Mahatma Gandhi
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"Be the change you want to see in the World" Mahatma Gandhi |
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| Kiwi Scrum Newsletter: August 2011 |
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Name: John WengerDate: 11 August, 2011
Hi John
I've read the newsletter John. Loved it.
Preaching to the converted here. I'm trained in systems thinking and apply it in my own work. The time has well and truly come for humanity to shift to a new paradigm of thinking and behaving, our old mechanistic ways will not do anymore. In many respects, they are what got us into our current predicament. I wish you well in your work!
Name: Greg Stevenson Date: 12 August, 2011
Excellent newsletter.
I have long speculated that technology and jobless growth would be a problem if for no other reason, ignorance. Thought that the French may have had a handle on it by dropping to a 35 hour working week. Seemingly, no. Remuneration and incentives in the light of improved jobless productivity, falls with the few. Where else do we allocate the money? Business is generally not a democracy, this is changing, but not fast enough. Humans self-interest will allocate out of ignorance wealth to themselves.
Those with the power to do so will skew the distribution of money to the very few. The record gap between middle class and the wealthy is evidence of that. On the increase since the 70's. We must accept that as an aspect of human nature and change the system to counter it. Neither Keynes nor Hayek theories will work because trust in government and corporations are at an all time low. From the perspective of the average man on the street they are the same thing, entities out to screw you! Ultimately the private sector will be the way out however, albeit between those that are left after catastrophic meltdown of global order.
Avoidance of horrific consequences if possible will come from two means. A redefining of global financial system away from fiat currencies and fractional reserve systems of debt, and a new system of remuneration and incentives. Both will be modeled with the premise that the planet has a finite resource capacity. I can't have much of an effect on the global financial system but I'm having a go at remuneration and incentive systems.
Name: Corrie CookDate: 12 August, 2011
Hi, John
We're also working to get this message out to NZ decision makers - a bit of an uphill battle despite all evidence pointing to this being a more appropriate way to think nowadays!
Our message is primarily being driven by Stig Ehnbom, the Swedish President of the NZ Scandinavia Business Assn - have you heard of him? It may pay to get on his mailing list, if you're not already. Contact me for his details.
Marilyn Waring Group: Wellington, NZ
Name: Mike PearsonDate: 12 August, 2011
You didn't know who to point to in NZ re the new economy. Marilyn Waring is a good start. And have a look at Bhutan's Gross National Happiness index.
Mike Pearson
Mike Pearson's Blog
Meaningful and serious participationGroup: Wellington, NZ
Name: Liam Jensen Date: 12 August, 2011
I'm a little more optimistic on the economic front, but any upturn will reveal a fairly serious skills shortage problem and young people will bear the brunt, unless business puts its hand up and starts meaningful and serious participation in the various trades facilitation programme's, trades academies etc. A prominent Wellington based educator recently contacted 600+ Wellington companies seeking work placements and work experience for young people - every one turned him down. Every one of those businesses will moan in 12-18 months time when they can't find the skills they need in the job market.
Population Collapse?Group: Sustainable Business Leaders in New Zealand
Name: Greg Stevenson Date: 12 August, 2011
You could imagine human population at under 1 billion by 2099. Not a pleasant thought but would reset the planet on the path to sustainability.
I prefer to imagine other solutions.
Community Resilience NeededGroup: Sustainable Business Leaders in New Zealand
Name: David SavageDate: 12 August, 2011
Thanks for the newsletter John.
In terms of imagining the future, I believe (community) resilience is the best response to (economic) pain.
The uber rich have usurped democracy
Nom-de-plume: interested observer Date: 12 August, 2011
John, Your genuine concern about the state of things is evident and appreciated, however I personally feel that your interpretation of the political realities in the USA, UK and NZ is not entirely on the money...so to speak.
I agree that all sides of the political spectrum in the USA are owned by the big end of town, but so to is most of the rest of the world, including NZ. I won't go into much detail because the information is abundantly available for those whose minds are open. NZ is every bit as much a part of their inventory as is the USA, UK, EU and just about anywhere else. We are at a late stage in proceedings where humanity is divided into those that can see and those that can't or refuse to see.
Most of us are so mentally overstretched by the enormity of the calamity that we continue to look at every new shocking drama in isolation when we should instead be taking a wide angle lens view to see the sham that is being presented to us.
The uber rich have usurped democracy. They create wars, calamities, enemies, risks, uprisings, leaks and threats at a rate that defies belief, and all the while make unholy amounts of money along the way. Meanwhile we buy their papers and their lies and come up with distorted interpretations of their lies.
I know some find it tempting to conclude that there's no way that a relatively small group of people could possibly have so much control over so many, but in reality it's outrageously simple. Control the money and the media and to hell with the rest. Vote for who you like because they own all of the main contenders.
