Where Art Thou Country?

America 2.0

2011-11-17T14:49:00.001-05:00

The Great Recession from December 2007 to June 2009 was theclosest the United States has come to another Great Depression in our lifetime. Some 7,490,000 jobs were lost with householdincome having fallen by 3.2 percent during that time period (1). This recessionwas incredibly painful due to its global scale, a far reaching credit freezeacross the developed world, and the bursting of the U.S. housing bubble. All of these effects and more greatlydepleted household wealth, reduced business and personal loans, caused adramatic drop in housing prices, decreased business investment, a loss ofinvestor confidence, and more. Therewere many causes to the Great Recession: the sub-prime mortgage crisis, thefailure of regulators to detect and remedy the impending financial crisis, risky investments, and folks taking outloans for homes they couldn’t actually afford.

One of the first responses to the banking crisis,with the banking industry seen as the most pivotal sector to save due to theirfar reaching tentacles in American society, was the Troubled Asset ReliefProgram (TARP) or the bank bailout. The program was signed into law by PresidentGeorge W. Bush and provided $700 billion for the government to purchasetroubled assets in an effort “to restore liquidity and stability to thefinancial system of the United Stated” (2). There are many arguments to be made about the success or failure ofTARP. According to the US TreasuryDepartment TARP only used $410 billion of its $700 billion authorization and theCongressional Budget Office projects that the final price tag of TARP will onlybe $19 billion. Those numbers show aprogram that achieved its objective of stabilizing the financial sector at a relativelylow cost—most major banks are enjoying record profits and recent data from the FederalReserve shows that commercial and industrial loans continue to increase (3). However,we continue to see a very depressed housing and job market—even as privatecorporations are enjoying record profits.

President Obama’s signature piece of legislation to stimulatethe economy during the Great Recession was the American Recovery andReinvestment Act, which was passed in February 2009. The Act provided a mix ofspending, tax cuts, and aid to states in an effort to boost the economy and jobgrowth. It was meant as a short-term spending program to help speed up the economicrecovery so private businesses could take the lead. Many argue that thestimulus did not work—they usually point to the incredibly high unemploymentrate. However, many of the top private economicanalysis groups disagree. The CongressionalBudget Office, HIS/Global Insight, Macroeconomic Advisers, and Moody’sEconomy.com all found that the stimulus created or saved anywhere between 1.3to 3.6 million jobs (4). Many top economists also argue that the stimulus wasvital in stopping the bleeding of jobs and negative economic growth. Since February 2010, companies have added 2.6million jobs and the U.S. has enjoyed nine straight quarters of positive GDPgrowth (5).

In recent months many Republicans in Congress and runningfor President have argued that too much government regulation is depressing jobgrowth, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the first twoquarters of 2011, only 2,085 new unemployment claims cited governmentregulation, while 55,759 were tied to insufficient demand and “less than 20% ofsmall business owners cite government regulations as their most importantproblem”, according to a survey by the National Federation of IndependentBusiness (6). One of the major factorsthat business owners across the board point to for high unemployment is due tolow consumer demand. There is no financial incentive to increase hiring whenthe demand for their goods and services is not high enough. When consumers are spending, then businesseshave an incentive to expand their product offerings, invest in new research anddevelopment, and to hire more workers.

The government can play a role instimulating demand during a recession through targeted spending, but moreimportantly, the government can be a partner with the private sector to findthose areas where investment and creating new markets will be a positive for oureconomy in the short and long-term—like energy, infrastructure, education,medical and technology research. It’simportant that our government constantly find ways with the private sector toreduce the roadblocks to innovation, without hampering public health andsafety. The last two months have shownan increase in consumer spending, which is a great indicator of the resilience ofthe American people (7). The FederalReserve projects that the economy will continue to expand over the next twoyears, 2.5% to 2.9% in 2012 and 3% to 3.5% in 2012. They also project that the unemployment ratewill be at least 8.5% at the end of the year 2012, at least 7.8% at the end of 2012, andat least 6.8% at the end of the 2014 (8).

Although we are slowly moving towards a brighter day, thereis much work to be done. Some fourteen million Americans still remain joblessand many more working multiple jobs to make ends meet. We still face aneconomic crisis in Europe, weak housing market, and intransigent politicaldebates here at home that threaten our very ability to reduce our nation’s debtand implement policies that promote long-term growth and sustainability. A lot of the immediate problems we face from rising health care costs to our nation's debt are structural and can be solved with relative ease if our leaders can compromise and make the tough choices. However, on issues concerning our ability to compete with other nation's in this new knowledge economy the solutions aren't as clear. In order to re-invent the American economy andthe role of the American worker we must re-think and re-design the term ‘work’and ‘innovation’. Some of the questionswe must seek to answer are:

·        How do we increase measurable outcomes in theworkplace for employees without increasing costs?

·        What is the role of the public and private sectorin growing and diversifying the American economy?

