THE ENTERPRISE
So many things going on these days, it’s hard to get a handle on all of them. Assuming most of my readers are time-starved, I’ll try to hit several topics in this issue. At least you’ll have one perspective on them—whether you agree or disagree—it’ll make you think about what’s changing faster than ever, and what we need to know about how to influence change.
--KIPLINGER FORECASTS Says: “Despite headwinds gathering for 2006...no letup in pricey gasoline and other fuels, higher interest rates and a housing cooldown...U.S. consumers won't run for cover. The source of about 70% of GDP, they'll retain a vital role in this expansion. We still see a 3% gain in GDP for 2006.”
We’ll see if they are right. Let’s hope so!
--THE SYMBOLIC END OF ANOTHER ERA
Disney recently announced the shutdown of its last hand-drawn-animation studio. Computers are the way of the future in animation. Now watch those old, hand-drawn cells shoot up in value as collectible art. It’s probably the right thing to do, but it is still sad. Another era ends.
---HOW RESPECTED IS THE PRESS?
Not very…but…neither are most other large organizations. Here are the numbers.
Only 28% of Americans have a lot of confidence in newspapers and TV news. But before anyone celebrates, that is better than organized labor (24%), Congress (22%) and “Big Business” (22%). (From a Gallup Poll, May 23-26, 2005)
---SUPERMARKETS DEFENDING THEIR TURF
Consumers are buying almost half their food at restaurants and takeout places, which is about double what it was in 1980. Yet, families still eat most of their main meals at home. That means supermarkets are selling what consumer want—products that save time in preparation. (From USA Today)
---SOMEBODY (US Government) MUST STANDARDIZE ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS SYSTEMS
Here is just one scary example of what is happening in a nation of insanely “politically correct” concerns about privacy and the failure to standardize electronic medical records. (Other than the fact that a simple hospital stay requires providing the same information from 5-9 times—all manually—and far from reliably.)
Using her health plan's Web site, Ursula Scott of Seattle can view the medical records of her 2- and 5-year-old daughters, check their immunization schedules, look up test results, exchange email with their pediatrician, and make appointments for their next office visits. But in the case of her 16-year-old stepson, no one in the family can gain access to any his electronic medical records -- including the teen himself. In the over-zealous effort to balance the rights of parents and adolescents in making decisions about medical care, technology has opened up a thicket of new legal and technical issues. The result is that teens are being left out of one of the most important advances in the administration of health care today…electronic medical records. Somebody needs to “get real”—and fast.
Electronic medical-records systems operators claim they don't have a good way to flag confidential material and hide it from parents—that can more easily be done with paper records. As minors, teens can't enter into the security agreements required for access to their online records. Thus they are in limbo, until providers figure out how to give parents access to health-care information for a teen-aged child, without breaking confidentiality/access rules. The result is that many are leaving adolescents out of electronic medical-records systems altogether -- AND revoking parental access to children's records as soon as they turn 13. What lunacy is that?
"Parents are often floored to learn that when their kid turns 13 they are still responsible for them but they can't know certain things about them," says Maureen Moran, who oversees the parental access program for Group Health. Is that unbelievable or what?
Source: “Parents Barred From Teen Health Files.”” The Wall Street Journal August 24, 2005; Page D1
---INTELLIGENT DESIGN [and not so intelligent behaviors]
“Intelligent design” is the new term for “creationism” and “God”—and this debate is now getting crazier—or rather the combatants are getting crazier. The scientists who are certain that evolution must (the operative word is “must”) explain everything are panicky. Why? Because there are gaping holes in evolutionary theory that no one can conclusively fill in. Now the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History has retaliated against one of its own: Richard Sternberg a (previously) well-regarded evolutionary biologist. It seems he “broke ranks” and wrote a paper in which he allowed that some form of “intelligent design” must have played a role in creation beyond just evolution.
So the Museum got the National Institutes of Health to fire him. This is so amazing, at least to me. Years ago I had to write a paper taking a position on “creationism” vs. “evolution.” I did quite a bit of reading and found (surprise) that there was no conflict between evolution and creation…it all started “somewhere from something”…and then it evolved. When it stalled, “something or someone” gave it a nudge. Call it God, or whatever you prefer. No one could convince me that “something” started from “nothing.” That’s probably far more than you wanted to know, but the real tussle is about what our children will be taught in the schools, and that is not trivial.
---I’M GETTING AFRAID OF THE NRA
Is NRA getting to be more radical than the causes it claims to fear and protect us against? I’m all for the right to bear arms. Our founding fathers thought it was an important safeguard against government intrusion beyond all reasonable levels. But the right to bear high-powered, or automatic firing rifles and the like—C’mon NRA—get real. I know, “even paranoids have real enemies,” and “guns don’t kill people, people using guns do.” But there has to be a limit on these kinds of gun sales, on the gun shows that promote them … and on the clever ways that gun laws are circumvented to change single shot guns into automatic-fire killing devices. Too much of anything is still too much. It’s time to rein in the NRA (and this from a Conservative Republican).
---US DROPS TEXTILE TARIFFS; IMPORTS FLOOD IN; TARIFFS ARE QUIETLY RESTORED.
I was talking with a colleague who is now COO of a company that supplies the global textile industry. He reported that while tariffs on textiles from China were dropped amidst much fanfare in January, there was a veritable avalanche of imports shortly thereafter. It was so severe that many of the tariffs were reinstated in short order. It seems that there is a huge amount of capacity just waiting to supply whatever is wanted—reinforcing my latest study/writing project on “Latent Global Overcapacity.“
One example: the self-proclaimed sock capital of the US is Fort Payne, AL, which produces over 700 million pairs of socks annually, with US workers making $10/hr. In fact, Datang, China produces NINE BILLION pairs of socks each year, with Chinese workers making 70cents/hour. Thanks to quotas, Fort Payne is protected—for now. BUT, you cannot “hold back the tide” forever. Eventually “water will seek its level” and demand will find the best value provider. Americans need to face that reality and deal with it. Walls, dikes and tariffs will only buy time before reality—and disaster—sets in. Americans have proven to be very resilient in the past, but only if they understand the real situation, not the nonsense purveyed by media “ex-spurts” like Lou Dobbs.
---THE COACH SAYS IT SO WELL
From Tennessee Lady Vols Coach Pat Summitt—who is now the winningest college basketball coach ever (men or women) and one of my most admired people, speaking at the UT-Martin college commencement.
“I would encourage you to set high goals. A lot of people don’t because along with that comes the responsibility of reaching those goals.”
Pat’s goal is always to win a National Championship—but so far her teams have only won SIX. She still trails John Wooden whose teams won 10. She’s still trying.
“When you grow up on a dairy farm, cows don’t take a day off, so we never had a day off. But within that environment, I learned that you can outwork people. So when you get your job and go to work, don’t let anyone outwork you.”
Pat’s teams are always the hardest working team you’ll see. She tolerates nothing less. But, she always puts personal relationships first.
“As a coach of 31 years, there’s not a piece of hardware that we’ve won that means as much as any one individual that I’ve had a chance to coach and teach and become friends with. Cherish your friendships.”
Finally, she saved the best for last.
“There is a winner inside each of you. When you find your passion—just like my passion is coaching—don’t ever let go of it. … You are in control of your life. Some people focus on getting the best life has to give. I challenge you, each of you, to give life your very best.”
Amen, Pat, those are words to live by.
Best, John
---FROM THE FRONT LINES—a must see site—click on the link below
Last week I sent a written commentary.
This one is words and pictures and is even more powerful.
http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/THISWILLMAKEYOUPROUD.HTML,
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