sowing the seeds of failure

As politicians wage war on how to climb out of the current economic quagmire, or at least espouse their party line, it is very clear that few possess the vision to lead. Leadership has become a rarity in today's world, where thinking ahead seems to be as out of date as values, ethics and putting your name behind your work. Sadly leaders now have taken a road, not the "high one" but the easiest trail to gain votes, no matter how short-sighted this may be.

This naturally leads to a multitude of problems because part of a leaders day is facing the tough job, difficult decisions that others will follow. At times this involves a number of challenges most will not want to face but as a leader, it is part of your claret. You are the first step on the business battlefield and you dare not leave to the final morsel of dust as settled.

Given that few seem to want to lead or tell you what is needed in an economic recovery, it is likely time to consider the most basic notion of "planning ahead". Though it may be beyond a time when reading is limited to the marvel of a "tweet" that seems to be more a punch-line to the era and classic literature is all but forgotten, "planning ahead" must be first and foremost in economic initiatives. Whether it be targeted efforts such as high-speed mass transit systems or the role of the Federal Treasury to throw the damper on boom times, the future can never be traded for present.

Sowing the seeds of failure start with ignoring this basic tenet. High on the list if not holding the premier spot, is education. Those who chose to ignore the importance of this are doomed to failure and if there is one line item that should never see a budgetary decrease, it is education. Call it what you will but a "unfavorable variance" in a education budget will likely be one of the best areas you could overspend in and I personally use the notion that "you have a budget, not exceed it". At all times governments must press forward with an agenda of improving the education of its citizenry. Those who ignore this warning face a dark slide from wealth and are doomed to a fate of low productivity and lower paying jobs. Said in the simplest terms, investing in education is an invest in your future that will always pay rich dividends.

This is never more evident that then in the once Golden State of California. Thirty years ago it boasted the nations highest rated school system and now it has assured itself of a troubling future as it is dead last. Although I have been highly critical of the actor / governor Schwarzenegger in the past, this is not his sole doing and he is in-fact he came in near the point where the runaway train hit the curve. The blame for allowing educational standards to dip so low is oddly enough the same people who would benefit from improved levels, the citizenry. Yet in the oddest little paradox, it is somewhat expected because as educational levels dip the public is more inclined to allow them to dip further. The poorly educated have little respect for education so it is an "easy" hop, skip and jump to make budget cuts in this area. And so it goes..lower and lower as innovation drops, productivity trickles away and generation after generation see their standard of living fall farther away, all the while not realizing it starting with a lack of leadership.

Ask leaders to lead and to press the issue of education. Sacrifice where needed but provide educators the budgetary basis to build the future.