More thoughts about - A New Day

I trust you recognize the name of George Gilder, author of the book "Knowledge and Power: The Information Theory of Capitalism"  (Regenery, 2013)  I will admit, I have not read this book, but when I hear of George Gilder, I stop and listen and have never regretted the time spent, reviewing his thoughts.  I trust you will feel the same after reading the following:

"In 1966, the eminent management sage, Peter Drucker wrote about government regulation in his book, "The Effective Executive" that "at a guess, at least half the bureaus and agencies in government regulate what NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE REGULATED."   (My emphasis - SM).  He added, "There is a serious need for a new principle of effective administration under which every act. every agency, and every program of government is conceived as temporary and as expiring automatically after a fixed number of years - maybe ten, unless specifically prolonged by new legislation following careful outside study.

When Drucker wrote, the U.S. was by far the leading force in world capitalism, and most regulatory bodies were relatively new.  Today, the U.S. is falling behind Asian leaders in capitalistic vitality.  Not only is the U.S. less free than Hong Kong, it is less capitalistic by many measures than China, allegedly a Communist country, China now boasts of government revenues of just 17% of GDP, compared to U.S. revenues of 26% of GDP.

The key problem is the same one that Drucker identified in 1966 - a glut of regulations and programs that that no longer serve their purposes, but which constitute a nearly insuperable barrier to creative new enterprise.  Twenty years ago, initial public offerings in crucial technology domains exceeded mergers and acquisitions by a factor of 20.  Today, there are eight mergers and acquisitions for every IPO.  Large companies that can deal with the mazes of government rules increase their dominance by purchasing potential rivals.

Most efforts focus on making regulations more efficient.  But efficient performance of futile or obstructive functions make the problems worse.  What we need is what Peter Drucker recommended, expiration dates for regulations."

I have to ask, do you - as a voter, as one who serves to elect the people who will - hopefully, go to Washington to heed Drucker's counsel, do you think it will ever happen?  Personally, I doubt it as I have spent far too much of my time attempting to counsel potential voters.  To most, a job is merely a paycheck and the success of their employer hardly ever enters their mind.  When they go to vote, it is far more easier to vote for the Party that seemed to impress the "father/mother" figures at home and they have no concept of the expanding economies that provide the revenues on which our economy is based.

Case in point, many, many years ago, I heard that the government was considering replacing many of the people in their "Department of Employment" offices. as they were known in those years.  The problem as I saw it was the fact that the local employment offices were staffed with people who knew where all of the jobs existed in their area.  They did not need to know the names of the people seeking a job, all they needed to know was their skill and they could identify that by referring to their copy of the D.O.T, a Dictionary of Occupational Terms.   By comparing the individual's code to the codes that were part of every employer's 941 report that was sent to Washington, every fiscal quarter, they could tell whether the job prospects were good or perhaps, not so good.  All they to do was call the employer and inquire about the possibilities.   I went to Washington armed with the suggestion that the applicant could do that and reduce the cost of having employees carry that burden.

What I did not realize was the fact that the people in Washington wanted to do was increase their stature (their incomes) by having "high tech" equipment available in all of their offices - that told them what the applicant's name was, but paid no attention to the D.O.T. knowledge that I understood could be used to facilitate an applicant's job search.  I cannot speak for other areas, but I can assure you that no one in the local Human Resources offices have a clue as to what I am referring to and if they did, nothing could be done until it was forwarded on to Washington and probably be lost in the maze of computer information that has little or nothing to facilitate putting people to work.

For decades I have searched for just one candidate for Federal office who would take the time to sit and listen, with no results.  And I happen to believe, my example is merely one of the thousands that float around only because we prefer to have politicians to represent us rather than skilled technicians. 

The Problems in the Church II

OK, I probably wore you out with the previous blog.  That is why I have title this one - II

There are problems, plural.  But if you take a close look at what we have come though in my lifetime, then there has to be hope.

