Compulsive Opposition Revisited

I posted this blog in 2018.  I have updated it as a follow up.

Harper Collins labels compulsive those people or their behavior when they cannot stop doing something wrong, harmful, or unnecessary. A recent headline “Compulsive Opposition” caught my eye, leading me to examine this factor in more detail.

I consulted the dictionary for synonyms of compulsive, neurotic popped up.  The dictionary suggested that there are no cures for compulsion, it is a chronic disease.

Unprepared for Defeat

Clinton’s defeat at the presidential polls on November 8, 2016 unleashed a number of powerful and unprecedented reactions.  It was in the bag, so to speak, that Hilary would win hands down. No way that Americans would elect someone that Democrats labeled a racist, homophone, misogynist, xenophobe, chauvinist, and worse. No way voters would turn their back on making history by electing the first woman president. No way that voters would be so stupid to elect someone who in their eyes was an imbecile and a narcissist.

When the votes were tallied, the results were crystal clear. Clinton had lost the election, albeit she had won the popular vote, she lost thanks to our Electoral College system. Supporters were shocked and inconsolable. How could this be happening? Surely, this was too hard to swallow, impossible to accept, or with which to come to grips.  It was a sad spectacle to see a whole slice of our society uncontrollably disconnected, looking for answers to a counter-intuitive outcome.

This huge loss followed shellacking at the polls starting in 2010 that had given Republicans control of the two Chambers of Congress, the presidency, and victories in 32 governorships.

Mass grieving and some hysteria enveloped parts of the electorate. It was a defeat hard to digest and so unexpected. Scare tactics took over: the newly elected President would undo the safety net, people would die for lack of healthcare coverage, elders and children would be forced to eat dog food, and the poor and the disabled would be at the mercy of a heartless regime.

 Fishing for Answers

Immediately, supporters everywhere began to look for ways to thwart the people’s choice by employing ways to stop the insanity of this unacceptable result.

A long checklist of actions followed: court challenges, recounts, demonstrations, confrontations, attempted bribery of Electoral College representatives to change their vote, calls for secession from the Union, elimination of the Electoral College, gratuitous medical diagnoses of Trump, suspected Russian involvement, leaks, fake news, and so on.

The 2018 elections brought much needed consolation by the landslide win in the race for control of the House. Newly minted progressives won promising a workers’ paradise, elimination of white privilege, a more equitable income distribution, and other utopian aspirations.

In the end, however, distraught supporters are still grieving and unable to accept reality. The new House has unleashed some 60 different investigations of Trump and his business ties. Every major Trump executive action is being challenged in the courts. His accomplishments are being trivialized. Yet Trump supporters are standing firm in their support of his agenda.

Clinton lost, Trump won! Still hard to swallow …

When Democrats failed to achieve the intended result in 2016, the battle cry morphed to resist, resist, resist … followed by the ominous by any means. Repeating the redundant slogan was to emphasize that there would be no stopping, no matter what. The goal remains: resist, period. No time or interest in solving mounting problems or looking for better solutions. Anything coming from this election result would be illegitimate, crooked, heartless, or worse.

Resistance continues to be a compulsive action, unstoppable and vociferous. Compulsion, we are told, is a condition… an irresistible and persistent urge to behave antagonistically. That’s where the by any means scares me. It encourages some deranged sympathizer to resort to the unthinkable.  Resistors still refuse undemocratically to accept the will of the people. They are willing to resort to fascist ways to continue resisting. Gratification and satisfaction come only from resistance. For some, it has become an obsession.

The Kabuki Dance

Wikipedia tells us that Kabuki is a “term used by American political pundits as (a) synonym for political posturing. It is a drama carried out in a predictable and stylized fashion.” It is designed to give the appearance of an uncertain outcome, when in fact key players know the outcome beforehand.

Allegations of collusion by the Trump campaign with the Russians to defeat Clinton explain why the election was lost. The special counsel investigating the Russian connection and Trump’s team has not yet uncovered illegal acts by Trump and so far has not doomed Trump’s presidency.

