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~ USA Headed for a 5th Revolution! Why?

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Category Archives: Personal Stories

Every story is influenced by personal issues. These stories add another dimension to the characters. Besides, the stories are a good break from the serious issues associated with the revolution.

#286 Diversion: Can We Talk Evolution?

11 Sunday Mar 2018

Posted by Jordan Abel in Diversions, Personal Stories

≈ 1 Comment

Readers: this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020). Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution. More about the Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1. List and general description of entries to date.

Note: most entries are formatted as conversations. Characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations. Profile of characters (see link at top of page). You’ll catch on quickly. Thanks for your time and interest…and comments.

Scene: Greenie, JC and Jordan having lunch near Jordan’s office in Washington, DC

Jordan:  “Greenie, glad you could break away for lunch.  You can protect me from your buddy here.”

092615_2031_Characters2.jpgGreenie:  “Now, Jordan.  Yes, it’s nice to see you but when did you need protection?  Has JC been harassing poor little Jordie?”

JC:  “See, Jordan.  You’re far too sensitive…and taking yourself way too seriously.  You need to get out of Washington more often.  You’re starting to act like some of those people in Congress.”

Jordan:  “Alright guys.  Enough kvetching.  What are we going to talk about over lunch?  What about…”

Greenie:  “…excuse me but if you were going to suggest discussing progress on my articles on the Revenge Revolution, please don’t.  I need a break.”

Jordan:  “OK, then what?”

092615_2031_Characters1.jpgJC:  “You want something far out…no pun intended.”

Jordan:  “Such as…and what pun?”

JC:  “Evolution.”

Greenie:  “Since when did you become the scientist?”

JC:  “Think about it?”

Greenie:  “Think about what, Ms. Einstein?”

JC:  “How could species evolve from a bunch of elements?  And how did the universe get started?

albert-einsteinJordan:  “Greenie, maybe Ms. Einstein is on to something.  I’ve never really bought into the Big Bang Theory.  Understand the theory but what I can’t figure out is where did the matter come from?”

JC:  “See, this might be interesting.  Where did all that stuff come from?  Nothing just doesn’t go bang.  Nothing had to be something before it went bang.”

Greenie:  “So, if you need something in order to have it go bang, then who or what provided the something?  Little green men?  ET’s friends?”

StarsJordan:  “Green is not my color.  I like ET’s friends better.  Seriously…if that’s possible with this group…I’ve always been fascinated by the number of stars.  Now after the Hubble telescope, we know there are even more billions of stars and millions, if not billions of galaxies.”

JC:  “And, if you believe in the tooth fairy, out of those billions and billions, earth is the only place where life exists.  Right.  Take another hit on that joint.”

Greenie:  “How does all this link to evolution?”

JC:  “Evolution, at least on earth, may not be so random.  What if we’re a science experiment of one of ET’s buddies?”

Jordan:  “If evolution is part of a science experiment, it explains a lot.”

Greenie:  “How?”

ETJordan:  “We know…let me rephrase that…there appear to be more than three dimensions.  We don’t know exactly how many but let’s say there are five dimensions.”

JC:  “So ET’s buddies could be operating in all five dimensions while we’re operating only in three.  And…”

Greenie:  “…Let me try.  We know time is relative.  A billion years to us might be 10 years to ET.  Like a gnat’s life is three days by our standards but maybe 100 years by gnat standards.”

Jordan:  “Keep going.”

Petri DishGreenie:  “One of ET’s buddies has this experiment.  And as part of that experiment there is a giant petri dish called earth.  ET’s buddy puts of few drops of something in the dish and things start to grow.”

JC:  “After a while some of the amoebas get bigger and eat other amoebas.  Over more time other amoebas take on different shapes and new flavors of amoebas evolve.”

Jordan:  “After who knows how long, the “generic man” amoeba evolves.”

Greenie:  “All this seems sort of weird, doesn’t it?  We’re an experiment in ET’s buddy’s petri dish.”

JC:  “Weird, yes, but have you got a better explanation?  Plus, who’s going believe this idea anyway?”

TurtleneckJordan:  “Does it really matter who believes it?  Probably not.  However, more people might be closer to believing it than we think.  I find it very interesting that when you look at the core beliefs of a bunch of different religions, there always seems to be some ‘super-power’ of sorts at the top.”

JC:  “And a belief in that ‘super-power’ makes life less complicated, right?”

Jordan:  “Yes, it seems to.”

JC:  “By the way, Jordan does this mean you’ve given up religion for a petri dish?  Next time we have lunch are you going to order a BLT?”

Jordan:  “You’re funny, JC.  No, religion is still very important. At a very minimum it provides great guidelines and boundaries.  And no BLT, unless its turkey bacon.”

Greenie:  “Whew, beginning to wonder about you, too.   C’mon, you really like turkey bacon?”

(End of discussion on evolution…at least for now.)    

 

 

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#275 They’re Coming to America. Well, They Used to.

23 Saturday Dec 2017

Posted by Jordan Abel in Lessons of Revolution, Personal Stories, Societal Issues

≈ Leave a comment

Readers: this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020).  Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution.  More about the Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1.  List and general description of entries to date.

Note: most entries are formatted as conversations.  Characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations.  Profile of characters (see link at top of page).  You’ll catch on quickly.  Thanks for your time and interest…and comments.

Scene: Jordan’s Office, Washington, DC.  Typical morning with Jordan and assistant, Gelly.   

092615_2031_Characters7.gifGelly:  “Good morning, Jordan.  Have a nice visit yesterday with Greenie and JC?”

Jordan:  “Morning Gelly.  The visit was fantastic.  Lots of good information for Greenie’s articles about the Revenge Revolution.  Anything new with you today?”

Gelly:  “Nothing earth shattering.  On the way in I did hear an old song that made me stop and think about how the US used to be.”

TurtleneckJordan:  “Not sure what you mean.  Used to be like what?”

Gelly:  “Like a place that welcomed immigrants.  A place where people from all over the world wanted to come.  Well, wanted to come BT…before Trump.”

Jordan:  “What song sparked all this?”

Gelly:  “Remember in the 1980’s Neil Diamond wrote a song called ‘America’?”

Jordan:  “Yes.  Really liked the song.  But, haven’t heard it in a while.”

Gelly:  “Neither had I.  When I heard it this morning, it seemed different.  Not the music, the words.  The words seemed much more powerful than what I remember.  In fact, I got all teary-eyed.”

Jordan:  “C’mon, Gelly.  Really?  Why so emotional?”

Statue of LibertyGelly:  “Because, for the first time…and I don’t know why now rather than when I heard it years ago…for the first time I could picture my relatives on the boat coming to America.”

Jordan:  “You’re getting teary-eyed again.”

Gelly:  “Can’t help it.  My father came to America from Europe when he was 13 years old.  Travelled all alone.  Just think about that, Jordan.  You’re 13 years old, on a boat for the first time and heading to a new country where you don’t speak the language.  Some of your relatives must have done the same thing.”

