The inspector General made some recommendations to the Mayor to achieve financial stability for the city. I was not aware that such things fell within the auspices of his job. No matter. I am optimistic. Not because some grandstanding appointee, politician makes idiotic statements. Not because some of these ideas were clearly contrived simply to make the others appear sane by comparison. (Yes, I mean the toll on Lake shore drive) Not because of this flagrant wagging of the dog.
I am optimistic because within minutes, both the media and the people were saying that this was clearly done for the reasons listed above. The people of Chicago, despite a history of being assumed to be stupid, are becoming quite a bit harder to put one over on. I will stop short of saying that the people are wising up; but at least they have become so jaded and suspicious of government that they see past the more obvious smoke screens. Making the few of us still working pay higher taxes and fees, only makes class warfare the norm.
What no one seems to realize though, is that there is only one way out of this financial mess. You see the welfare economy we have put in place after WWII relied on constant exponential growth in order to function. We allow our jobs to be outsourced, and the people who used to work in factories all transitioned to construction. This is something we all should have seen coming. The solution, you see, is to bring back manufacturing. Also, unlike what the President and his cabinet say; building roads, schools and bridges are not real jobs. The true wealth of America is not our schools roads and bridges. Those are symbols of our (now former) wealth.
The true wealth of America has always been that each American was allowed to work as hard as they want, to achieve what they want. Our wealth was that we built what the rest of the world needed and wanted. The only road back to that level of prosperity is protectionism. Our jobs are more important than Chinese jobs. That is the way every other country works: by treating their interests as more important than anything else. Why are we not doing the same? It does no good for me to yell for everyone to "BUY AMERICAN!", because we would only be able to buy food then. And we would need to check sources first.
We need to set ridiculously high tariffs on imported goods. Completed or not. We need to set in place a 51% ownership rule like every other country. (All companies, or subsidiaries operating in the country must be at least 51% owned by citizens thereof.) We need laws that protect the American worker. Corporations only outsource because the law allows it. Change that and we will fix our entire economy. Then, and only then, can we help the rest of the world.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Office how to. Or: have some damned Post-it notes.
You do not have a receptionist. You do not have a secretary. You have an office, or a cube, a telephone and a computer. Maybe not a computer. Not everyone has their own on their desk. What you do not have is Post-it notes. Or a notepad. Or a pen cup. Or tape.
You need these things. They are not for you. Say, for example, I have just found out something important that you need to know. I pop in to your office, but there you aren't. No problem, I'll just leave a note and... Damn. Where is does this fool keep their notepad. It's OK, I have a receipt in my pocket. I'll just borrow a pen and... no pens either. Sheesh. How does this chump get any work done. Let's see, what do we have on this desk. Dried up highlighter, coffee ring, crumbs, empty stapler, stack of outdated paperwork.
Not really presenting a good face there are we. Also, you just missed being told about the mandatory event that there will not be a memo, or an email for. See now I walk back to what I was doing, likely forgetting about the important thing. Even if I remember to send an e-mail when I get back to my computer I wont do it. I'll just claim I forgot.
Now lets play that out the other way. The CEO walks in and you are out. They quickly identify which desk is yours because it has a business card holder on it. Maybe they take one. Feeling a need to "touch bases" with you for a big project, they reach for your pen holder, remove one (you never put the bad ones back in), and write a quick note on your stack of Post-its. It is important so they stick it to your monitor. (or phone). You have now made a good impression without even being there.
Or it could have unfolded differently. Same CEO, same need to leave a message. They have to hunt for clues as to which desk is yours. They then need to go through your drawers to find paper and pens... and anything else you keep there. Nothing unprofessional I hope. No movies, no risque photos, no want ads... not in your desk. Of course not.
I'm not saying to have an immaculate desk. Just place certain things where they can be easily found. You are not the only person who might need them. You just might benefit from it.
You need these things. They are not for you. Say, for example, I have just found out something important that you need to know. I pop in to your office, but there you aren't. No problem, I'll just leave a note and... Damn. Where is does this fool keep their notepad. It's OK, I have a receipt in my pocket. I'll just borrow a pen and... no pens either. Sheesh. How does this chump get any work done. Let's see, what do we have on this desk. Dried up highlighter, coffee ring, crumbs, empty stapler, stack of outdated paperwork.
