A Matter of Consequences

In the USA, President Eisenhower’s last speech was a warning. In it he coined the term “Military-Industrial complex.”

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”

President Eisenhower

In Oregon, the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) is owed more money than the state has with no plan as to how the obligation will be paid.

There are currently 800,000 government employees furloughed in the USA and not being paid. A far-right radio personality had the audacity to say this on the air yesterday:

“These people on furlough are just on vacation. They shouldn’t be paid, they should be penalized.”

Far Right Radio Personality

It is no longer considered a kindness to have homes for the feeble-minded or in politically correct terms “the psychologically challenged” nor is there much help in the way of recovering from being out of work.

In the USA the railway right of way and connected tracts of land were considered worth more as real estate. As a result, the tracks connecting major cities and production hubs are gone and the cost of newly proposed high-speed rail connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles is $77 Billion.

Europe, Japan, China and even Vietnam are outpacing the USA

The consequences:

1. Rail transportation, particularly high speed, is unknown to most of the US population.

2. Merciful handling of public problems are rejected and individuals are subjected to inhumane results.

3. Partisan arguments are taken to ridiculous levels by pundits that have no empathy.

4. Not using sound financial judgement holds the future hostage.

5. Bureaucracy is split and partisan arguments are being supported on both sides by the same capitalists.

Those are real consequences. Yes the examples are from the USA but similar (and worse) things are going on around the world.

We need to step back.

We need to:

• Stop supporting partisan viewpoints.
• Walk away from short term solutions to long term problems
• Compromise even if just to listen to both sides of a proposal
• Remove the blinders to see what a proposed action might produce both positive and negative.
• Have the courage to change your view to find a solution that works today and tomorrow.

It’s time for Truth or Consequences.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Jerry Fletcher is a sought-after International Speaker, a beBee ambassador, founder and Grand Poobah of www.BrandBrainTrust.com

His consulting practice, founded in 1990, is known for Trust-based Brand development, Positioning and business development for independent professionals on and off-line.

Consulting: www.JerryFletcher.com
Speaking: www.NetworkingNinja.com
DIY Training: www.ingomu.com