this young man.
Kind regards,
Waheed
(Lord Alli)
From: Jeremy Epstein ]
Sent: 14 March 2008 04:46
To: waheed alli
Subject: help the persecuted Iranian homosexualJust heard about this story on the news. As a Jew, the analogy that Glenn Beck made to S.S. St. Louis was poignant.
I hope you'll send the message to the Iranians that this type of persecution isn't acceptable.
Respectfully,
Jeremy
Could an Israeli infiltrate the PLO and become its chairman?
What would happen if he actually did it
When my friend, Rami Loya, wrote in response to a recent FOJ mailing that he had just published Chairman-X
Rami's previous book was Incentive compensation strategies for the new millenium.
This one, a Middle East thriller, was a complete 180...
and it is a page turner.
The story is only plausible because it is so ridiculously far-fetched, but Rami did a great job on many, many fronts.
First off, he touches on so many aspects of modern Middle East history, the Israeli war of Independene, the expulsion of Jews from Arab countries, the peace movement within Israel.
Next, he gives some "behind the scenes" explanations for geo-political events which you may have taken for granted.
The intricacies of the Israeli political scene, the obvious challenges that an Israeli would face in organizing terrorist attacks against his brethren, and a true, "NO WAY!!!" moment at the end kept me turning the pages.
The byline says "suspenseful to the last word" and I've got to say, it's pretty accurate.
You know you are reading a great book when, as you come close to the end and you feel the pages thinning, your heart is beating faster, as you know the climax is near.
If I had to be critical in any way, I'd say there were times when I felt the prose was a bit stiff and some of the dialogue a bit too cursory.
But, the strength of the plot and the energy kept me riveted.
Rami-I'm impressed and I hope that the book sells a lot.
And here's a bonus...I'll send (lend, that is, since I have a signed one) my copy of the book to the first person who posts a comment on this post.
Was watching a cable news talkshow the other day and one guy made a remark that struck me...
"He's popular among the millions of people living in this country without the proper documentation."
Nice way, to say "illegally", eh?
I turned to the NFO and said,
"Perhaps I should say, 'he's someone who doesn't have the proper receipts from the Internal Revenue Service, as opposed to 'tax evader.'"
Immigration is obviously a complex issue and there aren't any easy answers. And the war of words is just a part of it. "without proper documentation" sounds more like an administrative error on the part of the authorities than "illegal" which turns the issue on the individual.
What about charging for immigration? (see here and here from 2 Nobel Prize Winners)
As for my less erudite commentary on the subject...
You may remember the post I had a while back encouraging people to stop buying diamonds because of a History Channel documentary.
Well, Hollywood's version (Blood Diamond) has done nothing to persuade me away from that stance. And I commend them for taking on the subject in a, I thought, brutally honest way.
Di Caprio did a phenomenal job in his role as a Zimbabwean/South Afrian smuggler/mercenary and the supporting cast was really first rate.
The violence was gruesome and the story heart-wrenching, but hey, if you want to go buy your "rock," well then, at least you should have an idea of the damage you are inflicting on bodies and lives on the other side of the world. At least you can't claim ignorance and you can display your susceptibility to the power of marketing with full knowledge of the implication of your decision.
If there were a tenth as much outrage about diamonds as there were about global warming or Iraq war or AIDS, we'd be a hell of a lot better off.
Great movie that connects with you and builds awareness at the same time.
And, sell those diamonds! (Not joking)
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