Not really presenting a good face there are we. Also, you just missed being told about the mandatory event that there will not be a memo, or an email for. See now I walk back to what I was doing, likely forgetting about the important thing. Even if I remember to send an e-mail when I get back to my computer I wont do it. I'll just claim I forgot.
Now lets play that out the other way. The CEO walks in and you are out. They quickly identify which desk is yours because it has a business card holder on it. Maybe they take one. Feeling a need to "touch bases" with you for a big project, they reach for your pen holder, remove one (you never put the bad ones back in), and write a quick note on your stack of Post-its. It is important so they stick it to your monitor. (or phone). You have now made a good impression without even being there.
Or it could have unfolded differently. Same CEO, same need to leave a message. They have to hunt for clues as to which desk is yours. They then need to go through your drawers to find paper and pens... and anything else you keep there. Nothing unprofessional I hope. No movies, no risque photos, no want ads... not in your desk. Of course not.
I'm not saying to have an immaculate desk. Just place certain things where they can be easily found. You are not the only person who might need them. You just might benefit from it.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Free Appropriate Public Education
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation act of 1973, guarantees the right of students with disabilities to a free appropriate public education. Free being either provided by, or reimbursed by the school district. Appropriate, being; as required by the assessed needs of the particular individual student. Public, meaning; meeting the ever so stringent requirements of public school requirements. Education is self explanatory.
This is a great thing that shows our compassion to those who are unfortunate. But it is backward thinking. I would never say that we should not help the disadvantaged. But I will demand parity for the gifted. Just as I could argue that being too tall is as much, if not more of a handicap as being too short, I will go on record as saying that we are not providing Free Appropriate Public Education for our country's gifted.
I once worked with a man from China. He told me that in China you are tested, at quite a young age, to determine your mental abilities. If you do well enough you go to a gifted school for your entire educational career. This is to ensure that the people who could most benefit society receive Appropriate education. At the risk of being called a communist, I feel perhaps they have the right of it on this issue. Why would we leave the next generation's best and brightest in a classroom where they will become bored, and possibly give up on pursuing education. Did you learn anything between fourth grade and college? I damn sure didn't.
In major cities there are special schools, and special programs for the gifted. Go outside of them by so much as a foot, and there are none. Within the cities, these programs are not conveniently located. Nor are they able to take all of the students who would benefit from this type of program.
My brother, who has a teaching degree, said he was taught that teachers are supposed to "aim for the fairway". Teach to the middle. Well that is fine if you are in the middle. If you are behind, the schools are mandated to help. But the gifted students are just left to their own devices, bored, miserable, neglected, and misunderstood. Is it really any wonder the smart ones never go into politics.
This is a great thing that shows our compassion to those who are unfortunate. But it is backward thinking. I would never say that we should not help the disadvantaged. But I will demand parity for the gifted. Just as I could argue that being too tall is as much, if not more of a handicap as being too short, I will go on record as saying that we are not providing Free Appropriate Public Education for our country's gifted.
I once worked with a man from China. He told me that in China you are tested, at quite a young age, to determine your mental abilities. If you do well enough you go to a gifted school for your entire educational career. This is to ensure that the people who could most benefit society receive Appropriate education. At the risk of being called a communist, I feel perhaps they have the right of it on this issue. Why would we leave the next generation's best and brightest in a classroom where they will become bored, and possibly give up on pursuing education. Did you learn anything between fourth grade and college? I damn sure didn't.
In major cities there are special schools, and special programs for the gifted. Go outside of them by so much as a foot, and there are none. Within the cities, these programs are not conveniently located. Nor are they able to take all of the students who would benefit from this type of program.