Jordan:  “Mine came earlier…late 1800’s so not many stories about the ‘old country’.  The family seemed more concerned with assimilating.  Can’t blame them but a lot of history was lost.”

mortar-boardGelly:  “That’s too bad.  What really bothers me is how the US went from a country where people wanted to come to a country where it was nearly impossible to immigrate unless you had a bunch of money or some special high-tech skill.  My father had no money and no special skill.  He worked his whole life as a laborer.  My mother could barely speak English.  Yet look at the family now.”

Jordan:  “In one generation you moved from parents with very limited education to all the siblings being college grads.  Your kids are all college grads.”

Gelly:  “That’s what’s so frustrating.  Why did the country turn against immigration?”

Trump KingJordan:  “You know why.  King Trump.”

Gelly:  “King Trump who would never admit his family name was changed to be more Anglicized.  Maybe the Revenge Revolution will help turn around attitudes toward immigration.  I hope so.  Otherwise, people like me…and you too Jordan…will never be part of America.”

Jordan:  “Gelly, excuse me just a minute.  I’m going to get a cup of coffee.”

Gelly:  “While you do, I’m going to download the words to Diamond’s ‘America’.  I’ll also get a link to YouTube so you can hear it.  After you get your coffee, do me a favor and, spend a few minutes listening to the song and studying the words.  And think about your relatives who made that journey.”

“America”, written and sung by Neil Diamond

Far,
We’ve been traveling far
Without a home
But not without a star

Free,
Only want to be free
We huddle close
Hang on to a dream

On the boats and on the planes
They’re coming to America
Never looking back again,
They’re coming to America

Home
Don’t it seem so far away
Oh, we’re traveling light today
In the eye of the storm
In the eye of the storm

Home
To a new and a shiny place
Make our bed and we’ll say our grace
Freedom’s light burning warm
Freedom’s light burning warm

Everywhere around the world
They’re coming to America
Every time that flag’s unfurled
They’re coming to America

Got a dream to take them there
They’re coming to America
Got a dream they’ve come to share
They’re coming to America

They’re coming to America
They’re coming to America
They’re coming to America
They’re coming to America
Today, Today,Today,
Today, Today

My country ’tis of thee (today)
Sweet land of liberty (today)
Of thee I sing (today)
Of thee I sing.

Songwriters: NEIL DIAMOND, © Universal Music Publishing Group

 

 

 

 

 

#254 Who Took Out the Donald? (Part 11)

25 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by Jordan Abel in Causes of the Revolution, Personal Stories, Societal Issues, Stupid Is as Stupid Does

≈ Leave a comment

First-time readers, the dialogue in this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020).  Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution.  More about Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1.  List and general description of entries to date.  Annual assessment if Revolution plausible.

Note: most characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations.  Profile of characters.  You’ll catch on quickly.  Thanks for your time and interest…and comments.

Scene: Jordan’s office in Washington a few days after the dinner meeting with Gelly, JC and Greenie.  (Lead-in.  Last comment in conversation, Entry #253, JC said,  “But like the movie director in the ‘Godfather,’ Trump refused, which left the FBI no choice but to take him out and save the country.” (Series “Who Took Out the Donald?’ begins Entry #244.) 

092615_2031_Characters2.jpgGreenie:  “Unfortunately, by the time the FBI took Trump out, the damage to the country was too great…and we had the Revenge Revolution.”

JC:  “Agreed.  And I never thought I’d be saying this, but…”

Jordan:  “…can’t wait to hear this one.”

JC:  “…you’re excused for interrupting.  I never thought I’d be saying not all of the problems were the Donald’s fault.”

Greenie:  “JC, have you gone Republican on me?  Sounds to me as if you’ve been brainwashed.”

092615_2031_Characters1.jpgJC:  “Think about it…and I know you realize this.  The Donald was more of an enabler for the Revenge Revolution rather than the cause of the Revenge Revolution.  For 20+ years before Trump, the Republicans had been moving farther and farther right.  The Donald let the Republicans do a really hard-right turn.”

Greenie:  “They also did a masterful job disguising the hard-right turn from many of their base voters.  As much as I hate to give them credit, the disguised hard-right turn was brilliantly executed…at least for a while.”

Jordan:  “You mean like fooling the people to vote Republican who would be most negatively affected economically by their policies.”

BrainwashedGreenie:  “Exactly.  I know you think the comment about brainwashing was tongue-in-check but I really believe many who claimed to be Republicans were brainwashed.”

JC:  “Brainwashed?  Brainwashing that many people seems impossible…until, of course you look at history and realize brainwashing large segments of the population was not all that unusual.”

Matt:  “I agree brainwashing is possible…but it just seems so unlikely.”

Jordan:  “Here’s an example of brainwashing that has baffled me for decades.  It’s an example from graduate school.”

JC:  “You mean that place in Cambridge that gave you remedial training?”

Jordan:  “Such a charmer.  The short version is this.  At the beginning of the semester, class members were assigned to a group.  Each week the group was given a problem to solve.  The last problem for the semester was to negotiate a nuclear arms disarmament agreement with another group.”

Greenie:  “Any rules?  How did a team get points…or whatever was being measured.”

Jordan:  “A few guidelines – for example, only 2 people could meet with the other team’s reps, time limit for each round, etc.  The way points were generated was interesting.  If two teams negotiated successfully, then the combined total was the most…say 1,000 points.  I don’t remember exactly.”

092615_2031_Characters11.pngMatt:  “So the total was 1,000 but I guess each team earned 500…right?”

JC:  “And what if the teams didn’t settle?”

Jordan:  If one team strung along the other team, then bombed them at the end, the team that bombed would get the most points as a team…say 750 points…but the combined total would be less than the 1,000 points for those that negotiated successfully.”

JC:  “So, if a team wanted to win the most points individually, they’d string along the other group and then at the end, say ‘SURPRISE, we’re bombing you.’”

NegotiateJordan:  “That’s exactly what happened.  One team negotiated supposedly in good faith…and then at the last allowed negotiating session told the other team they were being bombed.”

Matt:  “Why do you think this was an example of brainwashing?”

Jordan:  “Two reasons.  #1, the professor was an expert in how people were brainwashed, including military personnel.  Looking back, a number of problems we had to solve were associated with the effects of ‘group think,’ ‘peer pressure,’ ‘intimidation,’ etc.  #2 reason was the members of the group that bombed did not think through the potential consequences.”

JC:  “C’mon.  It was a game.  You think there were repercussions?”

Casino NightJordan:  “After the class found out about the bombing, people no longer trusted members of the group that bombed.  The change was immediate.  The entire class has a casino party on Saturday night, the day after the bombing.  Some members of the group that bombed staffed the casino tables – dealing cards, for example.  And guess what?”

Greenie:  “People wouldn’t go to those tables.”

JC:  “OK, but that was the next night.  What about long-term?  I still keep thinking it was only a game.”

traitorJordan:  “I can still tell you the names of the key players in the group that bombed.  What’s more I can tell you their careers were not much different that their behavior in that group.  I’m still friends with two of the three key guys but I would never work with them.”

Matt:  “So what I’m hearing is a few members of one group…”

Jordan:  “…three as best I recall…”

Matt:  “…three members of one group convinced other people in the group, all of whom were highly educated, to take action that was clearly negative.”

