I am currently working on a research paper for presentation to the ISA in late March. The focus of the paper is Challenges to US Foreign Policy. One of the challenges that I identify that applies to the US and also to Western Europe is what I am calling leadership fatigue.
In my opinion, the US is demonstrating many signs of leadership fatigue. It is not new. We saw it after the Vietnam War when the US was demoralized for years. Now, after two long wars that appear to have solved little or nothing, we are seeing it again. Except for a few policy pundits who want the US to become involved anywhere at any time, most policy makers seem to have become disenchanted with foreign military involvements.
Our own infrastructure has suffered in the past decade. Our schools, in particular, and our roads, for example, are showing the results of inattention. We have built dubious projects in other countries but invested little in our own infrastructure. Some argue the military involvement cost only a small share of our GNP, but we can question those statistics. The narrow military costs or the broader investment costs and the unfilled projects in our own country? I look at the larger picture, not the narrow military budget.
I have always been an internationalist, since my early days studying international relations. But, even I feel the intense leadership fatigue of our nation.
I am not suggesting that we fold our tent and come home. This is not 1972.
I think we have to judge each step judiciously. Limited, strategic international involvement should be our mantra, not global policeman on call.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Life Returns to Normal 2014
How quickly the holidays pass! It is January 2, 2014. Everything seems post-holiday!
I went to the grocery store early this morning, and the parking lot was almost empty. I have not seen the lot that empty since before Thanksgiving!
I have taken down the last of my own Christmas decorations. I started the process after Christmas and removed a little at a time. I had three small trees. Two require no decoration at all. One requires a little bit of decoration so this was not a big task, but even so, with the two centerpieces, tree "skirts," etc., it required a number of trips to the basement. My big supply of cards has also been stored although cards continue to dribble in. I have a few cards around to respond to unexpected cards.
I love the holiday period from Thanksgiving to New Year, and enjoy preparing
everything. I savor every moment of the holidays. I love the shopping, the church services, the music, the special romantic TV movies, everything!
At the same time, I am surprised at how quickly the holiday ambience disappears. Perhaps it was more pronounced this year since Christmas and New Year fell in mid week. Today it is just another work day although I am certain most of the conversation in workplaces will be about Christmas and New Year adventures.
Then Pfft! It seems everything is back to pre-holiday. Today it could be November 15 or February 15, since there is little trace of the holidays left. The extreme cold reminds us it is January or February. We are in a deep freeze.
I wrote my New Year's resolutions on the 31st. Let's hope I keep them. I learned this week that Janus (the god for whom January was named) means two faced - backward and forward. Today we look at the old year and ahead to the new year.
I went to the grocery store early this morning, and the parking lot was almost empty. I have not seen the lot that empty since before Thanksgiving!
I have taken down the last of my own Christmas decorations. I started the process after Christmas and removed a little at a time. I had three small trees. Two require no decoration at all. One requires a little bit of decoration so this was not a big task, but even so, with the two centerpieces, tree "skirts," etc., it required a number of trips to the basement. My big supply of cards has also been stored although cards continue to dribble in. I have a few cards around to respond to unexpected cards.
I love the holiday period from Thanksgiving to New Year, and enjoy preparing
everything. I savor every moment of the holidays. I love the shopping, the church services, the music, the special romantic TV movies, everything!
At the same time, I am surprised at how quickly the holiday ambience disappears. Perhaps it was more pronounced this year since Christmas and New Year fell in mid week. Today it is just another work day although I am certain most of the conversation in workplaces will be about Christmas and New Year adventures.
Then Pfft! It seems everything is back to pre-holiday. Today it could be November 15 or February 15, since there is little trace of the holidays left. The extreme cold reminds us it is January or February. We are in a deep freeze.
I wrote my New Year's resolutions on the 31st. Let's hope I keep them. I learned this week that Janus (the god for whom January was named) means two faced - backward and forward. Today we look at the old year and ahead to the new year.
Friday, December 20, 2013
The Everything Store?
When I was growing up in Philadelphia, whenever we needed something we went to Wanamaker's (or sometimes Gimbels). I can remember wandering through their book department, their perfume and cosmetic section routinely when I was going anywhere downtown. When I moved to the Twin Cities in my 20s, Dayton's performed the same function. We bought everything from appliances to health and beauty products there.
But, times have changed. The old department stores narrowed their merchandise as more and more specialty stores arose. They focus on clothing and some products for the home. One goes here for books, there for electronics, still another store for home goods, etc. Life has become more complicated. Going from store to store takes a lot of time.