I have the feeling that Rachael is no longer crying for her children - in our nation.

I was privilege to help implement the integration of blacks in to the USAF and we did it with no real problems, but if you would have asked me a year previously, I would have doubted it.  I had spent 30 days taking care of the Morning Report for an all-black unit that was attached to our base and when I got back to my barracks in the evening, the rants began.  But the unit, from their Captain down to the newest recruit, each man respected me and I would have been less than a man to have not respected them.

Such was not the case during my college years in Atlanta, GA, at the time when the Supreme Court issued their ruling in Brown vs. the Board of Education, literally commanding the States to end their discrimination practices when it came to education.  I will never forget the attitudes of co-workers at my part-time job, all Southern ladies, I had thought, but given the tone and the language of their responses, they might have been Southerners, but they certainly was not ladies.

After graduation, I began work as an employment consultant and would discover that all of our records were coded so as to tell us the race or the sexual preferences of each candidate - and that was in California.  We were ordered to delete the codes, but I would discover that if I presented the experience and potential, properly, it was not difficult to place people with a real interest of working, regardless of their race or sexual preference.

Things have improved in that area except that for reasons unknown to most of us, most black people seem to prefer their own race when it comes to religion.  Having attended many of their churches, I still prefer them when it comes to an enthusiastic response to the word of God, but I am careful where I express such thoughts.

Then, there is the church and our gay brothers and sisters.  It amazes me.  I have a number of gay friends and in fact, attended gay churches before moving to this area.  I do have some problems with some of them with regard to certain scriptures, but when it came to fellowship, I have more trouble with churches following a faith that is foreign to me.

Very interesting, as I paused after the last paragraph, my TV was turned to watch James Robinson and I heard him tell his audience, "I won't give up on a marriage between a man and a woman" and I suppose he is saying, he will never support so-called "gay" marriages. Sounds good, but I have known several same-sex married couples and find that they are really concerned about one another and I have known gays who were not married and there were several reasons for their lack of interest in a marriage.  It all reminds me of my early days in church where some of the ladies were busy talking about marrying off their sons and daughters even before they had become of age.  I know of two of such marriages in which the husband brutalized his wife as his father had brutalized his mother and another where the wife became the most promiscuous woman in the area.  One of the children is still serving life in prison for murdering a friend.

Marriage ought not to be a community affair.  Certainly a celebration is in order but other than that, the two do not need the counsel or endorsement of others who are not intimately involved with their lives, to become successful. That ought to be policy and the commitment of the church.

Regarding scripture, in the older testament, the comments regarding homosexuality came at a time when the nation of Israel was in the process of formation.  The need for people was their most urgent issue and certainly to endorse same-sex marriages would not be appropriate.

Sometimes I wonder how many of the Biblical apologists ever look beyond the words they see in print.  And speaking of marriages, how many of our religious counselors have the knowledge to deal with lives that are not obliged to live by religious tenets?

"Where are the jobs?" My thoughts

I remain amazed, we keep getting these articles in our major newspapers as well as our business periodicals - "Where are the jobs?" and "they" keep responding with the same answers, over and over again.  Ever wonder what goes through the minds of those who are actually having problems, finding a job?  Try - desperation!

I thought I was done with such questions.  After all, I started in that "business" in 1947 when a Sergeant in what is now known as the U.S. Air Force asked me if I knew the alphabet.  Seriously!   Seems as if the clerk who preceded me in the office to which I was about to be assigned had no idea.  "W"s could be found where the "A"s were supposed to be and on and on it went, all of which would establish my credentials for the job.  I will never forget his response, "Keep doing what you are doing and when I leave, you will have my job and some of these", pointing to the six stripes on his sleeve.  I heard what he was saying, loud and clear, and sure, enough his job became my own.

LESSON #1 - about finding a job, you have to "show up".

