When I read and hear the news, I come to the conclusion
that the US is the richest country at peace in the world.
We must be. Only in a rich country at peace could so many
trivial issues make the news, and occupy our attention and
energy.
Some examples of what I mean:
There is a movement afoot to provide plants with the same
"rights" as animals. The members of the movement would
probably give plants the same rights as humans, if they
could get away with it. Switzerland has recently passed a
bill granting just that right. The Swiss have been a very
rich, very small, very peaceful country for so long, we
shouldn't be surprised. Perhaps one of our pressing
requirements should be to create an agency to guarantee
humane harvest of corn, or soybeans, or tomatoes ... An
earmark to get things started, perhaps?
In the midst of the most severe financial crisis since the
Great Depression - one candidate's campaign disclosed that
September was a record breaker in donations - $150 million
in one month. Probably enough money to feed a small country
for a year. Chump change in our US - you don't start
talking real money until you get into the tens - no - make
that hundreds of billions. Just ask any Representative or
Senator. Only in a rich country.
The same candidate has purchased a half hour of TV space
for an infomercial about why he should be the next
President. He has to spend all that money somewhere - time
is running out! I thought those infomercials were mostly on
Sunday morning, advertising how to really clean your colon
- or how to really get those thighs in shape. In this case
the infomercial is in primetime, on all three networks, and
- here's the outrage - it could result in a World Series
game having to be delayed for six or eight minutes to allow
it to play. Damn! How can you possibly not feel affected by
that kind of presumption!
The OPEC nations are going to slow down production of their
oil. The price of a barrel has dropped because of a slowing
of demand, so they want to keep the price up by cutting the
supply. We're not in OPEC. After all the noise and thunder
about all the things we will do to drill, develop renewable
energy sources, blah, blah, blah, the only action being
taken is to stiff arm the development of power sources
using tried and true technology and fuels.
And those electric cars - how precious. Just plug the
little buggers into the wall and let them charge. Problem
solved. Except, where does the juice come from? Don't worry
about that. In ten years all our energy will be clean and
renewable. That ten year thing keeps coming up. Isn't that
the most recent reason for not drilling - it would take ten
years to see any benefit? You gotta be rich and at peace to
throw ten years around.
No drilling, no natural gas - and would someone remind
Nancy Pelosi that natural gas is a fossil fuel. Only in the
US would the number three person in our elected government
not know that. Whatta country!
Only in a rich country at peace could about 95% of the
Congress running for reeelction be reelected - when the
approval rating for that Congress hovers around 10% - and
that's being kind. Whatta country!
A federal judge just set aside large tracts of offshore
areas for polar bears - no drilling, exploration or any
other activity will be allowed in those areas. No uproar,
no press coverage to speak of. We must have access to all
the energy we need. Based on the lack of urgency exhibited
by everyone, that's the only conclusion I can draw. At
least until the next spike, or a war - or a real dent in
our pocketbooks. We'd rather pay foreign countries to
produce and ship their oil to us than develop our own
resources - whatta country!
Only in a rich country at peace can whether or not your
fantasy football team wins on Sunday be the most burning
question over the weekend. And do you wanna take the
Phillies in four - or the Rays in 7 - and how much do you
wanna bet?
Only in a rich country at peace can so much be made of so
little - while the big things just get battered about. Both
candidates propose what most of us know are plans that will
never happen. And we'll just keep going along. After all,
we are the richest country in the world, and with the
exception of two troublesome wars being fought by our
professional military, we are at peace - kinda. Terrorists?
Treat them like the criminals they may be. Give them access
to our court system. Perhaps they should be able to sue for
illegal arrest. Or for not being Mirandaized?
So, all this stuff has made me hungry. What's for dinner -
vegan, organic, fresh or frozen, free range, line caught,
ethically harvested or slaughtered, no supplements, omega -
3, soy, high fiber, no trans fat, low cholesterol? How can
I possibly think about other things when so many choices
are placed right before me?
That's what happens in rich countries at peace - until
they're not anymore.
----------------------------------------------------
Andy Cox is President of Cox Consulting Group LLC. He
founded his firm in 1995 after extensive experience in
leadership positions in Fortune 500 corporations. His focus
is on helping clients select, develop, retain and enhance
the performance of leaders and emerging leaders. He can be
reached at http://www.coxconsultgroup.com or contact him at
acox@coxconsultgroup.com
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