Those that doubt the power of the few to dominate the many, should research how the US Federal Reserve came into being. A few men, a quite meeting on a little island. 100 years later the world's economy is transfixed by the monster that they created. Meanwhile, whilst we get glimpses of the scams that their Wall Street off spring are pulling off, we are momentarily distracted by WMD's and 'Arab' springs (read stings). Even their hired help are thumbing their noses at us in contempt. Gillard's 'no carbon tax', Howard's 'No WMD's and no children over board' and how could we forget Obama's 'we will bring back our troops and close guantanamo'. They don't give a damn that they lie to our face, because they know we will cop it. They are doing what they are told. When their job is done they will disgracefully bow out and kick back into a cushy UN post.
An example of how we have developed a keen sense of 'double think' is the commentary about what's going on in some parts of the middle east and what's happening in London. When it suits us this behaviour can be hailed as a 'spring', when the media tells us it doesn't suit us, it's 'unruly mob' behaviour.
We have more resources at our disposal than ever before in the known history of mankind to address our problems, and never before has our situation been so dire, pressing or without end.
I concur that we are are a tipping point, but until we front up to see some fundamental truths, we will continue to be lead in what ever direction that is chosen for us.
Just my opinion mind you. And again, thank you for sharing your thoughts.
The greatest transfer of wealth & power everGroup: Christchurch Business Network
Name: Ken DuncanDate: 12 August, 2011
Kia Ora John,
I was thinking of you the other day when reading one of the financial newsletters I follow. The newsletter said that China is about to stop judging their economy by GDP (I know that is something you are passionate about) & judging it on sustainability. It is also interesting to note the Chinese started their own rating agency some time back & it had the US at AA with a negative outlook from the start.
As for the uprisings & unrest in the Middle East, along with the riots in Britain, this newsletter has been predicting them for quite some time. With the discontent expected to go world wide.
[Edited: JSV tried to edit this paragraph for clarity. Ken says it makes the wrong point. We will change it.] The root cause (yes there are the criminal elements) is the US Federal Reserve creating currency which causes inflation through out the rest of the world, due to reliance on the US Dollar as reserve currency, not gold or silver (real money). One commentator has been calling it the global insurrection against banker occupation. That same commentator has been promoting what he calls the silver liberation army. The short supply of real silver (or gold), compared with the quantity available for trade, may itself cause the economic system to collapse. So then we take the losses and start again. [/Edited]
It was pointed out that the problems in Tunisia started when food got to 200% of the weekly wage not the hatred of the dictator. The dictator had seen the signs & took tax off food (sound familiar), but as the rising prices were beyond his control, that didn't help. All the revolt needed, like London, was a trigger.
As I have come to expect, straight away people are saying it wouldn't happen in NZ. Yeah right.
Food prices are ballooning. As you will well know there is an undercurrent of anger here in Christchurch over the poor handling of the post earthquakes from EQC to CERA. Add in rising prices, social media & all we need is a trigger. I know talking to some police last night they were out in force. It is the school ball season & they are very aware that copy cat acts similar to London could flare quickly.
From what I have learnt I would lean towards Hyack. From what I am reading, most favour the Icelandic answer. Let the economy fail & start again. Very painful in short term, but Iceland is apparently the one economy doing well.
They have been saying for a few years now what is happening is the greatest transfer of wealth & power ever. You can see this in Britain. Austerity measures, bailouts though like the US & NZ often by another name which only benefit the big banks in the long run, but making it harder for those at the bottom to eke out a living, so they react. Whilst there has to be a hardline reaction to that to keep it under control, the action to achieve that, enables the transfer of power. Already you see in Britain sudden new powers that the 'people' asked for, changing the law & the police powers, that no one would have supported normally.
I seen one headline "The Middle class strikes back" but it is the middle class that is going to suffer the most in the long run & it is them in particular that are pushing for the harder line to deal with the rioting yobs. You are also seeing bias reporting as they are not all young or even the worst off. Arrests are showing people from all walks of life & backgrounds.
The end of business as usualGroup: Global Foresight
Name: Jan HerderDate: 13 August, 2011
Thank you John for this inspiring newsletter.
We all face the end of business as usual (thankfully) but the challenge remains on how to adapt to the paradigm shift. In my work with young people (and in my own evolution) I go back to basics remembering that money is a commodity established to make the rich richer.
Decentralize; get off the grid. Don't buy into the factory food, pharma, power water, waste systems. The knowledge is out there to do it ourselves (DIY University!). Not buying into the system is the strongest protest we can make. If internet is a human right perhaps its the only utility we need. Avoidance of costs are equally the creation of wealth as finding a job.
I have to disagree with you about the fact there are not enough jobs--there are more than enough if you consider the job of living well, not buying into the status quo, and leveraging the knowledge economy at the micro-level. Your comments about the US are spot on and we Yanks need to hear more of that -- keep it coming!
Regards,
Name: Kerry O'Brien Date: 17 August, 2011
A very worthwhile article on Jobless growth. Thank you for drawing it to my attention.
Regards,
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