I served in the Air Force for almost seven years, graduated from college (now, Georgia State University) with a BBA degree in Personnel Management and wound up working for an employment agency, in fact, a few of them before I turned to recruiting, civilians, for existing jobs.  Along the way I became intimately acquainted with the problems involved on both sides of the desk

To me, it all began with the problem, of corporations assigning people to the task of employment "management" who really had very few personal skills.  They might know about the requirements of the available jobs; they knew far too little about the skills in matching the applicant to the available tasks.
Those days are long gone.  Today's professionals in this area are often far more qualified at their jobs than the top executives.  The most important task of the applicant is to "read" the skills of those who are doing the initial interviews.

LESSON #2 - now becomes, "show up - understanding all that you know about the skills required and making certain, your first interview is not your last.."

Therein is the greater problem.  A lack of job opportunities may be the condition that appears in your community, but be careful not to fall under the delusions suggested in a recent (April 6) article in the USA Today newspaper - "Where are the jobs?"

It all depends on a person's age and job kills.  There are hundreds of available jobs in almost every city and town across our land.  They are almost everywhere - McDonalds, Wal-Mart, etc., etc., and the "curse" seems to be, they are "only" part time jobs.  So?   Basic reasoning ought to be applied to this condition. There are after all, 168 hours in every week, time enough to hold almost three other 40 hour jobs - and many do!.  Working part-time for just two of them will mark a person as dependable, eager to learn and more often than not, promotable.

I understand that there are personal problems with such an approach, but the fact is, we do not live in an age where there are constant demands for employees; the demands in the age into which we are rapidly advancing are for people who will recognize such demands and qualify themselves.  And there are thousands of such jobs and they are increasing every month.

Another example, there are "knowledge" jobs everywhere - advisers, aides, clerks counselors, drivers, farmers, instructors, janitors, mechanics, outdoors men (and women), religion, sports related, tailors, warehouse personnel, writers, etc., etc., ad infinitum,  and they do not always require advanced education.  The main qualification is the willingness to "show up" regularly and be attentive to instructions.

One of the most interesting entries to such jobs can be found in the magazine counters of the local grocery stores by looking in the last pages where you see ads for franchises, most of which tell the prospective franchisee what is involved.  Now, look in the telephone book and see if such companies are located in your community and stop by, asking if they could use help.

Many years ago, when I first was hired by an employment agency, I was handed a local telephone book and starting on the first pages, I was to call each listing and merely ask, "Are you hiring anyone?"  If I was desperately seeking a job today, I would start all over again.  And when they said, No!" I would do as I used to do, ask: "Do you know anyone who might be hiring?"

The real  problem with regard to jobs is the fact that those in government - on BOTH sides of the political aisle, are too involved in their hopes and plans for their version of a better America seem to forget to recall that our beloved Constitution was written to provide for "We, the people".

If you cannot understand that, go to your local government sanctioned employment office and ask for help in guiding your employment search.  I did that recently and their advice was simple, "Move".

Walking with God

March 11, 2014

As I arrived at my destination, I found a public telephone and called the offices of the man I had hoped might help me get my life in order.  I was not prepared for the answer.  As President of the college, it was graduation day and after the commencement exercises, he and his wife were leaving on vacation and would not return for at least three weeks.

At first, I was stunned, but there had to be an answer and I sat down to review the possibilities.  One of the real problems I faced was that I was almost broke.  It was them I recalled that we had passed a "labor" office on our way in and I discovered it was not that far away.  It was still morning and I felt there would be a possibility of finding a job, today.  It didn't take me long to get there, register and find a seat, hoping, not yet praying, there would be a job.  Hours passed, it was approaching 2 PM when the phone rang.  The dispatcher looked my way and asked if I could count.  "Certainly, yes I can!"  With that I was on my way.  In a few minutes, I was introduced to a man who had a problem.  "I have to take take inventory and have the results on my boss's desk by Friday.  Do you think we can do that?   "Yes!"