·        What are the components of a new public educationsystem that values knowledge, critical thinking, creativity, and globalawareness?

·        How do we discover, stimulate, and encourage newindustries, products, and services that focus on the challenges of the future today?

·        What are the short and long term-challenges that willultimately shape our future norms, values, economic priorities, and standing inthe world?

Our future competitiveness depends on our ability to see theworld not as it is, but as we hope to see it. Citizens, businesses, and leadersmust push themselves to view the challenges of our time as opportunities ofgreatness. We live in very dynamic times that require new ways of thinking,creating, ingenuity, and implementation. A new generation of innovators must step up to the plate to lead this new America and to ensure we pass on an even greater country to the next generation. We have to reevaluatenot only how we do work, but the work we do. We have to think about not justwhy failures occur in industries and with certain policies, but what will thesolution be and the cost-benefit of that solution. Our society today is more human than everbefore. And by that I mean the decision onemakes not only has an impact on those in the near vicinity or town or state orcountry, but on all those who take part in this new global economy. We are in anew era of knowledge and ideas—one that must be driven by entrepreneurs,leaders, thinkers, and creators. Government can provide a nudge or a poke to assist in this new era, butin the end the individual must be the engine in this new economy. There is muchwork to be done, many problems in need of creative solutions, and manyopportunities for new industries and ideas to become of age in these challenging times.

1. Jacobson, Louis. "PolitiFact: 'GreatRecession' Was Worst for Job Losses - St. Petersburg Times." Tampa Bay,Florida News | St. Pete Times & Tbt. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/article1161940.ece.

2. "Summary of the Troubled Assets ReliefProgram ("TARP")." Thompson Hine LLP. 7 Oct. 2008. Web.15 Nov. 2011. .

3. Mason, John. "Business Loans Continue toIncrease." Wall Street Pit. 14 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2011..

4. "PolitiFact Virginia | Cantor Says Stimulus"failed to Get People Back to Work."" PolitiFact | Sortingout the Truth in Politics. Web. 15 Nov. 2011..

5. "Obama's Jobs Record Looks like -- Reagan'sâ USATODAY.com." News, Travel,Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com.CBS, 5 Nov. 2010. Web. 15 Nov. 2011..

6. Riley, Charles. "Regulation: Not the JobCreation Killer GOP Says - Oct. 14, 2011." CNNMoney - Business,Financial and Personal Finance News. 14 Oct. 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2011..

7. Isidore, Chris. "Retail Sales: ConsumersStill Spending - Nov. 15, 2011." CNNMoney - Business, Financial andPersonal Finance News. 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2011..

8. Appelbaum, Binyamin. "Fed Lowers ItsForecast for Growth, but Takes No Steps." Nytimes.com. New YorkTimes, 2 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2011..

The Challenge to Think Different In a Changing World

2011-10-05T23:15:00.000-04:00

Steve Jobs not only revolutionized computers, music players, content distribution, and user experience, but more importantly he pushed the bounds of innovation, creativity, and the urge to be different. Steve Jobs was also imagining and then creating a future that many never dreamed could come. He was always challenging and completely altering the status quo. His only competitor was himself and the limits he placed on his own creative genius. And we have seen with Apple an institution that values discipline as much as it does exploration; creativity as much as it values technological convergence; and most importantly, Apple values the idea that technology isn't just something we do, it is who we are.

Technology has the ability to make our lives more efficient, synced, creative, and convenient. One of the greatest challenges of the 21st Century is making technology even more intertwined with solving social problems, improving education, and empowering individuals to become their own innovators and creators. Steve Jobs started a revolution that merged content and user platforms to make information spread seamlessly from network to network and user to user--from music to movies to data to games. Steve's devices truly shaped the modern technological era. So what can we do to ensure his legacy not just continues but strives to new heights? What is our role in society today to make technology and content even more useful for future generations?

Firstly, the next generation of content and user platforms is about empowering people, the disaffected, and making knowledge and technology more accessible than ever before. We are slowly beginning to see the use of iPads in classrooms, doctor's offices, and smart devices used for new applications and programs daily. There is a lot of promise in using technology to empower a new generation and to make the art of education fun and diverse again. We must use technology to its fullest extent and see the value in its ability to promote sustainable social change.

Secondly, the use of technology, platforms, and content to drastically change what and where we learn is vital. Without all of the new products and services that have been created over the years we'd still be living in a society where learning was only for a privileged few. We no longer have to be in a classroom with a teacher to learn or pay an enormous amount of money for a wireless device that can sync to an encyclopedia or Google. Information and knowledge is all around us and it's readily available to all those who seek it. This alone is a powerful tool for improving literacy rates, educational gains, and the spreading of life-changing ideas in faraway lands.