Democrats have proclaimed that even though the Mueller investigation might fail to confirm coordination with the Russians or explicit obstruction of justice charges, the House should continue to investigate both. Many progressives insist that Trump should be impeached. The notion itself makes many left-wingers lick their chops.

Examining the Paradox

As an organization development specialist, I learned many years ago to follow Chris Argyris model of evaluation. Chris taught us that one way to assess an organization’s, a movement’s, or a political party’s performance is to examine the theory and philosophy they espouse versus their theory and philosophy they practice. Gaps between the two would show the degree to which some talk is just that as well as the degree to which an organization is out of sync with its own philosophy and theory.

Progressives have espoused for years tolerance, bonhomie, compassion, inclusiveness, and respect for the environment, just to name a few. Examination of this philosophy in action shows a complete reversal of the espoused principles.

Some are not tolerant of ideas and views that differ from their own, and go out of their way to muzzle others’ speech. Bonhomie (affability for those not familiar with the term) applies only to those they like or think alike. Compassion only applies to certain people, those who agree with one’s philosophy. Inclusiveness does not mean that you include people whose view differs from yours. Respect for the environment applies only to the masses, while rich proponents or politicians are excused when driving their guzzler SUVs, fly their private jets, or power their yachts.

Gaps suggest a malfunction of the moral compass, perhaps a diminished capacity for integrity, or just plain phoniness.

Where Are We Now?

Cable News is the big loser as each of the Kabuki acts fails to come up with any smoking gun. Democrats will point out that several people have been convicted already of crimes having little to do with either collusion or obstruction of justice. The special counsel’s investigation will retreat to the background. The usual suspects will appear nightly fueling viewers’ curiosity and demand that the evidence be turned to the House for additional investigation.

Trump’s opponents will continue the resistance even though their actions will not stop him. They will have had enough time to vent, much time to grieve, and to lash out at anyone who disagrees with them. Anarchists, among the resistors, will continue to look for opportunities to wreck havoc and destroy private property. Ill-advised young leftists will continue to use fascist methods to deny adversaries to speak, claiming that whatever they have to say is hateful speech anyway.

Let me emphasize that one size does not fit all.

Many Democrats have moved on and have come to grips with reality, however unpleasant that might be. Those suffering from the compulsion of resist, resist, resist will continue to be stuck in its involuntary repetition or neurosis. Bill Bridges, in his widely claimed work on transitions, warns us that you cannot move on unless you are willing to let go. Some folks just cannot let go, dooming themselves from enjoying a new beginning.

There is also a warning to those on the right. Stop gloating! The pendulum will swing the other way, and it will be your turn to experience despair, hysteria, and melt down. None of us is immune from a bad case of compulsion or neurosis.

History has a funny way of repeating itself! Wide pendulum swing? Fot sure!

Action-Reaction

In a two party system, oscillation is an established pattern. Imagine what Conservatives will do resistance-wise to the next democrat president. The actors change, the Kabuki dance will continue to the detriment of the nation.

Ai Miei Connazionali: Siamo Pronti?

Il futuro e’ gia’ qui! Siamo pronti?

Alla mia eta’ non importa, ma a coloro che hanno meno di 40 anni questa domanda sara’ importantissima….

Alcuni fatti dimostrano che le cose stanno cambiando velocemente.

La societa’ americana Kodak nel 1998 aveva 170.000 impiegati e produceva l’ 85% di tutta la carta fotografica nel mondo. Oggi la Kodak no esiste piu’. Perche’? Con l’arrivo del digitale la tecnologia ha cambiato l'industria fotografica.

La societa’ Uber non ha automobili. Pero' oggi e’ la piu’ grande compagnia di taxi nel mondo. Le società' di taxi come la conosciamo sta sparendo.

L'Airbnb no ha alberghi ma e’ la piu’ grande catena alberghiera del mondo. Ci bisogneranno meno impiegati nell'industria.