JC:  “I still come back to it was only a game.  I mean really.”

Greenie:  “Was this early or late in the semester?  You said the last class.”

Jordan:  “That’s an important point.  By this time in the semester the class had been exposed to a number of problems affecting individual and group behavior.”

Greenie:  “The exercise sounds more like an informal final exam than a mere exercise.”

Trump KingMatt:  “Alright, so you had an interesting exercise or even informal final exam.  Now bring that exercise back to the Trump administration.  You think there were parallels?”

Greenie:  “Let me guess.  The personality profiles of key members of the Trump Administration seem very similar to profiles of the bombers.”

Jordan:  “Greenie, you’re good at this.  The profiles not quite cookie cutters but close.”

JC:  “Building on Matt’s question, if you think about it, the personality profiles of the Republicans leaders of the House and Senate have been the same since maybe the mid-1990’s.  I’ll exclude Boehner, at least the last couple of years before he retired.”

Matt:  “Let’s be fair.  Democratic leaders were not all warm-and-fuzzy, goody two-shoes types.”

WolfJC:  “Agreed, but the Democrats didn’t seem vicious like the Republicans.”

Greenie:  “Until the Donald, the White House and some key influencers seemed to hold the Republican leadership in check.”

JC:  “Then comes the Donald, who has absolutely no clue how Washington, or any large organization, really works.  Intentionally or not, he becomes the enabler of the crazies of the alt-right.”

Matt:  “I must confess, the brainwashing idea seemed farfetched when I first heard it.  The more we talk about it the more logical it becomes.”

Greenie:  “I’ll give you an example that should convince the most die-hard Trump fan…well, maybe not the most die-hard but close.  The health care bills drafted by the House and Senate to replace Obamacare.”

Matt:  “Agreed.  Those proposals decimated health-care coverage for a wide swath of Republican voters.”

Screwed-GuyJC:  “Republican leaders crafted the proposals to reward the very wealthy and screw the very people who voted them into office.  I recall one of the Republican senators who crafted their bill in secret making the following statement, ‘Medicaid does not pay doctors enough per visit.’  Followed by ‘The proposed bill cuts Medicaid payments by hundreds of millions of dollars.’  Duh, oh wise senator, do you understand what you just said?”

Greenie:  “To use phrase from the Donald’s extensive vocabulary, ‘that’s sad, very sad.’  What really was sad is many of the Trumpsters never did realize how much they were going to get the shaft.”

TurtleneckJordan:  “Fortunately for them, Trump had so many other personal conflicts that affected the presidency, especially financial links to the Russians, the FBI had to take him out.”

Matt:  “Well, you got me convinced about the FBI and the Donald.  And I also need to go.  Greenie, OK if I call you with some other questions about the Revenge Revolution?  You’ve written more articles than anyone.”

Greenie: “Of course, Matt.  Call any time.”

(Continued)

 

#222 Rioters in Charlotte. Drive Looking through the Windshield or the Rearview Mirror? (Part 4)

16 Sunday Oct 2016

Posted by Jordan Abel in Innovative Thinking: Ideas and Products, Personal Stories, Possible Solutions, Societal Issues

≈ Leave a comment

First-time readers, this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020).  Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution.  More about Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1.  List and general description of entries to date.  Annual assessment whether Revolution plausible.

Note: most characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations.  Profile of characters.  You’ll catch on quickly.  Thanks for your time and interest…and comments.

Scene: Jordan’s office in Washington, DC.  Conversation for this series starts Entry #219.

Matt:  “I agree the conversation about the black community should be frank with no sugar-coating.  But 092615_2031_Characters11.pngwhere should the conversation start?  I mean, lots of issues.”

Jordan:  “Why not start at the end and work backwards?  What should the black community look like?  An even better start would be to describe the characteristics of people the black community can look up to.”

Matt:  “You mean describe characteristics of some role models?”

Jordan:  “Role models as long they are not sports figures…no Michael Jordan’s, for example.  Nothing against the Michael Jordan’s of the world but the black community cannot solve its problems through the NBA and NFL.”

Matt:  “Then what kind of role models?”

questionJordan:  “My recommendation would be individuals most people haven’t heard of but who exemplify what I think the black community would like to become.”

Matt:  “Who’s on your list?”

Jordan:  “Three people.  #1 is someone I know reasonably well; #2 is someone I’ve met a few times in business; #3, never met but awestruck with his accomplishments.”

Matt:  “Let me guess, Rock Man is #1 on the list. 

Jordan:  “Good guess.”

Matt:  “I remember meeting Rock Man and was very impressed…but I don’t know the whole story.”    

TurtleneckJordan:  “Rock Man comes from a family of 6-8 children…I don’t remember the exact number but a lot.  Eastern North Carolina.  Parents are tenant cotton farmers with maybe an 8th-grade education.”

Matt:  “But Rock Man is a college grad, right?”

Jordan:  “As are all 6-8 children.  Everyone graduated from college and a few have graduate degrees.”

Matt:  “I admit that’s very impressive for the family, but what else about Rock Man?”

092615_2031_Characters5.pngJordan:  “After graduation he starts a climbing gym in Charlotte.  Apparently he’s got the only black-owned climbing gym in the country…at least east of the Mississippi.”

Matt:  “Mostly black clientele?”

Jordan:  “Mostly white.”

Matt:  “Well, how’d you meet Rock Man?”

Jordan:  “Through a business colleague.  I then started helping Rock Man with managing his business.”

Matt:  “Still interesting but nothing too special about this.”

woman-clipart-zyikqxpcEJordan:  “Within a few months, Rock Man meets a young lady who seems to be the perfect match – outgoing, high energy and smart.”

Matt:  “They get married?”

Jordan:  “He was balking until I beat him over the head.  I kept telling him she was perfect for him.”

Matt:  “So, they get married…then what?”

Jordan:  “Short version. She gets a job at the local branch of an international arrow-upinsurance company.  Performs well and gets on a fast track.  In less than 15 years, she goes from glorified clerk in a branch to head of one of the company’s major international operations.”

Matt:  “Wow, that’s impressive.  Any kids?”

Jordan:  “Two.  Girl and boy.  The girl is old enough to have college on her mind.  She’s torn between Harvard and Yale.  I keep pushing MIT but to no avail.  The son is not yet on a hunt for college.”

Matt:  “So what did Rock Man do while the wife is playing Ms. Corporate black-man-cookingExecutive?”

Jordan:  “Rock Man becomes Mr. Mom.”

Matt:  “Mmm, isn’t being Mr. Mom a bit unusual in the black community?”

Jordan:  “I think it is unusual…likely highly unusual.  Aside from migrating from poor cotton farmers…now I’ll use Rock Man’s terms…who were too poor to have a pot to piss in…to college graduate, what really impresses me about Rock Man is the willingness to change roles.  Being Mr. Mom and supporting the kids seems so out of character for most black men that I thought he’d be an ideal role model.”

Matt:  “Agreed.  Who’s #2 on the list?”

Jordan:  “Ever use one of those super squirt guns?”

super-soakerMatt:  “They’re a blast.  We used to have water fights with those.  Why?”

