Rant: Let go of the Entitlement Illusion and Unions.

My sister and I are having a conversation about what the new economic reality will create in the masses. I say – it’s the loss of the illusion of entitlements. I think the way we define middle class – is going to change.

Those of us who are self-employed have learned how to live close to the edge – in peace – if prayer. We know it’s a waste energy to be churned up about what we cannot control.  I think entitlement thinking is going to die – finally.

I think what we’re seeing now is the final melt-down of the illusion that any employer, (be that government, corporate or non-profit) is able to offer employment for life.

The first melt-down in the employer-employee contract happened throughout the 80’s (after Telecom deregulation) and more expansively in the Silicon Valley in the 90’s’.  These were the times companies were flattening” organizations, outourcing to a global workforce, and doing more with less. Everyone of the boomers effected by the churn of the 80’s and 90’s understands the lunacy of entitlement thinking.

Rant here – but – I think we’re paying for the entitlement illusion that the auto unions propagated over the past 30 years. Selling entitlement-thinking has filled the Union coffer since the need for Unions died 20-30 years ago.

We may need a revolution – but we don’t need Unions. EVERY tax paying American today and for years to come will be paying for the entitlement illusion the Unions cultivated on their unsuspecting victims these past 30 years.  

May the time of illusion come to an end now. May we all be stronger for these lessons.

Obama or Hilary? Character or Experience?

February 5th is approaching fast. I’m glad I’m not a registered Democrat. So few choices this year. Either a noble young leader, or an angry middle-aged, oft’ scorned woman, with a Machiavellian taste for achievement and power. In the end, our destiny is always about how our character responds to experience.

Ironically, Obama and Hilary are separately rich in what the other lacks. Obama needs a resume of experience. Hilary needs the character and mindfulness for noble leadership. Could we lock them in a room for a few months until they become one?

Obama lacks experience. Since when do we hire people to do jobs – who are junior – to the biggest leadership role in America. Could we have co-presidents please?

However, I admire what I perceive to be an indication of noble character in Obama. He doesn’t lose his cool. Not even when Hilary, screams or gets her husband to scream at (or about) Obama. Jeez! Hilary & Bill! Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

It’s sad to watch candidates like Hilary (and her lackey, Bill) disgrace themselves.

Whether we’re talking about a family member or candidate for U.S. president – when people set out to destroy someone’s reputation in order to achieve personal gain – we’ve been warned. When we know how someone operates from their “shadow-side” it’s as if they’re transparent in the most useful way.

Seeing a person’s character is like seeing the blueprint of their operating system. Look at Hilary: overt anger about being more experienced than Obama; and covert action to obfuscate the noble character of her opponent.

It comes down to a bit of wisdom: “How you do anything is how you do everything.” If someone lies to destroy another’s reputation, what would they do to win a war?

Obama will need to surround himself with deep experience but that’s easy to find.

Hilary has been compensating for being “the scorned woman” far too long. Is it too late for Hilary to comprehend the power of humility, the grace that surrounds wise and noble leadership? Is it too late for Hilary to care?

Perfection aside, we humans are a fascinating species.