Lastly and most importantly, we must see the world for what it is. It's open, dynamic, diverse, and different. We must embrace our inner hopes and aspirations. We must see beauty in all that surrounds us. And we must believe in our own abilities to make the world a better place. Even though the challenges seem more daunting and heroic every day, nothing should stop us from tearing down those barriers and reinventing a new era of innovation, creativity, and spontaneous idealism. There are so many challenges out there for new inventors and creators to come forth and to leave their own legacies. My hope is that Steve Jobs' life has inspired millions of people to come forth; millions of ideas to make the world a better place; millions of products and services that enhance the spreading of knowledge and communication; and millions of people to not just see the world in a different light, but ultimately to think different.

Where is Facebook Taking Us? And Will You Follow?

2011-09-23T10:22:00.006-04:00

Facebook is truly changing the way we as users interact with content, entertainment, and each other. They are changing the way we interact with the Internet and in some ways reinventing the Internet all together. Facebook founder and ceo Mark Zuckerberg has been clear from day one that his vision is the open graph—his idea to connect all users with the information and content we share and engage with on a daily basis-music, movies, news, pictures, thoughts, etc. Facebook launched in 2004 and it hasn’t looked back. The Facebook team is constantly challenging the realm of privacy, sharing, and the open web. How much is too much sharing? When does the open graph and creating new connections impede our own individual space?

These are some of the challenges Zuckerberg and crew will have to keep in mind as it totally recreates the web and it completely embraces technological convergence in terms of entertainment, content, news, and information. Facebook is taking us to new realms online that no other web company or any company for that matter has ever gone. We should be somewhat fearful; we should ask questions; and we should seek to engage the Facebook platform to better understand its possibilities and its limits. The Internet is a social realm and Zuckerberg has realized that better than anyone. He understands the power of information and content. And he understood from day one that Facebook wasn’t just about you or I, it was about generational change and habits. It was about pushing the envelope of technology and integration and making the social network a more personal space.

The challenge now, which is what Zuckerberg is tackling, is how to make Facebook more than just a space, more than just a couch, but more like your cell phone or your home or breathing. He envisions Facebook as a place that users are emotionally attached to, that they can’t live without. The more time users spend on Facebook the more his thesis proves correct. The more applications that users engage with, the more Facebook will evolve into its own portal. The main question that remains is will users follow? And if so, for how long? Zuckerberg is willing to bet that more than enough will engage, follow, and repeat on an hourly and daily basis. And that would suit his vision of the Open Graph and technological social convergence just fine.

The Promise of Political and Social Leadership

2011-07-25T13:57:00.001-04:00

Many Americans, if not most, are understandably fed up with the current policy and ideological stalemates in Washington, DC. Our nation faces many challenges today that will have major implications for America's future standing in the world, from our debt crisis to education reform to our ability to innovate. These challenges require new ways of thinking, new objectives, and a new system that produces measurable, effective, and sustainable results. As our political leaders continue to bicker over their ideological predispositions, millions of Americans are still without jobs, health care, or a quality of life befitting that of the world's largest economy. Leaders have become so ingrained to their philosophical political positions they are simply unable and unwilling to come together to make decisions that benefit the nation as a whole, even if they must stand down from their own intransigent positions. Politics is not just about our own wants and needs, it is about a shared humanity, one in which that values the promise and potential of a people over that of our own individual and corporate vices. In order for America to once again become a beacon of opportunity, fairness, and hope we must realize that we are not so different after all. We each share a hope for a future that is brighter for our children and grandchildren, an economy that lifts everyday folks up instead of tearing them down, an environment that is healthy and plentiful for future generations, and a resilience that most nations envy. This is an America that we can have right here today, if we only take a step back and realize the damage that our own political pride and need to obfuscate the truth even in the light of day to render our opponents as less than capable of leading and believing in the same end goal of a better and brighter America. We truly are in this together. Our hopes, dreams, and fears are not merely our own, they speak to a higher grandeur that connects our past, present, and future as a proud people. America is an amazing nation. We have overcome the pillage of slavery and Jim Crow; we have defeated dictators and despots; freed whole populations of innocent people; and we have fought for freedom and humanity since our founding. There is truly nothing that we as a people cannot overcome. We must first simply believe. We all want to create a path forward--a path that takes us not down a road of despair and darkness, but a path lit with all of our greatest and most aspiring hopes and dreams. Coming together as one will not be easy. Many will have to make sacrifices--both material and emotional. But when we sacrifice together, when we cry together, when we lose just a little bit together, we realize that we are not so different after all and that we need each other to push forward and to make the next day that much brighter. The public must believe in their leaders, they must believe in their political system, and most importantly, they must believe that their voices and concerns are not just being heard, but implemented. At the end of the day we are all just ordinary people, all attempting to make a difference, to have an impact on the world around us, and to live a life worth dreaming.

Imagine connecting with the human spirit in each person in any situation at any time.

Imagine interacting with others in a way that allows everyone's need to be equally valued.

Imagine creating organizations and life-serving systems responsive to our needs and the needs of our environment.--Marshall Rosenberg