Jordan:  “Know who invented the super squirt gun?”

Matt:  “I confess.  I have no idea.”

Jordan:  “His name is Lonnie Johnson.  Worked at NASA before the squirt gun became wildly popular.  As I understand, he used the proceeds from the squirt gun to start a technology company.”

Matt:  “What was the business?”

lithium-air-battery1-520x448-4ea97b0-introJordan:  “Advanced batteries.  For the record, lithium air batteries.  Trust me, a tough task.”

Matt:  “Again, interesting story but why is this guy a role model for the black community…and I assume this guy’s black?”

Jordan:  “Yes.  In addition to starting a high-tech battery company, which is impressive by itself, he locates the company in a very rough part of Atlanta.  Then he tries to hire as many neighborhood people as possible.  He also recruits as many black engineers as possible.  15-20 years black-hand-clapping-mdfrom now, I might question his bias toward black engineers.  But today he should be applauded for making an effort to employ as many blacks as possible in his high-tech company.”

Matt:  “Who’s the 3rd guy?”  (Continued)

  

#210 The Blame Game (Part 2)

24 Sunday Jul 2016

Posted by Jordan Abel in Personal Stories, Possible Solutions, Societal Issues

≈ Leave a comment

First-time readers, this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020).  Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution.  More about Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1.  List and general description of entries to date.  Annual assessment whether Revolution plausible.

Note: most characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations.  Profile of characters.  You’ll catch on quickly.  Thanks for your time and interest…and comments.

Scene: Jordan’s office, Washington, DC.  (Conversation begins #209)

Gelly:  “OK, I watched O’Reilly’s video.”

092615_2031_Characters7.gifJordan:  “…and?”

Gelly:  “No surprise that I didn’t agree with everything he said but his points were well taken.  We’ve got to start a conversation with the black community in order to start solving problems.”

Jordan:  “What do we do next?”

Gelly:  “I was going to ask you the same question.  Big set of problems.  Who’s going to take the lead?”

Jordan:  “Let’s make a list of people who might be good candidates.  Who comes to mind first?”

Gelly:  “For me, president Obama.  He’s been out of office a few years and stayed away from politics.”

TurtleneckJordan:  “Great choice, but I think he still might be considered too controversial.  You know who would be a good person to bounce ideas off of…and maybe lead the discussion before it gets too high-profile?”

Gelly:  “Someone who really understands the black community…like Rock Man?”

Jordan:  “Like Rock Man.  Been a while since we talked to him.”

Gelly:  “Want me to try to track him down?”

Jordan:  “Please.  If you find him, see if he can Skype.  In the meantime, I’ll make a few phone calls.”

(15 minute break in conversation)

Gelly:  “Found Rock Man.  He’s waiting for us to Skype.”  (Jordan’s makes Skype connection.)

092615_2031_Characters5.pngRock Man:  “Hey guys.  Long time, no talk to.  Gelly said you need some advice.  A big dog like you needs advice from me?”

Jordan:  “Yes, from you.  And who says I’m a big dog.  More like a fire hydrant.  Anyway, the challenge is two-fold: (i) how to get groups to take personal responsibility for fixing their problems; (ii) how to get groups to quit blaming someone else for their problems.”

Rock Man:  “And you’re calling me about…let me guess…about getting the black community to take more personal responsibility.”

Jordan:  “Gelly, he’s so perceptive.”

Rock Man:  “What do you want me to do?  I’m just one guy.”

Gelly:  “From my perspective, you’re an ideal role model for taking personal responsibility.”

Rock Man:  “In what way?”

Gelly:  “I don’t know the whole story but I understand you grew up in Eastern North Carolina, dirt poor with parents who had very limited education…”

Rock Man:  “…8th grade at best…”

college degreeGelly:  “…and yet all the children, what 6 or 7 of you, earned college degrees and several earned graduate degrees.  That just didn’t happen by accident.”

Jordan: “Gelly, Rock Man won’t tell you this part.  He started out in Charlotte at Johnson C. Smith, but after his sophomore year transferred to University of North Carolina-Charlotte in order to get tougher classes.”

Gelly:  “See, Rock Man, that’s exactly what I’m talking about.  You took personal responsibility for getting a better education.  Would have been easier to stay at JC Smith but you didn’t.  You are the perfect role model.”

Rock Man:  “C’mon, my shoes are getting brown.  There are much better role models basketball_player_06than I am.  What about Michael Jordan or LeBron James or a bunch of other athletes as role models?”

Jordan:  “You and I have talked about this before.  I think professional athletes are exactly the wrong role model for young black males.  How many black professional athletes, or for that matter all professional athletes, have a college degree?  Not just attend college but graduate?”

Rock Man:  “I don’t know but not many have degrees.  The problem among black teens is education isn’t sexy like athletics.  Plus education doesn’t guarantee big bucks.”

thimbleJordan:  “What percent of college athletes make it to the pros?  As small as that number is, what percent of high school students eventually end up in the pros?  Its miniscule — a thimble full at best.”

Gelly:  “Rock Man, your parents pushed education over athletics.  My parents were 1st-generation immigrants.  My mother was barely literate.  But you know what their goal was?  What they made significant sacrifices for?”

Rock Man:  “Same as mine?  Getting the kids through college?”

Gelly:  “The goals of my parents and your parents were no different from goals of most Old Man immigrant families.  Achieving those goals might take 2 or 3 generations and many will be grandparents or great grandparents before it happens.  But the goals of the parents were clear – get the kids through college or a comparable technical school.  So if families from Europe, Asia, wherever follow the same model, why shouldn’t black families?  Your parents did…and look how the family turned out.”

Jordan:  “Seems like the best person to start talking to the black community is someone who understands the hardships of the black community and the cultural norms.”

Gelly:  “Like I keep saying, someone like you Rock Man.”

Rock Man:  “Ok, you guys are persuasive.  How do I get started?”

Jordan:  “My view is the black community needs to: (i) take the lead in this effort; (ii) ask for help from other groups, even the police.”

Rock Man:  “Let me ask again, ‘how do we get started?’”

TrumpJordan:  “Since the Revenge Revolution, the political environment is less toxic that a few years ago…”

Rock Man:  “…you mean like the toxic environment when Donald the bomb thrower was running for president?”

Jordan:  “Yes.  Make no mistake, the atmosphere is still tense.  If I were you, Rock Man, I’d reach way across the aisle and ask for help from a perceived adversary to the black community.  Someone, who if you worked with, would cause everyone to turn their head.”

Rock Man:  “Like who?”

Gelly:  “Earlier today I looked at a short video from 2016 made by Bill O’Reilly.”

Bill-O’ReillyRock Man:  “Like the Bill O’Reilly?”

Gelly:  “I said exactly the same thing when Jordan asked me to look at it.  Let me tell you, O’Reilly listed some very good questions that would help start a meaningful dialogue.”

Jordan:  “So, why not reach out to O’Reilly and get his opinion?”

Rock Man:  “Can you send me the link to the video, please?”

Jordan:  “Take a look and then ask yourself, what’s really the downside of talking to him about the issues he listed?  You might be surprised.  He might be very helpful.”

