One Man Can Make a Difference
(A Terrible, Terrible Difference)
I have a neighbor, also a good friend, who feels that all of the hoopla surrounding Barack Obama's election and inauguration is misguided. He feels that the fundamental forces guiding U.S. policy and our national agenda operate in a different sphere from our illusory (in his mind) democracy. Before George W. Bush's presidency, I had similar feelings. I rarely voted. I actually considered voting for Nader in 2000 because I felt that there were not material differences between the major parties and their candidates. In my mind, Clinton had been a good president in many ways, but had betrayed his Democratic roots by cozying up to the major corporations that exert such tremendous influence in our country.
The presidency of George W. Bush has taught me a valuable lesson: one man truly can make a difference.
I've known my fair share of incompetent people in leadership positions in my roughly 20 years in the business world. However, the vast majority of these people in positions of power are what I would term "passively incompetent." That is, they let the organization keep going with many of the same experts that were in place when they arrived and they largely accept their advice; they have some sense of competence and skill in others and try to put reasonably able people in positions of responsibility; they basically let things keep going without a lot of interference or bold ideas, although there may be what amounts to a cosmetic reorganization so that it can appear they have made some bold changes. They cut the ribbons at grand openings and give speeches, and enjoy some of the privileges of power. We've had similar presidencies.
However, Bush was not this kind of incompetent leader. No - he was much worse - he energetically forced his poor judgment into action and damaged our country for the past eight years, not to mention for many years to come. It is much easier for someone to enjoy, admire, and rhapsodize about a beautiful vase than for a skilled craftsman to make it in the first place. It takes a special person to chug a six pack, don a blind-fold, and insist to the bitter end that wildly swinging a big stick around is the right course.
The real transition on January 20 was not from Republican to Democrat: it was from a tragic, active, dead-certain incompetence in our leadership to our more traditional approach. My celebration was, yes, for Obama as I do prefer his policies, but I would have celebrated almost as much simply to be rid of the proverbial "bull in a china shop" that was George W. Bush.
Yours in hoping for a better bi-partisan America,
Mark
The presidency of George W. Bush has taught me a valuable lesson: one man truly can make a difference.
I've known my fair share of incompetent people in leadership positions in my roughly 20 years in the business world. However, the vast majority of these people in positions of power are what I would term "passively incompetent." That is, they let the organization keep going with many of the same experts that were in place when they arrived and they largely accept their advice; they have some sense of competence and skill in others and try to put reasonably able people in positions of responsibility; they basically let things keep going without a lot of interference or bold ideas, although there may be what amounts to a cosmetic reorganization so that it can appear they have made some bold changes. They cut the ribbons at grand openings and give speeches, and enjoy some of the privileges of power. We've had similar presidencies.
However, Bush was not this kind of incompetent leader. No - he was much worse - he energetically forced his poor judgment into action and damaged our country for the past eight years, not to mention for many years to come. It is much easier for someone to enjoy, admire, and rhapsodize about a beautiful vase than for a skilled craftsman to make it in the first place. It takes a special person to chug a six pack, don a blind-fold, and insist to the bitter end that wildly swinging a big stick around is the right course.
The real transition on January 20 was not from Republican to Democrat: it was from a tragic, active, dead-certain incompetence in our leadership to our more traditional approach. My celebration was, yes, for Obama as I do prefer his policies, but I would have celebrated almost as much simply to be rid of the proverbial "bull in a china shop" that was George W. Bush.
Yours in hoping for a better bi-partisan America,
Mark
Go reread your last post.
ReplyDeleteStar wars then, star wars now.
Presidents in the past, presidents now.
Time will tell.
Hmmm... don't remember any terrible movies that got better with age. I will keep it is mind.
ReplyDelete