My brother, who has a teaching degree, said he was taught that teachers are supposed to "aim for the fairway". Teach to the middle. Well that is fine if you are in the middle. If you are behind, the schools are mandated to help. But the gifted students are just left to their own devices, bored, miserable, neglected, and misunderstood. Is it really any wonder the smart ones never go into politics.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Don't Call It Patriot Day
Something terrible happened. I still can't discuss it without raising my voice and getting angry. But on this terrible day, some attempted to do right. They made the hard choice. They risked, and ultimately lost, their lives trying to take back the control of a hijacked plane. "Let's Roll" became the rallying cry of a country. They were heroic. They should be remembered. They fought the good fight and lost. I will not disparage their efforts, and I can only hope that if presented the same circumstance, I would have the guts to do the same.
But when you decide to call a tragic day something positive, you are turning your back to the truth. December seventh was called "a day that will live in infamy". It was called Pearl Harbor day. It was called December seventh, because to those who lived through it, that was enough. They all knew, sure as the day is long, what it was. It was not called hero's day. Though undoubtedly many heroic actions were taken. It was not referred to as "Nationalism day", although I guarantee every American knew who's side they were on right then. What made the greatest generation great was that they faced that ugliness for what it was. They didn't mince words, nor did they sugar-coat it. They knew something that we have apparently forgotten.
So when we choose, in our ignorance, to call a day of tragedy, that should be marked with black armbands, "Patriot Day" and celebrate with flag waving; we turn our backs to the truth. Call it "New York day". Call it "World Trade Center day". Call it "Twin Towers day". Call it "a day that will overshadow the day that will live in infamy". Simply call it "9/11". But if you only ever commit one act of civil disobedience, refuse to call it "Patriot Day". It does not honor the sacrifice of the fallen, when we turn our backs on the reason they fell.
But when you decide to call a tragic day something positive, you are turning your back to the truth. December seventh was called "a day that will live in infamy". It was called Pearl Harbor day. It was called December seventh, because to those who lived through it, that was enough. They all knew, sure as the day is long, what it was. It was not called hero's day. Though undoubtedly many heroic actions were taken. It was not referred to as "Nationalism day", although I guarantee every American knew who's side they were on right then. What made the greatest generation great was that they faced that ugliness for what it was. They didn't mince words, nor did they sugar-coat it. They knew something that we have apparently forgotten.
So when we choose, in our ignorance, to call a day of tragedy, that should be marked with black armbands, "Patriot Day" and celebrate with flag waving; we turn our backs to the truth. Call it "New York day". Call it "World Trade Center day". Call it "Twin Towers day". Call it "a day that will overshadow the day that will live in infamy". Simply call it "9/11". But if you only ever commit one act of civil disobedience, refuse to call it "Patriot Day". It does not honor the sacrifice of the fallen, when we turn our backs on the reason they fell.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Agenda for America
I will admit it freely. I have an agenda. Not a unabomber-manifesto type agenda. Or a tea-party agenda. Certainly not a socialist agenda. I am a centrist. By that I mean I hold x- number of reactionary /libertarian views, and an equal number of socialist views. So they kinda balance out. (example, pro gun, don't care if gays marry) In other countries, such as the Nordic Socialist- democracies, they have names for that. Here we do not. My agenda is simple, and detailed below:
Keep them from f-ing it up. By "them" I mean politicians. You see, I am quite happy with our current political climate. An unpopular president, a congress controlled by the other major party, and a split supreme court, means nothing gets done.
You may be asking, "Why is that good?" I'll tell you my friends, right this way. The eternal dance we call a representative democracy. You see, better minds than ours devised a way that no one could mess up too badly in government. They contrived a method by which our "king" rotates when he would ordinarily be consolidating power, and our other representatives can be ousted without war every few years. Only Justices are lifers, and generally speaking, the only smart ones in the group.
This post will ramble a bit, one out of every dozen will. No I have not been drinking. Ask my friends, I am much more focused when I have been.
Equal opportunity bashing: The president has asked for an extension of payroll tax cuts for another year. 3 for 3 as I recall. For an idea he said was idiotic when another President did it. (I know, bad grammar) Secretary Clinton said we needed to keep our troops deployed overseas, and "Stay the course" if you will. Again, its only a bad idea when someone else does it.