In her classic book, Simplify Your Life, Elaine St. James talks about simplifying your shopping life, by combining as many errands as possible into one trip or mall. She strikes a chord with me, and obviously with a lot of other people, or the outlet malls would not be so successful. When we travel to Orlando for Disney World, we probably spend almost as much time perusing the outlet malls as the parks.
When online shopping began to emerge, a store that originally specialized in books broadened its inventory and now is widely called the "everything store." I know when I need something unusual, the first place I look is Amazon.com where I buy everything from generic allergy medicine to the filters for my refrigerator and for my humidifier. Anyone who has shopped for a humidifier filter in town knows what frustration is.
And even the appliance store where I bought my refrigerator does not stock that model filter.
Amazon filled a niche, empty for years, with the decline of the all-purpose department store, and it is available with the touch of a few keys and two day delivery. I love Amazon. It has saved me a lot of time, energy, and money. And its Kindle app has opened the doors to literature at your finger tips. If someone suggests a new book, I immediately open my amazon.com link and either order it or download a sample to my Ipad. Yes, it is the everything store, and I, for one, am grateful for it.
But, times have changed. The old department stores narrowed their merchandise as more and more specialty stores arose. They focus on clothing and some products for the home. One goes here for books, there for electronics, still another store for home goods, etc. Life has become more complicated. Going from store to store takes a lot of time.
In her classic book, Simplify Your Life, Elaine St. James talks about simplifying your shopping life, by combining as many errands as possible into one trip or mall. She strikes a chord with me, and obviously with a lot of other people, or the outlet malls would not be so successful. When we travel to Orlando for Disney World, we probably spend almost as much time perusing the outlet malls as the parks.
When online shopping began to emerge, a store that originally specialized in books broadened its inventory and now is widely called the "everything store." I know when I need something unusual, the first place I look is Amazon.com where I buy everything from generic allergy medicine to the filters for my refrigerator and for my humidifier. Anyone who has shopped for a humidifier filter in town knows what frustration is.
And even the appliance store where I bought my refrigerator does not stock that model filter.
Amazon filled a niche, empty for years, with the decline of the all-purpose department store, and it is available with the touch of a few keys and two day delivery. I love Amazon. It has saved me a lot of time, energy, and money. And its Kindle app has opened the doors to literature at your finger tips. If someone suggests a new book, I immediately open my amazon.com link and either order it or download a sample to my Ipad. Yes, it is the everything store, and I, for one, am grateful for it.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Tactics as a Substitute for Good Leadership
I just finished the new book Double Down: Game Change 2012. This detailed analysis of the 2012 election is riveting. I could not put it down. I loved the book.
At the same time, it was depressing to reflect on the real story. Most of the time, the election narrative discussed tactics each campaign used (all candidates were treated).
While there were a few major strategic decisions, there were few signs of leadership on the part of the candidates. The eye was on the prize: election, and how to get there. From the weakest to the strongest candidates, the agenda was clear: to get elected.
The majority of the time was on tactics.
Whether the focus was on campaign infighting or conflicting advice from consultants, the campaigns were about winning, not leading or governing.
I then thought about the examples all around us. So much of "leadership" is tactical -- how we appear before others, how to achieve our short term goals. Very little is strategic or long term. Very little is true leadership.
At the same time, it was depressing to reflect on the real story. Most of the time, the election narrative discussed tactics each campaign used (all candidates were treated).
While there were a few major strategic decisions, there were few signs of leadership on the part of the candidates. The eye was on the prize: election, and how to get there. From the weakest to the strongest candidates, the agenda was clear: to get elected.
The majority of the time was on tactics.
Whether the focus was on campaign infighting or conflicting advice from consultants, the campaigns were about winning, not leading or governing.
I then thought about the examples all around us. So much of "leadership" is tactical -- how we appear before others, how to achieve our short term goals. Very little is strategic or long term. Very little is true leadership.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
How Early Do we Shop for Christmas?
First a disclaimer. Generally, I shop for Christmas presents year around. Yes, I am one of those people everyone hates. I have done already most of my Christmas shopping (I also use gift cards a lot!!!). And I have a relatively small family.
This year, there is one less shopping week between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That may be the reason all the stores began to put up Christmas displays early (September, in some stores) and pre-Black Friday specials are everywhere. Today I received a preview version of Target's Black Friday catalog. Many sales assert current prices are the Black Friday prices. So we buy.
..Christmas shopping is an essential part of the American economy and the year-end balance sheet. I had a discussion with some people in the spring as to whether all the Christmas displays, etc. unduly favored one religious group in the population. I argued no because much of this has lost all (not some) of its religious significance. It now is a matter of the economic balance sheet.
