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~ USA Headed for a 5th Revolution! Why?

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Monthly Archives: February 2015

#115 Just a Matter of Zero’s

26 Thursday Feb 2015

Posted by Jordan Abel in Personal Stories, Societal Issues

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(Readers: The blog centers around the author’s prediction that the US will experience a 5th revolution by 2020-2025.  Some early vignettes precede the revolution; later vignettes follow the revolution.  Many characters appear regularly.  More about the blog and the author.)

Scene:  Jordan talking to son (Steve) of a long-time friend.

Son of Friend:  “Mr. Abel, I need some advice.”

Jordan:  “The first piece of advice is call me Jordan, and not Mr. Abel.”

Young manSon of Friend:  “Yes, sir.”

Jordan:  “Excuse me, Stevie, no more ‘mister,’ no more ‘sir,’ just Jordan.  Got it?”

Stevie:  “Yes, sir…I mean Jordan.  You know it is hard for me to call older people by their first names, especially friends of my parents.”

Jordan:  “I understand.  I had the same training as you did.  I appreciate the show of respect but we are in the real business world so Jordan is fine.”

Stevie:  “OK, Jordan.”

Jordan:  “Now you got it.  How may I help, Stevie?  I mean Steve.  I’ve known your pTurtleneckarents for a long time.  And, you’ve always been Stevie to me.  But no more.  Now you’re Steve.  We’re even on names.”

Steve:  “Even.  According to my parents…and my research…you’ve worked at very large companies, start-up companies and even consulted for government.  I’m trying to decide where I should work.”

Jordan:  “First, you should find a job where you can contribute…and have fun.”

Steve:  “What about a job where I can make the most money?”

Jordan:  “Alright but let’s talk about what are the most important things to you?  And Money-clip-artby things I don’t mean material objects – like cars, or clothes.”

Steve:  “I’m not sure what’s most important.  Never really thought about it.”

Jordan:  “Now might be a good time to start.  But don’t feel bad.  A lot of people go through life and never really understand what’s Important to them.”

Steve:  “So you’re suggesting I find a job that I really like?”

Jordan:  “Yes.  I know this is a cliché but life is too short to spend time being unproductive…and being unhappy.”

Steve:  “I’d like to be productive and have fun…but what about the money?  I want to make lots of money….at least I think I do.”

Jordan:  “Let’s back up and first think about what’s really important to you.  Then, if making lots of money is on the important list, find a job where you can make lots of checklistmoney.  My guess is, if you are true to yourself, there will be some items before to get to the money part…and money might not be on the list.”

Steve:  “Odd that you say money won’t be on the list.  Was it on your list?”

Jordan:  “Want to know the truth?  It’s never been on my list.”

Steve:  “But you’ve been successful financially.  No the richest guy around but living very comfortably.”

Jordan:  “You’re right.  Funny, but for me money has always been there.  Never worried about it and never really thought about it.”

Steve:  “C’mon, really?”

Jordan:  “Don’t misinterpret my comments.  Maybe I should phrase them differently.  I’m sure you’ve heard this before but money does not buy you happiness.”

Steve:  “You sound like my mother.  I know if I had lots of money I would be happy.”

Jordan:  “Would you really be happy with lots of money?  You know some people whose families have lots of money.  Are they all happy?”

Sroyalty-free-cell-phone-clipart-illustration-1067376teve:  “Well, not really.  Even the kids are not happy.  They always seem to want more.”

Jordan:  “And do you know people who don’t have a lot of money who are very happy?”

Steve:  “Yes.  Mmmm, now I see what you mean.  Like I said, never really thought about it before.”

Jordan:  “We are making progress.”

Steve:  “But, let’s go back to my original question.  Where should I try to get a job?  Large company, small company, start-up…or even government.  My dad would shoot me but I could work for government.  Really, Jordan, what’s the difference among these groups?”

JResearch_tnbordan:  “What I am about to say might sound illogical but most of the difficulty in making an organization effective has nothing to do with the size of the organization…or the product …or the service?”

Steve:  “Really?  What causes most of the problems?”

Jordan:  “People.  People make or break an organization.  Doesn’t matter  if we’re talking about the local ice cream stand, a giant auto company, a software company or a government agency.  It’s people.”

Steve:  “Are you saying the problems are about the same in all organizations?  Doesn’t matter if they are large or small?  Private or public?  Start-up or 100 years old?”

Jordan:  “Exactly.  The only difference in a small organization and a large organization zeros-2br85lzis the number of zeros on the income statement.  Big companies and big government have lots of zeros and small companies don’t have many zeros.  But they all have one thing in common….”

Steve:  “…people.  Now you have my head spinning.  I need to take a break and think about this.  Thanks, Mr. Abel…I mean Jordan.”