Rock Man:  “Alright, I’ll review and get back.”

(Continued)

#190 Big Bang Theory at a Bottling Plant? (Part #2)

27 Sunday Mar 2016

Posted by Jordan Abel in Diversions, Personal Stories

≈ Leave a comment

First-time readers, this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020).  Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution.  More about Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1.  List and general description of entries to date.  Annual assessment whether Revolution plausible.

Note: most characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations.  Profile of characters.  You’ll catch on quickly.  Thanks for your time and interest…and comments. 

Scene: Jordan invited to dinner at the White House. POTUS’ family is away and he and Jordan are having dinner in the living quarters. POTUS asked the conversation not be about politics and suggested discussing a more fun topic such as the formation of the universe. Conversation begins #189.

Jordan: “By the way, what’s for dinner?”

PigsPOTUS: “For you, North Carolina pork BBQ. Just kidding. But we are having beef BBQ – Texas style.”

Jordan: “What a pleasant surprise. But I never think of BBQ and White House dinners in the same sentence.”

POTUS: “Usually not. In the living quarters, life is different. We try to eat like real people.”

Jordan: “Funny you mention that.”

092615_2031_Characters10.gifPOTUS: “You mean real people or food?”

Jordan: “Both. The other day someone asked me about the most fun time I could remember when food was involved.”

POTUS: “…and?”

Jordan: “I could remember the occasion but not what food was involved. What stuck Turtleneckwith me was the fun with friends, not what we ate.”

POTUS: “So food doesn’t really matter?”

Jordan: “I’m no one’s connoisseur of food or wine. But I’ve eaten all over the world — in some great restaurants and not so great restaurants.”

POTUS: “So the food doesn’t really matter to you.”

Jordan: “The food can’t be awful. For me, though, the best part is being with friends.”

POTUS: “You told me one time about a group of friends that got together for dinner pizza-007once a month. Some or all of the group met during the week for pizza. You had a funny name for those pizza dinners.”

Jordan: “We’d meet on Tuesday and the dinners were known as Crappy Pizza Tuesday.”

POTUS: “That’s it, Crappy Pizza Tuesday. Was the pizza that bad?”

Jordan: “Not really. We needed a name for the evening and Crappy Pizza Tuesday seemed to stick.”

POTUS: “Give me another example where you ate out, but food didn’t matter.”

Jordan: “When I worked in Manhattan and we lived in Connecticut, a group of guys diner-counter-fifties-sixties-complete-accessories-36259280used to meet Saturday mornings at the Driftwood Diner in Darien.”

POTUS: “Sounds like fun.”

Jordan: “It was great. We still see each other periodically but also all miss kibitzing at the diner.”

Waiter: “Mr. Abel, another glass of wine?”

Jordan: “Yes, Andrew, please. And where did that wine come from?”

Andrew: “Another one of your spots, sir. Sonoma County.”

napa_2_139373Jordan: “It’s very good. Do either of you know what they make in Napa?”

Andrew: “Wine, sir?”

Jordan: “Nope. They make auto parts. An old Sonoma County joke.”

POTUS: “On that note, let’s eat and get back to our earlier conversation about the universe.”

Jordan: “Alright, back to using my brain again.”

POTUS: “Your question about where the matter for the Big Bang came from – when did you first think about that? Some physics class?”

Jordan: “Want the truth?”

POTUS: “Please.”

Jordan: “During summers when I was in undergrad, I worked in a Pepsi bottling plant.”

Pepsi_LogoPOTUS: “A real mentally taxing job.”

Jordan: “With one year of college I had more education than everyone on the floor except the plant manager. But I liked the guys and we had great fun.”

POTUS: “What’d you do at the plant?”

Jordan: “I moved up from loading trucks by hand to lift-truck operator. We worked lots of overtime so I would switch jobs occasionally. One night I was monitoring bottles coming out of the giant washer…”

POTUS: “…sounds really boring.”

Jordan: “It was boring. So I used the time to think about different things.”

BigBangTheoryPOTUS: “That’s when the question about the Big Bang hit?”

Jordan: “Sort of an odd place to think about how the universe was formed, but, yes, that’s when the question hit me.”

POTUS: “You’re not the first guy to ask the question.”

Jordan: “Of course not. So far no one seems to have a credible answer.”

POTUS: “Some people might argue a higher being as responsible.”

Jordan: “I agree with that idea. Still the question remains, where did the higher being get the stuff for the Big Bang?”

POTUS: “If I interpret you correctly, you think earth could be part of an experiment in some being’s laboratory?”

Jordan: “Think about it. The universe is, in many ways, structured like a bunch of atoms and sub-atomic particles. The primary difference is size.”

Milky WayPOTUS: “Interesting point. We think sub-atomic particles are small and the universe as large. To someone else the universe could be small.”

Jordan: “Ever look through a microscope at say water from a murky pond?”

POTUS: “I did in biology class. Amazing all the little creatures that live in a few drops of water.”

Jordan: “To those little guys, how big does the pond seem…let alone a lake or ocean?”

amoeba_14653_lgPOTUS: “Huge. To an amoeba, the distance from one side of a pond to another must measure billions of something.”

Jordan: “Distance is a relative measure. To the amoeba, the pond might as well be the Milky Way, maybe larger.”

POTUS: “Never thought about it before but what if humans are amoebas to some other set of beings?”

Jordan: “That’s my point. We don’t know. A lot of people on earth think humans are the highest level in the food chain – and the smartest.”

POTUS: “They also believe no human-like creatures exist anywhere else in the universe.”

chanceJordan: “To those who believe humans are unique, I have two questions: (i) what do you think the probability is that life exists only on one planet out of how many universes – millions, if not billions?”

POTUS: “Chances are just about zero. What’s the second question?”

Jordan: “Why should earthlings be the most advanced?”

POTUS: “You’re saying if there are 100 planets in the various universes that have life — 100 is probably low number but stick with it — then earth would have 1 in 100 chance of being the most advanced.”

Jordan: “Now you got it.”

POTUS: “All this while watching Pepsi bottles coming out of a washer?”

Jordan: “Strange, huh? Andrew, could you please…”

.

#185 One Person Can Make a Difference (Part #9)

17 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by Jordan Abel in Corporate Policy, General Motors, Personal Stories, Societal Issues

≈ Leave a comment

First-time readers, this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020).  Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution.  More about Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1.  List and general description of entries to date.  Annual assessment whether Revolution plausible.

Note: most characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations.  Profile of characters.  You’ll catch on quickly.  Thanks for your time and interest…and comments. 

Scene: Jordan still in Charlotte and on limited work schedule while recovering from prostate surgery. Jordan calls his office and talks to Gelly, his assistant. Earlier Jordan and POTUS began conversation about rebuilding US manufacturing and the middle class. Series starts #177; conversation with POTUS, #179.

Jordan: “Gelly, could you do me a favor, please?”

092615_2031_Characters7.gifGelly: “Yes, but only because you are so helpless.”

Jordan: “C’mon. I’m not helpless. I’m just a little slow getting around that’s all.”

Gelly: “I must say. Your recovery seems to be progressing more quickly than I anticipated. You pleased with progress?”