Negli Stati Uniti non tutti i neo-laureati in legge troveranno un posto. Perche’? Il prodotto Watson di IBM da consigli legali in secondi con accuratezza al 90% mentre gli avvocati umani lo fanno al 70%. Nel futuro, ci sara’ il 90% meno bisogno di avvocati negli Stati Uniti; solo gli specializzati rimarranno. Watson e’ anche quattro volte piu’ capace degli infermieri di diagnosare il cancro. Ci bisogneranno meno infermieri nel futuro.

Nel 2030 i computers saranno piu’ inteligenti delle persone.

Nel 2018 le prime automobili autonome sono apparse. Verso il 2020 ci sara’ una grande scissione nell’industria automobilistica. Perche? Le persone no compreranno piu’ automobili. Come mai? Col il telefonino potrai prenotare una macchina che ti apparira’ in minuti per prenderti e portarti ovunque vuoi andare. I nostri nipoti non avranno bisogno di una patente perche’ non avranno bisogno di guidare una macchina. Ci sara’ meno bisogno della burocrazia statale che autorizza le patenti e per la polizia stradale che controlla il traffico.

Le nostre citta’ cambieranno. 90-95% delle macchine spariranno. No ci sara’ bisogno piu’ di tanti parcheggi. Le citta’ saranno meno rumorose. Ci sara’ meno bisogno della polizia municipale. Non avremo bisogno anche di parcheggiatori che rompono le scatole.

Ogni anno 1.2 milioni di persone muoiono nel mondo in incidenti automobilistici. Ora abbiamo un incidente per ogni 100.000 KM. Con le automobili autonome il numero di incidenti stradali scendera’ ad uno per 10 miliioni di KM l’ anno. Tante vite saranno risparmiate.

Quasi tutte le societa’ che producono automobili non sopravviveranno. Addio FIAT/Chrysler? Auf wiedersehen Volks Wagon? Goodbye General Motors? Au revoir Renault? Hasta la vista SEAT? Sayonara Nissan e Toyota. Altre societa’ come la Tesla, Apple, Google controlleranno il mercato.

Le societa’ di assicurazione per le automobili avranno problemi enormi perche’ la maggior parte della clientela sparirà' e i prezzi scenderanno piu’ del 100%.

L’ industria immobiliare cambiera’. Molte persone lavoreranno a casa. Avranno meno bisogno di pendolare. Con lo sharing molte famiglie coabiteranno con altre famiglie.

L’elettricita’ costera’ molto meno. Nel 2018 in tutto il mondo e’ cresciuta rapidamente l’energia solare. Le societa’ che vendono elettricita’ avranno meno incassi ed utenti. Gli Stati riceveranno meno tasse. La domanda della benzina e diesel scendera’ precipitosamente. Datoche’ la maggior parte del costo e’ una tassa, i governi riceveranno una percentuale di quanto ricevono ora. Addio welfare! Addio reddito di cittadinanza! Addio burocrati!

Con il ribasso del costo dell’ elettricita’ avremo piu’ acqua a meno costo, grazie alla desalinazzazione.  Zone aride ora potranno fiorire.  Sara’ un boom per l’agricoltura? Le societa’ che vendono acqua spariranno.

Ci sono tantissimi altri fatti che ci suggeriscono un grande cambiamento nel mondo del lavoro.

Cosa Fare?

Scegliere una nicchia suggerita dalla risposta alla domanda: Nel futuro, ci sara’ bisogno di …? 

Se la risposta e’ Si, puoi inserirti? Se pero' non funziona con il telefonino e’ meglio dimenticarla.

Nei prossimi 20 anni il 70-80% dei posti di  lavoro spariranno. Se hai meno di 40 anni di eta' e’ importante che scegli un mestiere o professione che sara’ in richiesta. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) cancellera' milioni di posti di lavoro. 

I computers sono piu’ capaci e meno costosi ... Preparati!

