James Drogan

Re: Conversations with Dave

Saturday, March 27, 2004

THE EMPIRE STRIKES OUT

In the Senge and Carstedt article, Innovating Our Way to the Next Industrial Revolution (MIT Sloan Management Review, 2001. 42(2): p. 24-28.), the issue is raised of the sustainable corporation. In Forces I have called this out as a fundamental idea for "getting to the other side."

The Empire Strikes Out article, by Kenny Ausubel and brought to my attention by Dave Pollard (who, by the way, has a very insightful, provocative blog) speaks more eloquently about this than can I. I recommend it as required reading.

The issue is really one of politics, and particularly political leaders. We lack the number of leaders with vision, and strong moral and ethical underpinnings, and courage to take us where we need to go. The pettiness of the current national campaign in the US does not inspire hope.

For me, the important issues and objectives are:

1. Education: Lift the level of learning of primary and secondary students, and prompt increased college enrollments.

2. Health: Improve the health of Americans, then deal with the issues of the cost of healthcare.

3. Economy: Reduce the deficit through a reductlon in federal spending.

4. Security: Develop sufficient capacity to deter and, if necessary, defeat threats to American interests at home and abroad.

5. International Relationships: Be recognized around the world as an example of ethical and economic leadershlp.

I look at the political choices in terms of their ideas for resolving these matters.

posted by James at 9:02 AM

My thinking on these matters has become more sophisticated (I hope I'm learning) since I first posted this over a year ago, but I think the thrust of what I said then stands now.

One interesting thing about the article on Indian math tutors is that it mentions no outraged response from the educational community that jobs are being lost. Perhaps that is a reflection of what Americans really think about education.