Jordan: “I’m pleased with progress and so is the doctor. I just need to make sure my expectations don’t race too far ahead.”

Gelly: “OK, so what do you want me to do?”

TurtleneckJordan: “POTUS called me at home. By the way, did you tell him about my surgery?”

Gelly: “I’ll never tell. And he certainly doesn’t need me to tell him what’s going on in your life.  Isn’t that what those agencies are for?”

Jordan: “We had a nice chat about the technology used in surgery.”

Gelly: “Only guys would talk about the machines and software used to cut them open and remove parts. OK, I’ll stop and listen.”

Jordan: “What we never got around to was a story I had promised to tell him. He said to call when I was feeling better.”

Gelly: “So, now you’re feeling better and want me to find out a good time for him to chat, right?”

pajamas-cJordan: “Yes, please. Earlier in the day is better for me. Thanks.”

Gelly: “I’ll make sure Little Jordan is not in his jammies when POTUS calls.”

Jordan: “You’re tough, Gelly.”

Gelly: “I harass you because I like you Jordan. When I stop harassing you is when you should be concerned.”

Next day Jordan receives call at home.

Jordan: “Jordan Abel, may I help you.”

white-house-clip-art1POTUS: “He doesn’t get it. Relax dude.”

Jordan: “Alright, Mr. President, I’ll relax. I’m just so programmed to answer the phone a certain way.”

POTUS: “I hear you. Gelly said you were ready to tell me the second story, which is about how one person can make a difference. If you have time, I’m ready. Is this another Buick story?”

Jordan: “Yes. Here’s the background. Buick spends lots of money modernizing an old Buickassembly plant. Production then resumes but quality lags.”

POTUS: “How bad was it?”

Jordan: “Second worst plant in North America.”

POTUS: “You mean 2nd worst for Buick?”

Jordan: “No, 2nd worst of any assembly plant in the industry. That’s all domestic plants down chartand all foreign-owned plants.”

POTUS: “Quality was that bad after all the money was spent modernizing the plant?”

Jordan: “Yes.”

POTUS: “Big problem.”

Jordan: “The main character in this story works in the Buick service department. Mid-level salary guy but his family is…”

POTUS: “…Let me guess. This is Flint and he’s the first of his family not working on the assembly line? How’d I do?”

Jordan: “Dead on. The family is 3rd or 4th generation hourly worker and 2nd generation UAW.”

POTUS: “What happens next?”

Jordan: “He comes to my office and borrows a report with all kinds of quality data and report-clipart-McLxyjKqi.jpegconsumer rankings. Like a JD Power report but it’s developed internally and has much more detail.”

POTUS: “Is he supposed to have the info in the report?”

Jordan: “No reason he can’t. But unbeknownst to me and any other department head, he takes the report and meets with the UAW.”

POTUS: “The same UAW guy you talked to. You know, the one whose son you mentored? Wasn’t he president of the UAW local?”

Jordan: “Probably but the same guy but I’m not 100% sure. Whoever he talked to, he reminded them his family had worked in the plant since Buick was founded in 1903. He also told them assembly linethe ratings were not Buick’s but from customers. Finally, he told them that if quality did not improve, the company was likely to close the plant and move production elsewhere.”

POTUS: “Close it, even though they’d spent all the money modernizing the plant?”

Jordan: “His analysis was spot on.”

POTUS: “What happened?”

Jordan: “I’ll tell you the results. How the idea was communicated with the rank-and-file, I have no idea…nor frankly, do I want to know. But what happened is quality started to improve quickly.”

POTUS: “Then what?”

Line chartJordan: “Within 18 months, the quality of the plant went from 2nd worst in the industry to 2nd best…and within a whisker of being first.”

POTUS: “in just 18 months? Really?”

Jordan: “Really.”

POTUS: “This guy get some kind of award?”

Jordan: “No one even knew about it or talked about until a few years later. Management knew that quality turned around but no other exec I talked to knew exactly what happened.”

POTUS: “So one guy did all this on his own?”

Jordan: “One guy started the ball rolling. But when you step back and think about, this Trust Meguy had more credibility with the UAW than the entire management team. They trusted him.  He wasn’t a suit.  He wasn’t out for some political gain…or some promotion. In fact, he risked getting demoted for going outside the system. But he didn’t worry about personal consequences. And he had credibility because of his family history.”

POTUS: “Quite a story. I keep shaking my head. Just one guy who did this on his own. Wow.”

Jordan: “One guy. No committee. No incentive other than trying to do the right thing and save jobs for his family and other members of the community.  And he’s not from guernsey-cow-9751central casting.  He’s overweight and low-key — in some ways reminds you of a Guernsey cow.  I mean that in a positive way…but you get the idea.”

POTUS: “Interesting profile for guy that made such an impact.  Did GM keep the plant open?”

Jordan: “The plant stayed open for another probably 20 years. They shut it as part of Pile-Rubble-186270the bankruptcy, and then demolished it. 100 years of automotive assembly history turned into a pile of rubble.”

POTUS: “As a country we’ve got to change. Stories like this one make me inspired by the effort of one individual. The story also makes me sick because 100 years of effort by a lot of people got tuned into a heap.”

sad-face4Jordan: “I still get upset with the ending to the story.”

POTUS: “What are we going to do, Jordan, to help rebuild US manufacturing? And get those middle class jobs back to Flint and many other locations.”

Jordan: “You want to talk now or later?”

POTUS: “I’ve got to run. And you probably need some rest. Let’s chat some more soon.”

#184 How Manufacturing in US Can Help Medical Patients, (Part #8)

10 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by Jordan Abel in Education Issues, Gov't Policy, Innovative Thinking: Ideas and Products, Personal Stories

≈ Leave a comment

First-time readers, this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020).  Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution.  More about Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1.  List and general description of entries to date.  Annual assessment whether Revolution plausible.

Note: most characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations.  Profile of characters.  You’ll catch on quickly.  Thanks for your time and interest…and comments. 

Scene: Jordan and POTUS continue conversation about rebuilding US manufacturing and the middle class. Series starts #177; conversation with POTUS, #179.

Scene: Jordan is at home in Charlotte.

Jordan: (answering phone), “Hello, Jordan Abel speaking. May I help you?”

POTUS: “Yes, you may help. This is POTUS. But Jordan, drop the formality. Relax. white-house-clip-art1You’re at home remember?”

Jordan: “How’d you know I was here, Mr. President?”

POTUS: “You know better than to ask that kind of question. How’s the recovery coming?”

Jordan: “Recovery coming along OK. Getting better each day.”

POTUS: “I didn’t know you had an issue. What hanged your mind and why surgery?”

Jordan: “The short version is long-time GP has been monitoring my PSA readings, Turtleneckwhich have been creeping up over the past several years. About 15 months ago he suggested I see a urologist.”

POTUS: “Higher PSA levels seems to be a problem for a lot of older guys…like you.”

Jordan: “And, you Mr. President, will probably have the same problem.”

POTUS: “I know. Being a big dog doesn’t make one immune from health problems. And we all get older. More details about what happened, please.”