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#114 Fixed Fuel Price: Incentives for More Domestic Production (Part #10)

21 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by Jordan Abel in Economics, Infrastructure & Fixed Fuel Prices, Innovative Thinking: Ideas and Products, Societal Issues

≈ Leave a comment

(Readers: The blog centers around the author’s prediction that the US will experience a 5th revolution by 2020-2025.  Some early vignettes precede the revolution; later vignettes follow the revolution.  Many characters appear regularly.  More about the blog and the author.)

(Background for this series of entries. Earlier POTUS asked Jordan for ideas how to convince politicians and the public that it would be a good idea to fund rebuilding US infrastructure by fixing the price for gas and diesel fuel.  Original conversation with POTUS Entries #104, #105.)

Scene: Jordan’s office.  Receives call from POTUS.

Jordan:  “Hello, Mr. President.  Nice to hear from you.”

021214_1242_24Resultsof1.gifPOTUS:  “Jordan, I called to thank you for all the help getting Congress to support the idea of funding rebuilding infrastructure with a fixed fuel price.  That was quite an achievement.”

Jordan:  “I didn’t really do anything.”

POTUS:  “You might not think so but I do.  The key was support from the oil-and-gas industry executives.  When they bought into the idea, Congressional Republicans had no reason to resist.”

TurtleneckJordan:  “Pleased I could help.  What else is on your mind?”

POTUS:  “Jordan, so cynical.  Why would you think I called about something else?”

Jordan:  “Why?  Because you are not bashful about asking.  And I appreciate being asked.”

POTUS:  “Well, since you are so eager, I do have another request.”

Jordan:  “Why do I volunteer like this?  What do you need help with?”

POTUS:  “Need you to be on call for the group putting together the details how to implement the fixed price for fuel plan.  The concept is easy to understand but there are some sticky details.  And we’re going to need some rules.”

JUsed Car royalty-free-car-salesman-clipart-illustration-443283ordan:  “You’re not suggesting some companies might try to game the system?”

POTUS:  “Of course not (laughing).  But we really need some clear rules for a couple of areas.”

Jordan:  “Such as?”

POTUS:  “For starters we need to agree on the maximum fuel price.  If the retail price is $5.00, do we set the maximum portion for fuel price at say $3.00?  And how do we adjust that price over time?”

Jordan:  “What about source of the fuel?”

Poil-clip-art-2589801-illustration-of-oil-rigOTUS:  “We need to have a high percentage of fuel from domestic sources.  One of the benefits of the plan is to increase availability of domestically produced fuel.  But how much is enough?”

Jordan:  “What about some protection of the environment while encouraging domestic production?  Republicans are going to push for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  How will sensitive environmental areas be protected?”

POTUS:  “You’re getting the picture why I want you to be on call.  You have a more balanced perspective on these issues.”

Jordan:  “Alright, I’ll make myself available.”

POTUS:  “Good.”

Tax CutsJordan:  “Here’s a thought.  One way to make encourage domestic production and avoid environmental areas is to offer a tax incentive to extract more oil from existing fields rather than drilling new.”

POTUS:  “I forgot you were involved with an oil-and-gas company.  You must be an expert.”

Jordan:  “My knowledge might fill a couple of thimbles, which qualifies me as dangerous.”

POTUS:  “Welcome to Washington.  Many of the so-called experts here don’t have enough knowledge to one thimble, let alone two.  You think the incentives would work.”

thimbleJordan:  “Yes.  For example, I know that mapping technology – think GPS but underground rather than satellites – and integration of certain software programs can point out many untapped reservoirs, or reservoirs that have lots of oil and gas left behind.”

POTUS:  “How much do you think?”

Jordan:  “I’ve heard the geologists and petrophysicists claim that in the US alone at least 70% of the oil and gas remains untapped…and it might be as high as 90%.”

POTUS:  “That’s the kind of data we need to counter the argument about drilling in ANWR and other sensitive areas.”

Jordan:  “I can get these geologists and petrophysicists guys to testify before Congress if necessary.”

POTUS:  “That would be great.  By the way, what’s a petrophysicist do?  I’ve never heard that term before.”

Jordan:  “Neither had I.  It’s the guy who analyzes the rock formation for how much and how fast the oil or gas will flow…and a bunch of other stuff.”

POTUS:  “Doesn’t a geologist do that?”

Jordan:  “At a macro level.  But the petrophysicist works with the driller…at least the good ones do.  Think of economics.  The geologist is more like macroeconomics.  The petrophysicist is more like microeconomics.”

POTUS:  “That helps a little bit.”

PP_For_Dummies_0_IntroductionJordan:  “Don’t feel bad.  I had no idea what a petrophysicist did.  Then I found a segment on YouTube based on a book titled “Petrophysics for Dummies.”  I watched it and, as they say, now I are an expert.”

