Reset Button: Views from a Cautious Optimist
“There are always two parties; the establishment and the movement.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Once upon a time in a land far away…
The last decade is not that far removed to start a fable but one thing is for certain, there were some characters and plots that took shape-for better or worse. What should we expect of the next year, decade? A foundation for the coming years was being laid in the latter part of the decade that hinted we may be seeing an era of personal accountability, corporate responsibility and community engagement. It’s evident in almost every aspect of our lives; from the All-State commercials on responsibility to Subaru contributing apart of every vehicle sale to a charity of your choice.
If you’ve read my other blog posts, each is sprinkled with a sense of optimism and cautiousness. I don’t doubt we have what it takes to create a more just, equitable society but am often leery of the human element. Given the right opportunity, visions of sustainability, curbing climate change and any other worthy cause can go out of the window. Take a look at the weeks that followed 9/11. Everyone was patriotic; American flags were on nearly every lawn, car and bumper sticker. At that time, I felt a sense that our States, well, were United. Though quite horrific, those events have fallen into memory and serve as a guidepost that marked a decade. Do we move on or dwell on the past you ask? We move on with the same conviction that together we are stronger than any challenge our nation faces.
As a 30 year old American, this new direction is somewhat of a culture shock. Many in my generation were raised on the premise of “more, more, more” being the standard for success. We believed that having the biggest house, car, bank account and TV signified status or “making it” -- I don’t think that will be the case as we move forward. I’m not suggesting we don’t want to be successful in our respective careers but the way we measure success has no doubt changed. In James Bedell’s “Why We Will Save The World”, he noted that “people are the new profit” and that “less is the new more”. I couldn’t agree with James more.
“So goes GM, so goes the country.”
The US automobile industry was pushed to the brink of disaster before an overhaul began. I personally didn’t support the auto bailout or any other federal intervention but was aware that without it, it could have easily tilted our country in another depression-easily. So what of capitalism? I’m not an economist but am of the opinion that the human element trumped reason on this one.
Moving forward our industries must evolve and commit to investing in R&D, infrastructure and education. Watching CBS Sunday Morning’s recent coverage of the last decade showed that the US created 0% jobs (zero) in an entire decade. Our labor market is suffering because we haven’t worked to create new industry domestically and trade policies have effectively shipped American ingenuity abroad for production and redistribution back to us.
With a defunct energy policy, declining dollar, lackluster labor and housing markets, the push is now toward sustainability, efficiency, buying local and community engagement. What happens when our GDP is growing, our communities are stable, CO2 emissions decrease and rail becomes a viable transportation alternative in the states? If our economy is to grow, history shows us that we’ll need innovation to push the limits of what we can accomplish. As those innovations come to market, legislation will be slow to understand the affects they’ll have on the public long after fortunes have been made and fortunes lost, hence the financial crisis.
I advocate growth, change, prosperity and hope. However, I’m well aware that what goes up must come down. America will recover. We will prosper again and again, we will become complacent.
I look to the past for clues and I’m cautiously optimistic we’ll get it.
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Eloquently written in classic style of Yahya Henry…thanks for your vision that will surely lead Aribra to an amazing 2010!
Thanks for the kind words. I too look forward to 2010 and what it has in store for Aribra.
I really do think there is a generational element to this. It's not that Gen X/Y folks are more moral or anything. It's really a matter of the times we are becoming adults in. When the boomers came of age they were greeted by the era of Reagan. It was an era where everyone wanted to work for a big corporation and wealth would “trickle down.” It was an era where it was OK to simply not think about the long term consequences of our actions in order to feel powerful and secure.
Gen X/Y is dealing with the fallout of those choices. And as a result we are actively trying to not only grow businesses but grow businesses that make the world a better place.
Another terrific post…and I agree with your sentiment and cyclic view on the economy. I also believe in a resilience possessed by the US that has shown itself in the past and will do so again…but what needs to happen is for individuals to get and stay engaged. Perhaps it's best to call it aggressive economic self-rescue.
My sense is that many in our society are sitting back and waiting for someone else to step in and right the ship…and I guess it's human nature for finger pointing and blame-shifting to happen, fueled by traditional news outlets and political bias…but ultimately each of us plays a role in a buoyant economy and it's time to get started.
Thanks for the encouraging post…and for doing your part for a better and more sustainable “sustainability” economy.
…we are dealing with the fallout of those choices. I think the “resetting” of our nation's priorities is underway due, in part, to our generation's unwillingness to continue business as usual.
Engagement is key. We could use the last election to see obvious reasons why it's both necessary and instrumental in establishing critical mass. There is a [very real] personal element to any successful recovery and I believe many Americans are understanding that now.
Cautious optimism, I like it! Priorities are hard to change, and “movements” fade, but the tide IS turning.
The tide is shifting…movement in a more sustainable direction is positive but I question if we'll be consistent to see it thru. We're at the helm now…
The issue is this needs to stop being a “movement” and start being a habit.
The issue is this needs to stop being a “movement” and start being a habit.