Jordan: “I had biopsy 14-15 months ago and another late last year. After reviewing results from the second biopsy, which were still reasonably good, doctor recommended doctor-clipart-illustration-31325we explore treatment options.”

POTUS: “Why surgery versus some other treatment? Surgery seems so radical.”

Jordan: “Considered five primary data points. Following is my analysis, not the urologist’s, although I think he would agree with the general statements. For other people, the recommendation might be different.”

POTUS: “Understood.”

Jordan: “#1 consideration – to what extent was the cancer concentrated in the prostate or nearby. By removing the prostate, most if not all the cancer would be call centerremoved. #2, if follow-on treatment required, what options are available with each treatment? Some treatments leave few or even no options for follow-on. #3, what is the likelihood of negative effects following surgery? #4, what is the overall health of the patient. #5, what is the age of the patient? If I were much older and had other health problems, surgery might not be the best option, or even an option. But I’m relatively young and healthy so I needed a treatment that reduced the likelihood that prostate cancer would become a primary issue. If you consider all those factors, surgery seemed best for me. ”

POTUS: “OK but surgery’s been around a long time. I’ve heard some horror stories. Is there something different now versus say 5-10 years ago?”

Jordan: “Micro-surgery using robots. With the robots, really semi-robots since the surgeon still controls the movements, the precision is greatly enhanced and size of incisions reduced.”

POTUS: “Just out of curiosity, was the equipment made in the US?”

da-vinci-system-si-seated-surgeon-nurse-at-cart-400x235Jordan: “Forgot to ask. The brand name is diVinci. The diVinci system is a great example how technology can improve people’s quality of life and extend expected lifespan. The product would be a good example to include in your speeches about the importance of and benefits of US manufacturing.”

POTUS: “Are you OK if I mention your experience?”

Jordan: “You know I’m uncomfortable about personal acknowledgement. But, if citing a real person in the story, and one that you know, helps build credibility, go ahead. Lots of guys face the prostate problem and they should know diVinci is not your father’s surgery.”

POTUS: “Thanks for agreeing. There’s lot of areas where technology and manufacturing can help the medical community and patients. This will be a great example.”

Jordan: “”If you’ve got a few more minutes, I’ll tell you a couple of funny stories connected with the surgery.”

POTUS: “I’m all ears. Been a rough day and I need some humor.”

Jordan: “At discharge the nurse is running through her list of ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts.” Part way through, she says “no sex.” At this point I break out laughing and ask her how I’m NO SEXsupposed to have sex when there’s a catheter inserted you know where.”

POTUS: “That’s funny. Sounds like a good skit for Saturday Night Live. You got another one?”

Jordan: “With this micro-surgery, some air is inserted in the body cavity to provide more space to operate.”

POTUS: “Sounds painful.”

Jordan: “I think the excess air in post=op was more painful that the incisions. Anyway the goal is to expel as much of the remaining gas as quickly as possible but without any undue strain. They don’t want you to press so hard you’ll damage the stitches and cause more bleeding. So you have to let the air work itself out.”

POTUS: “How long’s that take?”

Jordan: “I made no progress until later in the 3rd day.”

POTUS: “Progress being what?”

thumbs upJordan: “In the 50+ years I’ve known my wife, I don’t think she’s every complimented me on ripping one off.”

POTUS: “She complimented you? Wow, I need to remember that. What day was that…?

Jordan: “…Saturday.”

POTUS: “Then what?”

Jordan: “We started to laugh.”

POTUS: “Doesn’t laughing hurt where the incisions are?”

Jordan: “Hurts big time, but it was worth it. By the way, she’s been a real trooper, especially nurseabout emptying ‘the bag.’ She deserves the Clara Barton Home Nurse Award.”

POTUS: “Glad you are in good hands. Tell her I said hello. Also glad you are on the mend. Let’s chat more soon. We need to continue to discuss how to rebuild US manufacturing and the middle class. But when you’re ready.”

Jordan: “Thanks for calling, Mr. President.”

#183 Are Wall Street Traders Really Traitors? (Part #7)

03 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by Jordan Abel in Corporate Policy, Gov't Policy, Personal Stories, Possible Solutions, Societal Issues

≈ Leave a comment

First-time readers, this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020).  Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution.  More about Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1.  List and general description of entries to date.  Annual assessment whether Revolution plausible.

Note: most characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations.  Profile of characters.  You’ll catch on quickly.  Thanks for your time and interest…and comments. 

Scene: Jordan and POTUS continue conversation about rebuilding US manufacturing and the middle class. Series starts #177; conversation with POTUS, #179.

POTUS: “Jordan, you’re taking a tough stand. Aren’t you making it harder for white-house-clip-art1manufacturing companies? Won’t companies just leave…or just start the company outside the US and not worry about regulations?”

Jordan: “Might be making it a little more difficult. But a counter is having tax breaks for US made products.”

POTUS: “You talking about tariffs for imports? We’ve got all these trade agreements between the US and other countries.”

TurtleneckJordan: “What I’m suggesting is goods manufactured in the US – manufactured, not just assembled in the US – get some sort of tax relief. The goal is to make it less attractive for executives to locate outside the US.”

POTUS: “What about companies relocating in the States? Should there be some sort of penalty?”

Jordan: “Like banning Charlotte from recruiting companies from New York, Ohio, Michigan and elsewhere. Like I said earlier, recruiting from another state seems more like stealing to me.”

POTUS: “Couldn’t we allow states still to recruit but say ban any tax breaks or other type of incentives? Another approach would be to levy a tax on the company for relocating.”

Jordan: “Some type of tax or penalty seems reasonable. At a minimum companies should checkbook2pay for displaced workers and the loss in tax base in the community they’re bailing out of.”

POTUS: “What do we do about the influence of Wall Street? The Street seems to put lots of pressure on companies to meet quarterly earnings targets.”

Jordan: “I view the so-called pressure as an excuse by CEO’s to cut expenses and mask poor management. Some tweaks to operations are always necessary but the company is either being run fundamentally correctly or not.”

POTUS: “If the company is being run properly, any earnings shortfall in one or two quarters should work itself out. Is that what you’re saying?”

Jordan: “Exactly what I’m saying. Sophisticated investors understand that. Warren Buffett is a perfect example. Did he build the value of Berkshire Hathaway by focusing on quarterly earnings?”

POTUS: “No.”

DogJordan: “So there’s the lesson for investors. Be patient.  We’ve allowed the traders on Wall Street to gain the upper hand.  As a result management start to focus on the wrong issues.”

POTUS: “Are we letting the tail wag the dog, as it were?”

Jordan: “We…societal we…are letting Wall Street traders have too much influence on the way businesses are run. The time horizon for traders is minutes, not months or years. The political right would be apoplectic if they ever heard me say this, but the traders are more like traitors. They really don’t care about this country.”

traitorPOTUS: “C’mon. Wall Street traders are traitors? How can you say that?”

Jordan: “Because the traders have no loyalty to the company or the country. They do not care if a company goes under, the company moves production off shore and ruins a town. The traders care about one thing – making money on every trade.”

POTUS: “Keep talking.”

Jordan: “Think about it. Pension funds and individuals…but mostly pension funds…have large securities portfolios. What are the pension funds supposed to do?”