POTUS:  “I might watch it, sometime…after I’m out of this place.  Jordan, thanks again for the help.  I’ll let the implementation team know you are available.”

Jordan:  “You’re welcome, Mr. President.  Call any time.”

 

 

#113 Oil Industry Buys into Fixed Price for Fuel (Part 9)

14 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by Jordan Abel in Economics, Infrastructure & Fixed Fuel Prices, Innovative Thinking: Ideas and Products, Societal Issues

≈ Leave a comment

(Readers: The blog centers around the author’s prediction that the US will experience a 5th revolution by 2020-2025.  Some early vignettes precede the revolution; later vignettes follow the revolution.  Many characters appear regularly.  More about the blog and the author.)

(Background for this series of entries. Earlier POTUS asked Jordan for ideas how to convince politicians and the public that it would be a good idea to fund rebuilding US infrastructure by fixing the price for gas and diesel fuel.  Original conversation with POTUS Entries #104, #105.)

Scene: Jordan on the phone with Oil Man, who recently gave talk at an oil-industry trade show.

Jordan:  “Oil Man, thanks for making the speech to the API (American Petroleum Institute) meeting.  Understand you did a great job.”

cowboy-clip-artOil Man:  “Thanks, Jordan.  Not sure all my colleagues liked it but the reception was better than I expected.”

Jordan:  “No one booed?”

Oil Man:  “At least not too loud.”

Jordan:  “I thought your link to the Gettysburg Address was masterful.  ‘Two score and about 10 years ago…”

Oil Man:  “Well, it was just about 50 years ago that the energy world changed.  Those little Middle East…”

Jordan:  (Interrupting Oil Man) “Don’t call them that Oil Man…at least not on the phone.”

Oil Man:  “That’s what they deserve to be called…little you know what’s.”

TurtleneckJordan:  “Why do you feel that way?”

Oil Man:  “C’mon, Jordan.  At times I wonder what world you live in.”

Jordan:  “Keep going.”

Oil Man:  “Not to worry.  I was going to continue talking anyway.  If it had not been for American oil companies doing all the work, the ‘you-know-what’s’ would still be riding around on camels and living in tents.”

Jordan:  “Calm down, Oil Man.  Be more diplomatic.”

camel-rider-36033Oil Man:  “Why?”

Jordan:  “When the oil companies got involved, I’m not sure they really analyzed all the possible outcomes.  Sometimes actions have unintended consequences.”

Oil Man:  “Face it Jordan, you are turning into some pointy-headed academic.  We help these guys and then they turn against us.  You of all people should appreciate that.  Many of them don’t think you ought to exist.”

Jordan:  “I agree they’re rough on Israel.”

Oil Man:  “…and many deny the Holocaust.  And you call that ‘rough’?  I’d call it being a real a-hole.  Now, see how polite I was.”

Jordan:  “I think the only reason they leave Israel alone is there’s no oil…plus the superior Israeli military.”

Oil Man:  “How ‘bout that.  Moses spends 40 years wandering around and picks the one spot in the area with no oil.  I guess that’s funny…but in the long run probably best for Israel.  One gets more creative when resources are tight.”

Jordan:  “Back to the topic at hand.  Talk more about your colleague’s reception to the fixed_price_left_imgidea of fixed price for fuel.”

Oil Man:  “Frankly, the reception was much better than I ever imagined.  I think most of the oil-and-gas CEO’s will support POTUS’ proposal.”

Jordan:  “Good.”

Oil Man:  “But the reason for supporting is probably different from what you think.”

Jordan:  “Another unintended consequence?”

Oil Man:  “Exactly.  Executives like the idea of a fixed price because it makes it easier to run the business.”

Jordan:  “Reduces competition?”

Oil Man:  “Not really.  In fact, it probably increases competition, especially from alternative energy sources.”

Jordan:  “You mean wind and solar?”

Oil Man:  “Yes.”

Jordan:  “Then what’s the attraction?”

Oil Man:  “A fixed price for fuel reduces…effectively eliminates…the impact of the wide swings in spot process for oil and gas.  Those swings where like a whipsaw.  When spot prices were high, the oil companies were in hog heaven.  When prices were low, exploration stopped and widespread layoffs occurred.  The whole process was…I should say is…terribly inefficient.”

Jordan:  “So you think the fuel companies – including companies selling alternative fuels – will support the idea…and actually develop more domestic fuel sources.”

Oil Man:  “Think about second half of 2014.  Price of oil drops like a rock.  And what happens?  Oil companies, even the big ones, stop exploration.”

Jordan:  “Isn’t that good for companies producing lower-emission fuels?”

Oil Man:  “Did you learn anything in school?  Profits at oil companies are plummeting because fuel prices are falling.  Why would that be good for alternative fuels, which fallingPricescost a whole lot more?”

Jordan:  “Capitalism at its best…letting the market sort out the weak players and who should stay and who should go.”