Auguri!

One of the Many Problems with Politics

In quest for votes politicians bombard us daily with outlandish theories to bolster their claims and win our vote. In preparation for the upcoming presidential elections, politicians have started a year earlier than usual advocating pie-in-the-sky proposals hoping to outdo one another and gain the nomination.

The problem for me is that many of these proposals appear to be half-baked and not well thought through. In fact, some include distortions and exaggerations designed to advance a point of view. This cacophony masks the lack of clear thinking and avoids leveling with the American people.

A Few Examples

Taxation.

Politicians on the hard left advocate draconian tax increases on the 1/10 of 1% in the name of fairness. They include raising the federal income tax rates up to 70%, imposing a wealth tax of 3% on income above a certain amount, increasing inheritance taxes up to 85% for estates exceeding a valuation, and elevating the current percentage of taxes on capital gains.

The tax system is often used as a political football. Last year’s reform fixed some loopholes while it created others. It shrunk the number of brackets when it should have added 2-3 more to address fairness issues related to the rich and super rich tax rates. The system surely needs changes to resolve these perceived inequities. Currently, the system is perceived as unfair. Draconian measures, however, are not the answer.

It looks ludicrous to me to ask those who pay little or no taxes whether somebody else should be paying more. An independent commission should be formed to determine what constitutes fairness in taxation. Relying on political hacks will surely continue to lead us toward oscillation.

Principally the impact on: Job Creation, on Housing, on Wall Street, on R&D, on Defense, on Philanthropy, on Farms Ownership, on Property Rights, just to mention a few.

Let address one for a minute: philanthropy. 

The proposed draconian taxes would pretty much wipe out one of the most generous social justice-oriented source of funding. Americans are very generous. They earmark large portions of their wealth for good causes.

The proposed taxation would make it impossible to amass super-wealth in the future. Trillions of dollars are spent each year by foundations established by super wealthy donors. Such system of taxation would make it difficult for future Gates, Hewlett, Packard, Zuckerberg, Moore, Ford, Rockefeller, Carnegie, and other big foundations to emerge.

Another case is:  Farm Ownership.

The proposed taxation system would just about wipe out family ownership of our farms because it would force heirs to sell farms at distress prices to pay the taxman, thus making way for corporate farms to get bigger and more powerful, leading to the elimination or reduction of farm jobs.

What seem to drive this radical approach to taxation are, in my view, three factors: envy, resentment and hate. Lets face it. Some people are jealous of others who are economically better off. Surely, they might suspect, they have gotten rich because of special privileges, e.g., inheritance, old boy network or illicit conduct. Merit is ignored or excluded all together. These resentful and envious folks have problems accepting the hard work and sacrifice entrepreneurs and immigrants make to clime up the ladder. I recognize that some wealthy folks do engage in excesses, which can be turnoffs.

Socialism.  

We seem to ignore the time tested wisdom that there is no one best system (it all depends) and that all systems have pluses and minuses. It is true that capitalism has no heart. It is also true that socialism has no soul. Let me elaborate.

Folks in developed countries have long recognized that capitalism needs to be supplemented with government intervention to remedy its downside. We have seen over the years labor laws enacted to shield workers from unfair and unsafe labor practices, We have witnessed during our life time laws enacted to provide assistance to the poor and needy. We have seen taxation used as a means of income redistribution. Countries have been more generous; some more than others in dispensing welfare programs.

Communist China concluded some 50 years ago that pure communist policies by themselves would not improve the standard of living of the Chinese people. The ruling party wisely decided to supplement its political system by introducing capitalism as a parallel. This binary solution has contributed to formidable rise in productivity and standard of living.

Contrast China’s approach with that of Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and the former Soviet Union, and you might conclude, as I have, that socialism by itself runs out of gas rather quickly. While at the beginning it lifts the bottom tier of the population (proletariat), in the long term it loses the advantage that comes from a growing economy, and permits its select nomenclature to accumulate privileges and benefits.

