dispatches from the new world of work

Not So Sweet! Incoming! Duck!

Op-ed leader in the European Wall Street Journal, 24 November: "A Dollar Warning: A country can't devalue its way to prosperity." The slide of the dollar (and Greenspan's acknowledgement that it ought to keep on sliding), the no-end-in-sight budget deficit, the trade deficit, the unfunded entitlements conundrum (disaster-in-waiting?), and the foreign brain drain (see below) add up to a flashing yellow light—at least—on the U.S. mid-term economic horizon. Why does John Snow not look like the sort to take the lead in dealing with all this? I am no macro-economist, but my "antsy" feelings are starting to drive me nuts. No problem? It doesn't feel that way.

Tom Peters posted this on 11/29/04.

Comments

>No problem? It doesn't feel that way.

Very large problem. Called 'gravity'.

For years the US (and its merry band of western society followers) has deluded itself. Things ain't been right for a very long time and sane efforts toward a real solution continue to be shouted-down and traded-away for short-term personal prosperity.

--------
Iâ€™ve squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises
All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest, hmmmm...
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Needs a brave solution... grassroot swell of responsibility.

Takers?

Posted by g at November 29, 2004 9:51 AM

Why is every1 is ducking.. ?? Should not they be catchin ???? Yes tis the same as saying while you are all 'zig'in" someothers are "zag'in".. tis not an effn issue.. just just get your heads out of the sand syndrome.. its a choice of an American Making.... yeah its branded.."made in america" !!
remember that $80T defict Budget and then sprilling downward trend on USD value compared to the Yen and EU ?? Americans need to get a life rather ..then throw their resources away ( hmmmm eh.. hmmmmmmm ...like the Iraq ware just for kickers)!!

Posted by /pd at November 29, 2004 11:13 AM

Worthwhile sort-of-on-topic related item at Fast Company.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/88/open_essay.html

Posted by g at November 29, 2004 7:16 PM

This is not an issue. People decide to buy things from other countries for whatever reason they see fit. As long as the US lets uor currency adjust then things will be fine. Who cares what China does? We all make decisions and we are all grown ups. If you dont want to buy anything that wasnt 100% made within the US then don't.

Posted by Matt Nellans at November 30, 2004 9:00 AM

This is an issue. And to respond to g, I hope that I am a taker. But how to get the grassroots growing is an important question. I am actually attempting to frame a question for Tom right now.
The Dollar is an important indicator of the Revolution. China is coming and if "Westerners" wish to have some say in the future, we are going to have to (re)discover what value we can contribute. If not, we can avoid the problem and watch China (and India etc) play the new economy. I would much rather be a participant - "a player".

Posted by Steve Robert at November 30, 2004 9:30 AM

as one of your brighter countrymen said "you cant fix a problem with the mindset that created it".......
You re-elected him

Posted by John at November 30, 2004 10:19 AM

>Steve Robert... This is an issue. And to respond to g, I hope that I am a taker. But how to get the grassroots growing is an important question.

Steve... 'the grassroot thing' is simply an issue of personal responsibility... neither give nor accept 'less than good'. It's an initially thankless - and ultimately hugely rewarding - task. Just keep doing it.

Personally, I'm inspired by the Eastern wandering monks... who'd travel among communities - healing and teaching. [Is this not the basis for a 'consulting and support' operation?]
The 'twist' is that in never asking for payment, their (relatively simple) material needs and desires were gratefully provided-for by the villagers they'd helped... often with surplus - stuff they'd take with them and use appropriately; giving bread, water and honey to those more needy than themselves... and literally planting seeds as the basis of future communities to continue and support the tradition.

Posted by g at November 30, 2004 11:14 AM

g, just keep doing it, just isn't enough in these radical times. As the title states "Incoming!!", and as a former military officer I know that there immediate actions that have to be undertaken. But to win this war, we have to do more than just duck or just keep hacking away.

Posted by Steve Robert at December 1, 2004 10:14 AM

Steve... your expression is a fear-based conformist one which seeks to deny natural order.

There is no war - simply the continuing flux of life. Your life is not under threat. Opportunities abound. best deal viagra

Of what are you scared?

Posted by g at December 1, 2004 7:39 PM

You may not be interested in chaos g, but chaos is interested in you. I do not have a gun to my head, but thousands of my brothers and sisters are dying every minute of things that are treatable. All this due to a system of our creation. It is time to destroy that system and re-imagine what it means to be human. Else, all may be lost.

Posted by Steve Robert at December 1, 2004 8:50 PM

Steve - that's a knee-jerk.

As I've just crossed this site off my list of places to visit, if you/others want to continue this with me pick up the link.

Posted by g at December 2, 2004 7:18 AM