Now for the righties. Congressman Walsh, all around buffoon, held a press conference to explain why he wouldn't be attending the President's speech. Apparently, he feels that the President is wrong, even before he speaks. Now I will at least give the leader of the free world the chance to tell me an idea before I tell him he's wrong. Especially if that were part of my job description. But then I'm no congressman. The audience apparently voiced some disagreement at this point and was told by the August Mr. Walsh that they were wrong. Joe, (see you get no respect) when the people you invited, your base as it were, tell you that you are not representing their interests; and your damned job title is Representative, perhaps they are not the ones who are wrong, jack-ass. Just sayin'.
To the (ahem) neutral media: Ron Paul is one of the Republican front runners. Bachman is last in almost every poll. Put Ron Paul on the television. He may be boring because he never speaks before thinking, but he is a LEGITIMATE candidate. Perhaps the only one.
Never wanted to be this guy but here I am: I was watching a vlog about how poor people who vote Republican are only voting that way because of the Republican promise to oppress minorities for the gain of whites. For the record, it was narrated by a white male. Presumably affluent. That is like saying; "Any rich person who votes Democrat is clearly corrupt and expects a loophole in the tax code, since all Democrats want is communism." (Note, that was for illustrative purposes only, I do not believe that) I will say this: "Try talking to one first". I have been that guy. Low income, Republican voter. I was never promised anything, nor was it under the premise of oppressing anyone. Although if a candidate promised world domination...
It all starts with assumptions. We assumed, up through the forties, that our way was better, and we were right. We now assume we are no better than any other country, and our way is no better, and we are right.
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -Henry Ford-
Keep them from f-ing it up. By "them" I mean politicians. You see, I am quite happy with our current political climate. An unpopular president, a congress controlled by the other major party, and a split supreme court, means nothing gets done.
You may be asking, "Why is that good?" I'll tell you my friends, right this way. The eternal dance we call a representative democracy. You see, better minds than ours devised a way that no one could mess up too badly in government. They contrived a method by which our "king" rotates when he would ordinarily be consolidating power, and our other representatives can be ousted without war every few years. Only Justices are lifers, and generally speaking, the only smart ones in the group.
This post will ramble a bit, one out of every dozen will. No I have not been drinking. Ask my friends, I am much more focused when I have been.
Equal opportunity bashing: The president has asked for an extension of payroll tax cuts for another year. 3 for 3 as I recall. For an idea he said was idiotic when another President did it. (I know, bad grammar) Secretary Clinton said we needed to keep our troops deployed overseas, and "Stay the course" if you will. Again, its only a bad idea when someone else does it.
Now for the righties. Congressman Walsh, all around buffoon, held a press conference to explain why he wouldn't be attending the President's speech. Apparently, he feels that the President is wrong, even before he speaks. Now I will at least give the leader of the free world the chance to tell me an idea before I tell him he's wrong. Especially if that were part of my job description. But then I'm no congressman. The audience apparently voiced some disagreement at this point and was told by the August Mr. Walsh that they were wrong. Joe, (see you get no respect) when the people you invited, your base as it were, tell you that you are not representing their interests; and your damned job title is Representative, perhaps they are not the ones who are wrong, jack-ass. Just sayin'.
To the (ahem) neutral media: Ron Paul is one of the Republican front runners. Bachman is last in almost every poll. Put Ron Paul on the television. He may be boring because he never speaks before thinking, but he is a LEGITIMATE candidate. Perhaps the only one.
Never wanted to be this guy but here I am: I was watching a vlog about how poor people who vote Republican are only voting that way because of the Republican promise to oppress minorities for the gain of whites. For the record, it was narrated by a white male. Presumably affluent. That is like saying; "Any rich person who votes Democrat is clearly corrupt and expects a loophole in the tax code, since all Democrats want is communism." (Note, that was for illustrative purposes only, I do not believe that) I will say this: "Try talking to one first". I have been that guy. Low income, Republican voter. I was never promised anything, nor was it under the premise of oppressing anyone. Although if a candidate promised world domination...
It all starts with assumptions. We assumed, up through the forties, that our way was better, and we were right. We now assume we are no better than any other country, and our way is no better, and we are right.
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -Henry Ford-
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Re-engineering government.