In the end no country becomes richer or better off by robbing Peter to give to Paul. A country becomes richer by producing more than it needs and using the surplus as an export.

Redistribution is akin to sitting on a balloon. As you shift from one position to another, you might change its shape but you do not change its size. No country can progress without motivated and capable individuals.

To me, socialism by itself is a zero sum game, and capitalism by itself is a greedy affair. Socialism becomes more powerful when it is blended with the proven capabilities of capitalism. The opposite is also true. Capitalism with a conscience gains more followers and supporters. So, the big issue is not whether to select one or the other, but what is the proper blending of the two, e.g., how much of each is necessary for the benefit of all.

This country’s success over the centuries has been tied to its core founding principles of freedom, smaller government, and individualism. For many, socialism is an anathema. As we shift from a philosophy of “to each according to merit” to “to each according to need” many will surely continue to resist the shift. As we increase the gap between the rich and everybody else we surely will run into more resistance and protests by those who might be left behind. We need a balanced approach.

Identity Politics

I would be remiss in this blog not to address this political phenomenon.

Like Romans before, politicians have learned that rulers can dominate their constituencies by dividing them. While we lament our divisions as a nation, we seem to foster more divisive politics. The British leveraged what they learned from the Romans to rule half of the world through the late 1940’s. Not to be outdone our politicians of the day have taken this approach to a higher level.

Technology has made possible to slice and dice us into a multitude of cells. Each cell becomes a rich target for grievances, resentments, and inequalities.  By pitting different cells against one another enough chaos can be created that encourages divisions and polarization.

I personally dislike being pigeonholed: white, old, male, legal immigrant, married, parent, college educated, heterosexual, European, 1%, privileged, and so on.

My race is contrasted with black, brown or other racial configurations. My age puts me at the opposite side of the younger generation. Being college educated pits against my high school and non-high school neighbors. My being a heterosexual is used to suspect me of homophobic bias. By being classified as part of the 1% puts me into a category that has difficulty relating to the workingman, overlooking the fact that I started my journey at the bottom. Being an immigrant puts me in collision course with nativists even though I have served in the U.S Armed Forces and possibly have paid more taxes than they had.

This slicing and dicing kind of takes away my individuality. After all, I am just someone … with a few qualities and many foibles. As humans we are more complex than each cell or its composite suggest. Our brain is a gift that endows us. As we learn more we have the capacity to change.

America Bashing

I must admit that I am totally baffled by this trend.  It has become fashionable in some quarters to pillory the country and accuse it of all unimaginable sins.

I just don’t get what the purpose is and what benefits flow from tearing down what many will profess is the best country in the world! Still many on the hard left see a flawed country not meritorious of its wealth, power and prestige. In fact, they see it as ill gotten.

Is America perfect? No! It is still a young country in the process of becoming more inclusive, more diverse, and more just. Most of us are aware that mistakes have been made and that people have suffered as a result. Changes have been made to ensure a more leveled and humane field.  

America has been the chosen destination for millions of immigrants over the past three centuries in search of freedom, opportunity and a better way of life. While some lament our lack of control over illegal immigration, millions of law-abiding immigrants are permitted in each year. Over a million of the new arrivals become U.S. citizens every year.

Last time I checked, the Soviet Union built a wall (Iron Curtain) to keep its people in. Folks are now criticizing Trump because he wants to build a wall to keep out those coming in without permission and by breaking our laws.

Politicians that oppose the wall or barrier do so by not differentiating between lawful and unlawful entry. They clamor that Trump’s policy is anti-immigrant and racist to boot. Trump is against ILLEGAL immigration. I don’t see racial animus everywhere or lack of compassion. International norms continue to ensure admittance of those with valid reasons for asylum.

As we learned during the sixties, there is a vast silent majority in America that has a way of waking up and cleaning house. This surely will happen when folks reach an impermissible level of dissatisfaction with unrelenting attacks on their country and way of life.

We all deserve a more civil discourse.