POTUS: “Protect the money of employees, current and former.”

Jordan: “Do you think the employees believe its smart business to ship jobs overseas and eliminate their own job?”

POTUS: “That seems like a silly question. Of course not.”

CashJordan: “Well, CEO’s are doing exactly that. Why? To boost quarterly earnings so some a-hole doesn’t start trying to drive down the stock price and encourage a hedge fund to begin a takeover. I sound like a broken record, but do you think for a microsecond the traders care about the company?”

POTUS: “I hear you Jordan.”

Jordan: “Who does care about the company, or at least should care about the company?”

POTUS: “Employees, the pension fund…”

Jordan: “…and maybe some of the executives. Then why do we have all these laws that permit manipulation of stock prices? Even worse is allowing investors to raid companies.”

POTUS: “How do you propose we stop that?”

Screwed-GuyJordan: “Mr. President, I don’t know. But what I do know is the American worker is getting screwed and wealth is being transferred from the worker to a small group of investors and some countries outside the US.”

POTUS: “What about unions? Wall Street and the execs are not the only ones playing this gig.”

Jordan: “I’m not naïve. Some unions were a problem 15-20 years ago. But they’re not now. And I contend the unions never were as big a problem as a lot of people claimed.”

POTUS: “I’ve heard stories where unions drove companies out of town.”

Jordan: “I have to. And there are likely a few examples. But people forget, unions are made up of people. People with kids and families. And people with feelings.”

POTUS: “Some people will claim you sound like some screaming liberal.”

Jordan: “For some issues, I probably am. I’ll give you an example of why I feel this way. Years ago, when I was at Buick, our department ‘hosted’ students during their men talkingco-op work period from Kettering University – it was General Motors Institute then. One session the son of the president of the UAW local was working in our department. A short time after the co-op work session ended, some of us attended a meeting with the UAW. The president and I chatted a while and then joined the rest of the group. I got all kinds of semi-nasty questions about why I was talking to the president.”

POTUS: “How’d you respond?”

Jordan: “I told ’em I was asking how his son was doing in school. And that the president thanked me for taking his son under my wing.”

POTUS: “You think that happens very often?”

Jordan: “Probably not, but it should. We were a couple of guys trying to help a young man get an education. What’s so terrible about that?”

POTUS: “Sounds as if both of you were trying to do the right thing. You have another example?”

Jordan: “Yes.”

POTUS: Remember the second story, please.  I’ve got to head to yet another meeting.”

(Continued)

#181 Flint, MI – Squeaky’s Sacrificial Lamb Kills the Middle Class (Part #5)

23 Saturday Jan 2016

Posted by Jordan Abel in Corporate Policy, General Motors, Personal Stories, Societal Issues

≈ Leave a comment

Scene: Jordan’s office a few days after POTUS’ first call re manufacturing and rebuilding the middle class.

092615_2031_Characters7.gifGelly: “Jordan, POTUS is on the line again.”

Jordan: “Hello, Mr. President.”

POTUS: “Hello, Jordan. Have a few minutes? I want to continue our conversation about rebuilding US manufacturing.”

Jordan: “My calendar is clear.”

POTUS: “Good. I understand the need to rebuild manufacturing and the middle class. But these are abstract concepts. If we are going to sell the idea, we need to personalize 092615_2031_Characters10.gifthe story. Make it so people can relate to it and understand what’s happened. You have an example or two in mind?”

Jordan: “You mean like what’s happened to Flint, Michigan?”

POTUS: “Wow, what a tragedy. They first lost all the manufacturing jobs, then they get hit with lead in their drinking water. Given your background, tell me what you think really happened in Flint. It went from a thriving community to being in the dumper. Why?”

TurtleneckJordan: “The very short answer is Roger Smith. He’s not the only reason but if you’re looking for the primary cause and way to personalize the story, look no farther than Roger Smith.”

POTUS: “Not sure who you mean.”

Jordan: “Ever hear about or see the movie, ‘Roger & Me’?”

POTUS: “Wasn’t that one of Michael Moore’s movies? He’s had some interesting ones. I’ve seen snippets of ‘Roger & Me’ but never the whole movie. What’s it about?”

Jordan: “About how Roger Smith, as chairman of General Motors, destroyed Flint.”

POTUS: “You think that’s true or was that just some Hollywood make-believe?”

Jordan: “My perspective is a bit different from Michael Moore’s. However, his lambconclusion is correct. Smith destroyed Flint. Flint became a sacrificial lamb.”

POTUS: “Seems like you’re taking an extreme position. Flint was a sacrificial lamb for what?”

Jordan: “Smith was chairman of GM throughout the 1980’s. He was also feared within the company, despite being known as ‘Squeaky’ to some insiders.”

POTUS: “Was he that bad? Was Squeaky…I love that name…a real ‘my way or highway’ kind of CEO?”

Jordan: “More like ‘my way or the guillotine’ kind of CEO. He was ruthless.”

flint-city-limits-signPOTUS: “So what made Flint different from other GM towns in Michigan? There’s what Lansing, Pontiac, even Detroit. What’s so different?”

Jordan: “Because Flint is where the UAW forced GM to recognize the union.”

POTUS: “But didn’t GM start in Flint with Buick? Flint was GM’s hometown. Who was the guy that started GM.? Wasn’t Sloan. What was the guy’s name?”

Jordan: “William C. Durant, aka Billy Durant.”

POTUS: “That’s the guy. If GM started in Flint, then what’s the big deal about the union?”

Jordan: “Roger hated the UAW. He never forgave the rank-and-file or the people of sitdown strikeFlint for participating in the sit-down strike of 1936.”

POTUS: “You’re really into GM history aren’t you? The strike was 45, almost 50 years before Smith became CEO. The strike was ancient history.”

Jordan: “Not to Roger, or many other people. You know Gelly, right?”

POTUS: “I talk to her when I call. Very pleasant by the way. I’ve never met her in person. Why?”

Jordan: “Her grandfather participated in the sit-down strike at Fisher #1 in Flint. She said he talked about it until the day he died. She’s 3rd or 4th generation auto family. Or at least she was until Smith’s reign of terror.”

POTUS: “Not to sound like an attorney for the defense, but did you ever see any memos or plans to destroy Flint?”

Jordan: “You know better than that counselor. My conclusion is based on his patterns of behavior in other situations. Also, I also looked at the number of facilities in Flint that were shut down in Smith’s reign compared to other locations. Disproportionately high.”

BuickPOTUS: “Maybe true but wasn’t GM losing share during the 1980’s? As I recall, GM was losing ground and imports were gaining ground.”

Jordan: “Except Flint’s hometown car, Buick, actually held its own during the 1980’s…and set a sales record.”

POTUS: “I’m certain you had no influence on that. Look, I can’t argue with your logic. You saw the company from the inside. You also analyze situations differently than most people. That’s why I call you. One question, ‘If Smith GM,_logowas so bad, why didn’t GM go bankrupt in the 1990’s? They didn’t go BK until what 2008-2009?”

Jordan: “They did go BK in the 1990’s…but not officially. I’ll tell you why.”

(Continued)

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