Oil Man:  “Except with the current system the US is more dependent on foreign sources – and being so dependent really does hurt national security.”

Jordan:  “Well, well.  So the old Texas oil cowboy is not quite so rough-and-tumble after all.”

Oil Man:  “You’ve known me a long time.  And you know that part of my ‘tough-guy’ persona is for show…and many of my colleagues as well.”

Teddy_Bear_PocketJordan:  “So deep down, oil guys are really like cuddly teddy bears??

Oil Man:  “I wouldn’t go that far but I know many in the oil industry…and many will find this hard to believe…care about America and care about the environment.”

Jordan:  “May I quote you on that?”

Oil Man:  “Might as well lose all my credibility.  Yes, Jordan, you may quote me.”

Jordan:  “Great.  Thanks.”

Oil Man:  “Now, please let me go before I throw up over my own remarks.”

Jordan:  “OK bye, Oil Man.  Talk soon.”

#112 Oil Man Supports Fixed Fuel Price Proposal (Part 8)

04 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by Jordan Abel in Economics, Infrastructure & Fixed Fuel Prices, Innovative Thinking: Ideas and Products

≈ Leave a comment

(Readers: The blog centers around the author’s prediction that the US will experience a 5th revolution by 2020-2025.  Some early vignettes precede the revolution; later vignettes follow the revolution.  Many characters appear regularly.  More about the blog and the author.)

(Background for this series of entries. Earlier POTUS asked Jordan for ideas how to convince politicians and the public that it would be a good idea to fund rebuilding US infrastructure by fixing the price for gas and diesel fuel.  Original conversation with POTUS Entries #104, #105.)

Scene: Jordon on the phone with Oil Man, a well-respected executive in the oil-and-gas industry and former grad-school classmate of Jordan’s.

Jordan:  “Oil Man, nice to see you at the Super Bowl party.  Been a while.”

cowboy-clip-artOil Man:  “Yea, it was nice.  I enjoyed the chat and I especially liked the outcome of the game.”

Jordan:  “Well, what’s your reaction to POTUS’ idea about funding infrastructure?”

Oil Man:  “You mean what’s my reaction to raising taxes on fuel?  You know how Texans view taxes, especially those imposed by Washington.”

Jordan:  “OK, so it’s a tax.  I understand that and I think POTUS will call it a tax.  If he doesn’t, everyone else will.  Now what about the idea?”

Oil Man:  “At first, I thought you were nuts to bring up the idea.  Typical liberal wanting to raise taxes.”

Jordan:  “But now you’ve changed your mind?”

Oil Man:  “Changed my mind about you?  Never.  But I admit…and I really hate to admit…the idea makes sense.”

JTurtleneckordan:  “So you’ll be a spokesperson for the project?”

Oil Man:  “Hold it buddy.  I said this idea makes sense.  I didn’t say anything about being a spokesman.  Spokesman, Jordan, not spokesperson.  Do I look gender neutral to you?”

Jordan:  “What will it take to convince you to be a spokesperson…oops, spokesman?”

Oil Man:  “You not like me?  I thought we were friends.  Why would I want to subject myself to ridicule from my colleagues?”

JMickey-Mouse-fingerordan:  “I thought you were a tough guy.  Little Oil Man afraid of some criticism?  Ah, might hurt his feelings.”

Oil Man:  “Let me push up my glasses with my middle finger.”

Jordan:  “So you’ll do it.”

Oil Man:  “Where did you learn to manipulate me so well?  No, I’m not afraid of a little criticism.”

Jordan:  “Good.  Now how do we get your colleagues on board?  If we don’t get them on board, the idea will be DOA by the time it reaches Capital Hill.”

Oil Man:  “Congress still that much of a problem…even after the Revenge Revolution?  I thought you’d have Congress under control by now.  The Revolution really jolted thinking iCongressn the oil industry.  But most oil people are still hard-right Republicans and not very sympathetic to anyone politically left of them.”

Jordan:  “Understand.  You included in that hard-right category?

Oil Man:  “Yes, I’m included…and you know that.”

Jordan:  “That’s why I asked you to get involved.  If you support the idea, the hard right will have a tough time saying ‘no.’”

Oil Man:  “Alright, I’ll support it…but on one condition.”

Jordan:  “That is?”

Oil Man:  “You let me write the outline of my remarks.  I want to use my own words, not some wishy-washy crap from a DC-based PR firm. “

Jordan:  “Deal.  When can you have a draft ready to review?”

Oil Man:  “You are pushy.  Give me a few days.”

Jordan:  “Time is tight.  And your support is critical.  I’ll call in a few days.”

Oil Man:  “Why am I agreeing to this?”

Jordan:  “Because it’s the right thing to do…and you know it.”

Oil Man:  “I know.  Goodbye Jordan.”

(To be continued)

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