Are you stimulated yet?
Submitted by thinque on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 10:33Here's my thought for the day:
So, I was watching Kevin Rudd's address to the nation the other night, like many of you might have. I don't generally watch the news because if the news were a person it would be schizophrenic, bipolar, psychotic, and full of malice - except for the token daily announcement at the end of each news broadcast that an ice-bear cub has been born at a Zoo somewhere in the world. If the news were a person, I would find that person very high-maintenance.
Because I, as a Swede with permanent residency status in Australia, have 'taxation without representation' and cannot vote in Australia, I'd like to express my human opinion on this issue here - not on the politics, but on the leadership qualities that I have observed recently.
Three things struck me about Kevin 07's address:
a. How much of the economic downgrade is in fact a confidence downgrade?
b. If a large proportion of the economic downgrade is in fact a confidence downgrade, shouldn't our leaders try to motivate trust, confidence, creativity, and innovation [and no, not just with hand-outs]?
c. By announcing 'unprecedented measures for unprecedented times' and 'crisis packages', is the crisis and the fear in Kevin's eyes not in fact a self-fulfilling prophecy?
I believe people out there are genuinely scared, and they need strong leadership. Leadership that is inspirational, certain, innovative, creative - even funky! Leadership that declares that 'we will make it through this'. Leadership that says, 'hey, we have enjoyed 17 years of unprecedented economic growth, we are currently experiencing a slow-down, but we need to upgrade our thinking, our marketing, our positioning, our universities to ensure we get back on the right track.'
Strong leadership is not just 'stimulus packages'. Does anybody feel 'stimulated' by the logical, analytical number-crunching administration talk of hand-outs?

SCANDALS!
SCANDALS! SCANDALS!
URGENT!
SOME OF THE WORST CASES OF RACIAL PREJUDICE IN WORLD HISTORY!
PLEASE MAKE SURE PRIME MINISTER KEVIN RUDD GETS THE INFORMATION BELOW!
(There are thousands of copies of the information below on the Internet in Australia.)
LONG LIVE PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA!
Speaking of Barack Obama—Barack Obama is a racial-minority individual and does not like racism:
CONSTRUCTIVE WORLDWIDE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION RELATING TO SCANDALS:
(I) I do solemnly swear by Almighty God that George W. Bush committed atrocious, racist, hate crimes of epic proportions and with the stench of terrorism which I am not at liberty to mention. Many people know what Bush did. And many people will know what Bush did—even until the end of the world. Bush was absolute evil. Bush is now like a fugitive from justice. Bush is a psychological prisoner. Bush often worries. In any case, Bush will go down in history in infamy.
(II) It is opined that Bill Clinton committed terrifying, racist, hate crimes during his presidency, and I am not free to say anything further about it. ‘Be sure your sins will find you out’ (Numbers 32:23).
(III) What if basically all racial-minority people would subscribe to the interpretations that George Herbert Walker Bush committed monstrous, racist, hate crimes while he was the President of the United States? It will eventually come out: it is only a matter of time.
(IV) I know it may be hard to believe. However, Ronald Wilson Reagan committed horrible, racist, hate crimes during his presidency.
Respectfully Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang, J.D. Candidate
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
(There are thousands of copies on the Internet (by March 29, 2009) indicating the contents of (I), (II), (III), and (IV). For example, one can go to Google right now, type “George W. Bush committed hate crimes of epic proportions and with the stench of terrorism,” hit “Enter,” and readily find 1,000 or more copies indicating content of (I). For example, one can go to Msn right now (11 April 2009), type “It is opined that Bill Clinton committed racist hate crimes, and I am not free to say anything further about it,” hit “Enter,” and readily find more than 440 copies indicating content of (II). For example, one can go to Msn right now, type “George Herbert Walker Bush committed monstrous, racist, hate crimes,” hit “Enter,” and readily find more than 190 copies indicating content of (III). For example, one can go to Msn right now, type “Ronald Wilson Reagan committed horrible, racist, hate crimes during his presidency,” hit “Enter,” and readily find more than 170 copies indicating content of (IV). And there are thousands of copies in very many countries around the world. For example, there are countless copies on the Internet in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, the United Kingdom, etc.)
“BAD NEWS FROM THE UNITED STATES: ON THE RACIST HATE CRIMES AND ETERNAL INFAMIES OF GEORGE W. BUSH, BILL CLINTON, GEORGE H.W. BUSH, AND RONALD REAGAN” BLOG OF ANDREW YU-JEN WANG
badnewsfromtheunitedstates.blogspot.com
_______________
‘If only there could be a Ban against invention that bottled up memory like scent & it never faded & it never got stale.’ Off the top of my head, it came from my Lower Merion High School yearbook.
Nice to read something positive
Nice article, I couldn't agree more. I think this "economic crisis" has been further fueled by the negative "can't do" attitudes of a lot of people. Now don't get me wrong, uncontrollable circumstances have put a lot of folks in a real fix. But, I know the people and businesses with a "can do" attitude are the ones that are going to come out the other end of this intact with days of flourishing growth ahead of them. Remember, the Great Depression produced more millionaires than any other era. We are not in a depression, nor do I think we will sink that low. But, times are definitely tough, and the ones with sheer determination and ingenuity will prosper in the end. Best of luck to all in this difficult time.
thanks for commenting
thanks for a nice comment and all the best!
anders ;)
Leadership in tough times
I couldn't agree with you more, Anders! Australia is in a very good position to ride out this crisis, but not if we talk ourselves into a depression. I had lunch yesterday with a friend from China who said that the mood was very bleak here compared to the streets of Beijing! What we need is a collective call to arms, turn off the news and get out and start engaging with the "Big Rapidly Industrialising Countries" of the world (otherwise known as the BRICs!) by offering our world class services (particularly in the creative, innovative and design industries) to the people that need them. Despite the service sector being over 80% of our economy, we export less than 3%!! Go figure!
good points!
thanks
Thank you
This is the first time I have actually agreed with anything anyone has had to say about the global financial crisis (GFC). The $950 bonus will be great, people yes will spend that money but how many people actually have the confidence to put this money into the share market, or into a deposit for a house or any investment at all? I think you would find very few. The is an example of the current confidence amongst general Australian's and even the private business sector at the moment. 12-24 months ago was a very different story! Strong leadership that re-enforces positive thinking (Confidence & trust) mixed with a little bit of cash splurge (Giving them action on a plate) is an answer for Australia to getting back on track and moving on from the GFC.
totally agree
consumer confidence + strategic injections of venture capital = success
Kevin 07 and leadership
I have a small business which i started in 1984 which was one of our economys worst growth period and interest rates were as high as 18% in in my first 10 years of business i experienced a phenominal growth. i believe my leaders style with clients and staff was what Kevin needs its was one of enthusiasm, honesty, sencerity but a firm commitment to we have to be prepared to work bloody hard and go without for a while. Delayed gratification. now 25 years on i have a long retention of both staff and clients and have a multi milion dollar business and i still roll up my sleeves in these times a work hard with the crew and go without. sometimes hands outs for no work doesnt stand for anyhting more than trying to by votes. love ya Kev but get tough!!
delayed gratification when even instant gratification...
... is too slow?
i like the points and agree!
sometimes eco eras are great, other times tougher - it is in the tought times that we learn...
a
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