[Rhodes22-list] Fw: For Brad: A Modern Parable

[Brad Haslett]

Elle,

Ouch!  The truth hurts sometimes.  American industry had an easy ride for a
few decades after WW2, the European and Asian economies and infrastructure
were decimated (especially Germany and Japan) and we were by default the
world economic leaders.  Remember in the late 70's and early 80's when Japan
was going to take over the world?  That didn't happen but they have taken
the lead in several industries, Toyota a good example.  Now everyone fears
China.  They'll have a good long run (30 years according to my
sister-in-law, I say less) but the Vietnamese are right behind them.
Everyone blames the US problems on cheap overseas labor when the real
problem is "willing" labor more than "cheap" labor.  The days of going to
work at the factory (mill, etc.) and being taught a simple skill that will
last you through retirement is over, if for no other reason, a machine will
take your place.  As the former Fed Chairman Greenspan describes it,
capitalism is "creative destruction".  Ask any small business owner -
finding someone who has a high school education, doesn't have an addiction,
and has learned good work ethic is difficult to find.  If we as a nation try
protectionism as a defense we'll probably get the same results as the last
time, The Great Depression.  Americans will always be able to compete on the
world market because of our creativeness and ingenuity, but we'll need
energy. We get blamed for using 25% of the worlds energy but that's because
we produce 25% or the worlds GDP.  The economic battles of the 21st Century
(and military battles as well) will be over energy.  And exactly what is our
plan?

Brad

On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 10:18 PM, elle <watermusic38 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> thought provoking?
>
> elle
>
>
> > > > A Modern Parable
> > > >
> > > > A Japanese company and an American company
> > > > decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River.
> > > Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak
> > > > performance before the race.
>
> > > > On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.
> > > >
> > > > The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided
> > > to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A
> > > management team made up of senior management was formed to
> > > investigate and recommend appropriate action.
> > > >
> > > > Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people
> > rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8
> > people steering and 1 person rowing.
> > > >
> > > > Feeling a deeper study was in order, American
> > > management hired a consulting company and paid them a large
> > > amount of money for a second opinion.
> > > >
> > > > They advised, of course, that too many people
> > were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.
> > > >
> > > > Not sure of how to utilize that information, but
> > > wanting to prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing
> > > team's  management structure was totally reorganized to 4
> > > steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents, and
> > 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.
> > > >
> > > > They also implemented a new performance system that
> > > would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater
> > incentive to work harder. It was called the 'Rowing Team
> > Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners, and free
> > pens for the rower. There was discussion of getting new
> > paddles, canoes, and other equipment, extra vacation days for
> > practices and bonuses.
> > > >
> > > > The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
> > > >
> > > > Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower
> > > > for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe,
> > > > sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments
> > > for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to
> > the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's
> > racing team was out-sourced to India.
> > >
> > > The End.
> > > >
>
>
> > > > Here's something else to think about:
>
> > > > GM has spent the last thirty years moving all its
> > > factories out of the US, claiming they can't make money
> > > paying American wages.
> > > >
> > > > TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more
> > > than a dozen plants inside the US.
> > > >   The last quarter's results: TOYOTA makes 4 billion in
> > > > profits while GM racked up 9 billion in losses.
> > > >
> > > > GM folks are still scratching their heads.
> > > >
> > > > IF THIS WEREN'T TRUE, IT MIGHT BE FUNNY.
>
>
>
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