Come Friday, he signed my work ticket, indicating 40 hours of work performed and handed me $20, saying, "Thanks, you don't know It, but you just saved my job!"

I was about to have the most fascinating experience I have ever known.  After cashing my voucher, I was headed for the YMCA where I heard I could find lodgings.  Passing a cocktail lounge, I thought to myself, "You have worked hard, earned your keep.  It would be good to celebrate with a beer."  Guess what!  I tried to open the door and it seemed to be locked, even though I could hear people talking and laughing on the other side.  There was nothing I could do but walk away.  And then I noticed two couples coming my way, laughing and enjoying themselves and watched as they turned to go into the lounge and they walked right in.  "Why could they go in and I could not?"  I tried again.  It was still locked - to me.  I walked away and thought to myself, ..."perhaps, my life was changing."  I decided to see if this was true.

Obviously, it was as I found myself all alone in a city I had never even visited.  All I needed now was to find a good church.  There were two Methodist churches nearby and I called both.  One responded with a recitation of the schedule for Sunday services and the other, by a young girl who seemed to be more interested in me that any schedule.  Learning that I thought of myself as a Christian, she warmly invited me to the 8 AM service, "You are going to love this one."

She was right.  The people greeted me as warmly as the girl had suggested would happen and it was to become my "home away from home" for the next two years.  I was not only welcomed there, it seemed I was as welcomed by every place I turned to for employment.  For years, I had struggled to find a job that really appealed to me.  Here I was to find several.  And I would find more friends than I had ever met in my years since leaving the service.

I was about to discover, my problems were typical.  We tend to look on a job as a task to perform, but I was beginning to learn, jobs are opportunities to serve others, no more, no less.  If you are employed where you are needed and do what you can do to the best of your abilities, it is no longer just a job but an opportunity to become all you were destined to become.

Eventually, I was lured away to Dallas, TX, where I had discovered an opportunity to serve a man who had become a paraplegic and was operating a business in which I knew I could excel.  I was wrong.  It was not the employment opportunity, but the way he treated those assigned to help him.  For the first time in my life, I found a person who not only failed to appreciate the gifts he had received, he was not appreciative of almost all efforts to simply help himself.  It was a tough place to work, but it led me to a friend who came to my aid as I walked out.

He had noticed my disciplines.  "On time and at work, consistently," those were his words as he told me of a part-time job he had been ignoring and thought I might be the person to bring it to life.  It would become the opportunity of my life time.

His prime business was newspaper advertising and he was working with a number of different papers and magazine.  My job was to work with his clients to build their businesses, beyond the results of the advertising, to working with one another so that they might offer more than the printed word.  It took a lot of imagination in many cases, but since I represented an established entity, most of our customers were eager to listen and buy into our proposals.  The beauty of our offer was that most of our plans did not require investments, so we were able to pay ourselves handsome dividends.

My personal obligation was the support of my children and since I no longer trusted their Mother, I employed a lawyer to deal with the payments.   When my deposits with him reached a point where I could pay more, he used the excess to add to investments he made for his firm.  It worked well.

Just when I was thinking of opening a business related to the efforts we were already making, we were offered a lot of money to sell our interests.  When my share was far more than I had imagined, I asked my lawyer to talk with the California agency governing child support and learned that I could advance enough to pay for my requirements until they reached age 18.   We discovered the figures were equal to each other; my contribution would be slightly more than my obligations and so, a deal was made.

With that, I had nothing to do, nowhere to go, and prayed, asking God, "What would you have me do?"

It did not happen immediately, but His answer was clear to me, "Go, be with My people."

