Colonial powers throughout history have justified their foreign exploits on a simple concept. The same can be said for religious missions. I am sure there are other examples. Consider this:
http://buzzthehill.blogspot.com/2009/11/better-idea.html
Doctors are not by training or motivation able to understand the organic opportunity to dramatically and simultaneously increase the quality and cost effectiveness of health care in the US.
It is a calibration problem. We (and they) expect to much from their training. That fact is exploited by the usual greedy suspects.
For purposes of discussion, let us consider the AMA. The AMA famously, for decades, has promoted the idea that people going into the profession are from an exclusive and exalted class and therefore deserving of as much money as the market will bare. With the notable exception of PCPs, they are the most highly compensated MDs on the planet. This while the delivery system is a disgrace to free markets.
I pick on the AMA because I have had an extraordinary exposure to their methods and biases spanning half a century. Nevertheless, they are a force to be reckoned with. Given the violent nature of the Tea Party extremists it is downright dangerous to correct this major flaw in our economy overnight.
The approach that has brought unprecedented hope for meaningful reform to this breakdown in commerce American style is successful precisely because it seeks to calibrate these enormous and, far to often, highly destructive forces.
What we do in Afghanistan matters. It is a chance to show the world that we, at least, have good ideas about what a better world might look like. If China at this time, chooses not to get more actively involved what can we do in concert with those who do want to be involved? Here is one idea:
http://buzzthehill.blogspot.com/2009/11/afghanistan-can-be-switzerland-20.html
Well, I am sure learning a lot from Barack about being civil and appropriately assertive. Also, I have really noticed that I am far from alone. Next best thing to being in person is using this very friendly technology.
So, are we grown up enough around here to learn from one of the deepest pieces of fictional art of our time? My guess is yes. Set time aside to see Up ... several times ... with enough time in-between to let it percolate. I have seen it twice so far.
If you look into your dog's eyes you will learn a lot about who you really are.
My colleague and I have just returned from participating as a finalist in the Annual Clean Tech Open competition in San Francisco. I am happy to report our president's leadership was in substantial evidence at the event. Make no mistake, this was about entrepreneurs solving environmental and economic problems and doing so knowing that they will profit if they deliver - by the private sector working in harmony with the public sector. Contrast this positive private enterprise message with the sadly misguided right wing-nut view that a crippled government is best for the people.
It appears our president's mantra for better government as opposed to more government should be revisited. Government's performance has been less than desirable from time to time. The Tea Party is focusing on those times to argue, in effect, "any government is too much government". They apparently have very severe short term memory loss. Sabotaging regulation led to the Great Recession. Unlimited government has a very poor track record as well. Think Middle Path? Seems reasonable to me, especially with somebody of the caliber of Barack at the helm.
Now is the time for us to build the universal translator. The technology hurdle pales in comparison to planting the belief in the efficacy of its development. For more see:
http://buzzthehill.blogspot.com/2009/11/on-your-mark.html
We can argue all day (week, year et al.) about how well the private and public sectors are performing relative to each other now. Frankly, it is very hard to argue about the trends though. The Public sector is trending toward more accountability and the Private sector less. The wing nuts can point the finger at each other (teacher's unions, AMA, 'Christian' politicians, Bank of America) and both have a point.
Finding somebody to blame has run its course. Until the Public sector recovers more fully from the neglect of recent years, we will have to be satisfied that progress is being made. US Health Care is NOT the model we should be following - it is a symptom of a dysfunctional (diseased) system. The checks and balances our forefathers put in place have been co-opted by people operating well below optimum.
As I read about the biggest challenge in the world of particle physics today, proving the existence of the Higgs Boson, the following occurs to me: There is a fascinating parallel between it and solving the US Health care dilemma. The seeming intractability of both is palpable. Theory postulating sabatage from the future may illuminate a solution ... for both.
I have a screenshot of CNN's live coverage of the final HR 3962 vote. My man in DC says, "the legislative hurdles are still huge". I take him at his word, he knows how Washington works. Still, I am glad Normandy was a success.
The shot heard round the world occurred at 8:14 PST tonight. I proud to say I watched it live.
And when I wake, a new energy to finish the job.
Doctors are trusted as the authorities on health care. They have, as a group, long shunned responsibility, for its cost. People are less healthy as a result. Doctors invoke their oath as the reason. Should we blame patients for trusting doctors to manage cost? Should we blame doctors for abdicating their social responsibility? Perhaps neither. Perhaps we need to discover a mechanism where somebody is in charge (someone different than disinterested shareholders of private corporations and the directors they elect - that clearly has not served us well). If you want to eliminate the government, who is left?
http://buzzthehill.blogspot.com/2009/11/hc-matrix-101.html
Obama supporter to DNC: Clean up your act to clearly contrast the party our president leads to the leadership bankrupt opposition party. Hypersensitivity to the faults of others is a red flag. It goes something like, "what we see in others is what we most need to see in ourselves."
A dependence on money from special interests to be competitive in an election cannot operate in lieu of integrity ... at least not for long. Continuing wild swings from the left gutter to the right gutter and back is hardly wise.
The last election was about what? Change? Or Survival? Perhaps the first in service to the second. Money's track record lately in following value is dismal. Until they are aligned again, we will need to dig deeper to know what actions are right.
What I remember from econonics and life experience is, in part, contained in the following:
http://buzzthehill.blogspot.com/2009/11/good-profit.html
Am I wrong?
barackobama.com, unlike Facebook or twitter is difficult to reach. How can one leverage this fact to better serve organizing our country as brilliantly as that Chicago guy and his lovely wife in the White house?
Transparency in governance, Facebook style. A co-op style of organization needs to be fully and easily accountable to its members. Bo may not have the vocabulary to express it in his own voice - yet. If we collaborate on the succinct and sincere questions to ask him, we have only to watch and see if he is wagging his tail or not. And to be especially aware if he growls or barks.
Elegant vetting system, if I do say so myself.
So, I am hopeful we can challenge the opposition, not by denigrating their tactics, but instead by setting an example of nurturing the growth of what is good (in health care, the economy, the ecology etc.)
There is a little known fact of our existence. As a lover of communications, I call it "talking up to the audience". Think: Facebook, Peace Corps. Google, Apple etc. It speaks to our universal aspiration for a better world rather than just another rationalization of our shame.
Valuable information flow at its best is identity based and not constrained.
I spent two decades on the EyeDentify 'post-mortem analysis'. Identity is not ANY biometric device linking warm body to a machine. Instead it is the highest abstraction we humans use in our everyday lives - individuals, group, organization et al.) The real value of such a construct is complexity at any level has a convenient handle to its relevant context.
The language to express this subtle and profound insight has not existed because social networking (think long before communications technology) is so basic to the success of our species that it is subconscious. It existed even before speech and launguage evolved. Until recently, there was not a great deal of motivation to understand the function of each of its components. Boy, have things changed and, it appears, just in the nick of time.
