Democracy?

Just wondering where we are going as a country when the SEC regulators are cashing in at $225K per year to watch porn while Goldman Sachs perpetrates arguably one of the largest frauds on investors. Is it just me or is our country suffering from a serious lack of morals and ethics? We are rapidly becoming third world – teach your kids to speak Mandarin because it is the new Spanish. When America is funded and backed by China, or any other country, well, “Houston, we have a problem.”

We have always benefited from fiscal relationships with other countries. We need to be diplomatic players in the world, more importantly than being the world cop. However, when we lack the moral spine to perform as a democracy, then we forfeit the right to advocate democracy. What is, and has been, happening in Washington is a travesty. And lest ye dems rise up in arms, I extend my reprobation to the administrations of both W and H, and by association of era, Bill. We forfeit our right to advocate democracy when we no longer participate in one.

Arguably, financial interests run this country. This means big business and big labor. We are corrupt, from the Mayor, or county Supervisor, all the way up to the White House. We fail to provide the minimum necessities to our constituents and hide behind the easy red herring of immigration or filibuster. The fabulously wealthy continue to enrich themselves while the middle continue to bleed sweat, tears and money into the economy. The only outlet for the middle is to climb to the top, at the expense of others. This leads to a lack of morals and ethics. Witness the many Ponzi schemes and frauds that litter the media lately. Trust me, for every one you read about, there are ten that never surface.

So, I guess the lesson is, nice guys finish last. Is this the message we want to export as democracy. Is this what we want to teach Iraq and other emerging “democracies?” No. We are morally bankrupt.

How do we fix this? Get involved, get active. Run for office, run for your school board, and then stay true to your morals. Have a compass to guide you and live a square life.

Manglement

Issue Du Jour:

We all want to get up, but how we get up seems to be an issue. Is it worth climbing over somebody to get to the top? What if that somebody is your dude, your bro, your homey? Is it still worth it?

NO! No, and no.

It is okay to rise through hard work and performance. But, it is not okay to throw someone under the bus, especially a colleague, even if that colleague is not good. It’s better to let your work speak for itself and to deflect credit when credit is due.

“Billy, you did a great job on that project.”

“Well Tony, I got a lot of help on that project from Allan. He’s a superior employee and I am glad to have him on my team.”

Who’s the hero in this situation?

“Billy, you did a great job on that project.”

“Thanks Tony, but I had to do a lot to carry Anne’s load, she was really worthless.”

Do you see how much better Billy looks in the first situation? Of course you do. Why? Because you are smart. Not like your bosses, who are stupid. Work hard, give credit and you will rise. Just ask my friend Nick.

“Nick, tell us about your boss.”
“Well, my new boss is mean. He always threatens to fire us, no matter how hard we work. We grind and grind putting in new turf, but he is never satisfied.”

“What about your old boss?”
“My old boss, Jim, used to praise us, tell us what a great job we were doing. We worked a lot harder for him because we liked him and wanted to work for him. We got a lot done with him.”

There you have it. Praise, criticize and praise. Simple management advice that even a tire store owner can follow.

Duh!