What did that mean?  I kept reviewing the people I had known over the years, but my mind kept drawing me back to the Labor agencies I had operated in California.  "Why," I used to ask myself, "could a person sink to such a level that they believed they could not live without giving themselves to an agency that only paid the minimum wage, but we paid for their efforts, daily."  It dawned on me that God's love for such people was no less than He extended to the richest in His kingdom.  I decided to - Go, be with His people.   With nothing more than a pair of jeans, a tee shirt, underwear, socks and loafers, plus my Bible in hand, I walked out of Dallas into a world seldom seen by most people.  Oh, I forgot to add, I had less than two dollars in my pocket.

More, much more, later on...

January 29, 2014

I had a hunch I would regret mentioning the President’s State of the Union address in my “inaugural” blog as I have been sensing for quite a while, the political enemies were just laying in wait to dismiss everything he would have to say - and my hunch was even more accurate than I had expected.

I have a copy of his speech, so if you would like to join in the outrage that has been expressed by the so-called “professionals”, by all means do so - as long as you stick to one of the several points he made in his speech.  I chuckled that one of his critics was so enamored with his own sense of importance that he listed five, the last of which was “the disappearing act” regarding gun control.

It is difficult for me to imagine another President who would have done more to bring our nation to its senses regarding gun “control” and although it saddens me that any idiot can find access to a gun, I have to believe the President didn’t pursue the need for legislation because it would be a waste of our time, given the more critical issues we face.

I have been around for a long time so I have heard lots of speeches by the resident President; this one get a 98.9 rating in my opinion.   Another reason I have a bumper ticker on my car that reads - “I’ve got his back”

And would you believe - you ought to because it is the truth, just as I went to my car to make sure I had the correct wording, I stopped by the mail box and there was a letter from him.  Form letter to be sure and you probably could guess at it’s content.   You would be right, he is urging me to support a Democrat in our Senate race.    So you know, I will be supporting whoever is the Democratic candidate as his opponent, Lamar Alexander, has been in Washington, wasting away our time pretending to know what we need in the way of positive action to correct the wrongs we hear about, almost daily.   And to think, I used to like the guy.   He did a lot for Tennessee; he has done nothing for Tennesseans since going to Washington.

Enough of this.   Politics is for the most part, a waste of time.

Yesterday, I visited the local office of what we used to call, the U.S. Employment Service.   I can vividly recall visiting a USES office in Norwalk, CA in the 60’s and met with people who knew about every job possibility in their immediate area - every one.   They knew because they had copies of the form all employers were required to submit to Washington transmitting the taxes they had collected from their employees - by name.   And in a column opposite the name and Social Security number was another number, this one representing the Dictionary of Occupational Term’s code for their skill.

These folks took time to collate these forms and manually file them so if a person came to their office looking for a job as a Fork Lift operator - as an example, they merely pulled their file and made another list advising the applicant of the places where he (she) needed to make an application.

Would you be surprised to learn, their area had the lowest un-employment rate in the State?   It should not.   Their applicants received guidance.   Today, given the fact these offices use computers, they get information.   Looks good, but here is the catch.   Yesterday, I was provided with a list of nearly 5,000 potential job openings in the State of Tennessee.    I took time to see if there might even be a job for me.   Guess what.   I found three.   But I also discovered there wasn’t a “new” job listed.   Most of the listings were for employers that anyone with skills should have already contacted.

Therein is the problem.   The other three applicants sitting in the office during my visit were not prepared to apply for a job.   Unfortunately, they looked like their only qualification would be a farm hand or laborer - and that might be true.   The problem is, they probably would not be qualified for any of those 5,000 jobs and they would be added to the lists of the un-employed.

What they needed more than anything else was a counselor who could explain the details of how a person - especially those with real needs, went about actually locating a job that would provide a pay check.

I hope I didn’t lose you with such a discussion, but the fact is, we have an under-class in our nation, people who have no skills, school drop-outs, most of them, and whether we want to agree or not, they will be living off of the taxes we pay - unless we have the courage to identify them and plan to help them find their way in our complex society.

I wonder, I have to ask, does this bother you?   When was the last time you had to search for an employment opportunity?