The number of Christmas themed objects seems to grow. I bought gingerbread flavored breakfast bread this morning (just having finished my pumpkin swirl breakfast bread). I just returned from an errand where I saw mini Christmas trees made of every conceivable material. Enough to decorate every room in the house.
Is it too much? Yes. Is it fun? Yes. I love Christmas so I don't have a problem with this but many do. The shopping extravaganza tempts us all, and many people spend more than they should.
it's fun. Use discretion. Enjoy the decorations! Put things in perspective. Relax and enjoy!
Monday, September 2, 2013
Making decisions in the public eye
Last week, like many other people, I was suffering over the issue of Syria. The media had zeroed in on the decision process, trying to analyze and over-analyze every morsel dropped by a member of the administration.
I thought to myself, how can we make good decisions in this way? At one point, the president said he was undecided. Everyone is undecided until a decision is reached. But, in the media it was treated as symptomatic of indecision.
As was discussed on last Sunday's Reliable Sources (CNN) the media are excited when possibilities of or military responses are raised. The media were sounding the drums of war, as some of the analysts noted. One international report I read even mentioned that Frday night, August 30, was the anticipated moment to strike. Fortunately that moment came and went.
I am glad that the weekend served to cool responses, after the president mentioned that he would consult Congress. That in itself will delay any response.
Good decision making requires one to sift possibilities and discuss options and their possible repercussions. As one analyst phrased it today, these sorts of decisions have to be treated as a chess game, not a checkers game. An unintended consequence of the war in Iraq has been to leave Iran as the most important power in Middle East since Iraq, once its equal, has been weakened immeasurably.
An attack on Syria, however surgiical or brief, may have a ripple effect throughout the Middle East. To do nothing may also have a ripple effect. It is not an easy decision.
It is a decision that needs to be made by cool heads, considering all the ramifications of any move or inaction. It needs time and time away from the media eyes, insofar as possible.
I thought to myself, how can we make good decisions in this way? At one point, the president said he was undecided. Everyone is undecided until a decision is reached. But, in the media it was treated as symptomatic of indecision.
As was discussed on last Sunday's Reliable Sources (CNN) the media are excited when possibilities of or military responses are raised. The media were sounding the drums of war, as some of the analysts noted. One international report I read even mentioned that Frday night, August 30, was the anticipated moment to strike. Fortunately that moment came and went.
I am glad that the weekend served to cool responses, after the president mentioned that he would consult Congress. That in itself will delay any response.
Good decision making requires one to sift possibilities and discuss options and their possible repercussions. As one analyst phrased it today, these sorts of decisions have to be treated as a chess game, not a checkers game. An unintended consequence of the war in Iraq has been to leave Iran as the most important power in Middle East since Iraq, once its equal, has been weakened immeasurably.
An attack on Syria, however surgiical or brief, may have a ripple effect throughout the Middle East. To do nothing may also have a ripple effect. It is not an easy decision.
It is a decision that needs to be made by cool heads, considering all the ramifications of any move or inaction. It needs time and time away from the media eyes, insofar as possible.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Film Critics
Ever since I wrote about the new book on trends in film (see my earlier blog), I have been watching the film scene more closely. I fail to find any film currently playing the major theaters that I would pay to see. I see films that I would have to be paid to endure!!!
Recently Hallmark launched its delightful series Cedar Cove. It is refreshing and wholesome and very interesting. Some of us look forward eagerly to each week's new episode. But, if I read the critics' reviews first, I would have never have watched it.
It is dismissed as saccharine fluff in sarcastic language.
The latest gruesome first run films deserve panning, but Cedar Cove is a breathe of fresh air.
The film critics need to sit back and think about society. What makes a better contribution to society? The latest gruesome thriller or the refreshing Cedar Cove that makes us think about the best in our own lives?
We have become sophisticated and brittle in society and dismissive of films that espouse small town life and good values as "Hallmark." We should be glad Hallmark is willing to make these films, unlike the major part of the film industry that wants only violent serials and blockbusters.
Recently Hallmark launched its delightful series Cedar Cove. It is refreshing and wholesome and very interesting. Some of us look forward eagerly to each week's new episode. But, if I read the critics' reviews first, I would have never have watched it.
It is dismissed as saccharine fluff in sarcastic language.
The latest gruesome first run films deserve panning, but Cedar Cove is a breathe of fresh air.
The film critics need to sit back and think about society. What makes a better contribution to society? The latest gruesome thriller or the refreshing Cedar Cove that makes us think about the best in our own lives?
We have become sophisticated and brittle in society and dismissive of films that espouse small town life and good values as "Hallmark." We should be glad Hallmark is willing to make these films, unlike the major part of the film industry that wants only violent serials and blockbusters.
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