Governor Quinn recently line item vetoed the funding away from regional school superintendents. His reasoning is that they are unnecessary bureaucrats. While I would advise a former Lieutenant Governor not to throw stones at useless bureaucrats, I can't say he is wrong. This really is not even a good start on eliminating useless positions in Illinois government.
Having been victimized by it more than once, I have read many books, articles, and 'zines on re-engineering companies, workers, and management. A quick show of hands: who here, at some point, has been re-engineered right the hell out of a job? Everyone, I see. That is part of my point. We all face the prospect, daily, that some re-organization or re-engineering will put us out of work. But then, we do not work for the State of Illinois. The workers there, as in many bloated, corrupt, good-old-boy-network, employers feel entitled to a job. Even if it has no duties or responsibilities.
I would humbly suggest to our august Governor that he perform a corporate style re-engineering. And by that I mean, start at the top. Ask first: what needs to be done? Then: who do we have that can handle that. Next: Assign those people to those positions. Then proceed to the next level down. Include in your assessment any existing or emerging technology.
Illinois spends more than any other state, per student, on education. Now if we had the best educated students, I would not mind one bit. The sad fact is we have very dismal student outcomes. Some seventy plus percent going on to college and only 26% that do not require remedial courses on arrival. How does this happen.
The teachers union points the finger at the bloated administrative level, and calls them unnecessary. The Administrators say the cost overage lies with the cost of new equipment, like computers, that the students need. The state, who mandates these, say the teachers unions and administrators earn too much. They all point in a big circle at one another and all are right. Despair.com has a poster depicting a drop of water hitting a pool. It says: "No single raindrop believes it is to blame for the flood" That is truly the case here. All of these groups are right. They are all to blame. Illinois teachers do earn too much relative to the outcomes experienced. The no-bid contracts to supply electronics exceed the cost of simply giving each student a computer. The administrators are both unnecessary and overpaid.
I use the schools as an example only because they are in the news. I would much rather overpay a teacher than a sign holder on a construction crew that makes more than said teacher. Also I would rather have too many teachers than sign holders. I do not mean to pick on the education system. It is a symptom of the problem, not the cause. We have more districts than any other state. We have more levels of government than any other state. This does not buy us better efficiency. quite the opposite.
Having been victimized by it more than once, I have read many books, articles, and 'zines on re-engineering companies, workers, and management. A quick show of hands: who here, at some point, has been re-engineered right the hell out of a job? Everyone, I see. That is part of my point. We all face the prospect, daily, that some re-organization or re-engineering will put us out of work. But then, we do not work for the State of Illinois. The workers there, as in many bloated, corrupt, good-old-boy-network, employers feel entitled to a job. Even if it has no duties or responsibilities.
I would humbly suggest to our august Governor that he perform a corporate style re-engineering. And by that I mean, start at the top. Ask first: what needs to be done? Then: who do we have that can handle that. Next: Assign those people to those positions. Then proceed to the next level down. Include in your assessment any existing or emerging technology.
Illinois spends more than any other state, per student, on education. Now if we had the best educated students, I would not mind one bit. The sad fact is we have very dismal student outcomes. Some seventy plus percent going on to college and only 26% that do not require remedial courses on arrival. How does this happen.
The teachers union points the finger at the bloated administrative level, and calls them unnecessary. The Administrators say the cost overage lies with the cost of new equipment, like computers, that the students need. The state, who mandates these, say the teachers unions and administrators earn too much. They all point in a big circle at one another and all are right. Despair.com has a poster depicting a drop of water hitting a pool. It says: "No single raindrop believes it is to blame for the flood" That is truly the case here. All of these groups are right. They are all to blame. Illinois teachers do earn too much relative to the outcomes experienced. The no-bid contracts to supply electronics exceed the cost of simply giving each student a computer. The administrators are both unnecessary and overpaid.
I use the schools as an example only because they are in the news. I would much rather overpay a teacher than a sign holder on a construction crew that makes more than said teacher. Also I would rather have too many teachers than sign holders. I do not mean to pick on the education system. It is a symptom of the problem, not the cause. We have more districts than any other state. We have more levels of government than any other state. This does not buy us better efficiency. quite the opposite.
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