Tag: Model

Egalitarianism versus Anarchism

Posted on March 21, 2014 in Economics, Ethos, Social, Strategy

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Go Lean Commentary

This book Go Lean … Caribbean presents the two sides of the debate on “egalitarianism”: catering to the Least Common Denominator (LCD) or elevating the achievers. Let’s expand that discussion here. For the first argument, an essay by Gary Hull (Ayn Rand Institute) in Capitalism magazine which stipulates:

Egalitarianism claims only to want an “equality” in end results, hates the exceptional man who, through his own mental effort, achieves that which others cannot… In an attempt to “dumb down” all students to the lowest common denominator, today’s educators no longer promote excellence and students of superior ability… Imagine the following Academy Award ceremony. There are no awards for best picture or best actor. Instead, every picture gets a certificate and every actor receives a prize. That is not an awards ceremony, you say? So it isn’t. But it is an egalitarian’s dream — and an achiever’s torment. Talent and ability create inequality… To rectify this supposed injustice, we are told to sacrifice the able to the unable. Egalitarianism demands the punishment and envy of anyone who is better than someone else at anything. We must tear down the competent and the strong – raze them to the level of the incompetent and the weak… What would happen to a Thomas Edison today? If he survived school with his mind intact, he would be shackled by government regulators. His wealth would be confiscated by the IRS. He would be accused of ‘unfair competition’ for inventing so many more products than his competitors.[a]

On the other hand, Alexander Berkman argued the contrast:

…equality does not mean an equal amount but equal opportunity… Do not make the mistake of identifying equality in liberty with the forced equality of the convict camp. True anarchist equality implies freedom, not quantity. It does not mean that every one must eat, drink, or wear the same things, do the same work, or live in the same manner. Far from it: the very reverse in fact… Individual needs and tastes differ, as appetites differ. It is equal opportunity to satisfy them that constitutes true equality… Far from leveling, such equality opens the door for the greatest possible variety of activity and development. For human character is diverse.[b]

urlThe Go Lean book serves as a roadmap for the introduction and implementation of the Caribbean Union Trade Federation (CU). The book embraces both sides of this debate; on the one hand, as a federal entity, the CU will ensure equal access to regional opportunities to any petitioner; this is Egalitarian in nature. On the other hand, this Go Lean/CU roadmap posits the community ethos that one person can make a difference, and can impact the region for the Greater Good. The CU will foster the unique contributions of the achiever. This meritocracy leaning comes down on the Anarchist side of the debate.

In this vein, the following missions, aligned by Anarchist and Egalitarian, are elaborated in the Go Lean book:

Anarchist – leaning advocacies
Egalitarian – leaning advocacies
Fostering Genius
Bridge the Digital Divide
Help Entrepreneurship
Manage Reconciliations
Promote Intellectual Property
Improve Sharing
Fostering a Technocracy
Impact the Greater Good
Delivering More with Less
Impact Social Media
– Lean Project Management methodologies
Impact Entitlements
Improve Leadership
Battles against Poverty
Impact Beauty Pageants
Protect Human Rights
Impact Lotteries
Help the Middle Class
Impact Retirement
Improve Elder-Care
Impact the One Percent
Promoting Independence
Improve Sports
Improve Education
Improve the Arts
Empower Women
Promote Music
Impact Youth
Impact Persons with Disabilities

The Go Lean book is published by a movement seeking to make the Caribbean a better homeland to live, work and play. There can be no strict adherence to either egalitarianism or anarchism; the optimal society must reflect a perfect balance of both.

All in all, the Egalitarian versus Anarchist debate may now be considered anachronistic. This may have been a valid 1913 argument, but for 2013 (publication date of the Go Lean book)  it is “null-and-void”, irrelevant even. After 100 years of bad history – 2 World Wars and a Capitalism-versus-Communism schism – we must simply apply the lessons learned.  Today, we must consider all best practices, and embrace all tools, techniques and talents for success. The people of the Caribbean deserve the best of the best, despite whatever philosophical leanings.

Download the book Go Lean … Caribbean – now!

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Appendix – Citations

a. Egalitarianism: The New Torture Rack, by Gary Hull, Ayn Rand Institute, January 11, 2004

b. Alexander Berkman- Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist. Mother Earth Publishing 1912 – What is Anarchism? pp. 164-5

 

 

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John McPhee – LCD versus an Entrepreneurial Ethos

Posted on March 21, 2014 in Government, Industries, Social, Strategy

Go Lean Commentary

The book Go Lean … Caribbean is more than just a publication, it is a movement. This movement is designed to elevate the Caribbean’s economic, security and governing engines. The book serves as roadmap for the introduction and implementation for the Caribbean Union Trade Federation (CU). As such, we are proud to feature role models – institutions, companies and individuals – that extoll the values, community ethos, that we hold dear. This role model, John McPhee, is a prime example.

Among the many community ethos, strategies, tactics, implementation and advocacies in the book is the proposal for the consolidation and integration of the region’s Taxi & Limousine Regulatory Commissions. The book posits that many of the initiatives envisioned for the region are too big an undertaking for any one Caribbean member-state alone; therefore the roadmap call for this functionality to be consolidated and integrated into CU oversight.

plid_2291_ii_cancun.guide.getting.around.taxis_1_2_article_full_2John McPhee is on the frontline of Bahamian tourism – he is a taxi driver. But to call him just a taxi driver would be an insult; it would expose a blatant ignorance. John McPhee is the anti-taxi driver; he “zigs” while everyone else “zags”. The industry for taxi drivers is based on the Lowest Common Denominator (LCD); John, on the other hand, rises above the fray, he stands out like a stalk of wheat in a field of weeds. He drives a Chrysler Town & Country mini-van for its roominess, durability and fuel efficiency. (The is the same vehicle class as the Nissan NV200 depicted in Appendix-VIDEO below and on Page 328 of the Go Lean book).

Mr. McPhee also accepts credit cards. This is an anomaly among taxi drivers in the Bahamas.

Lastly, he arranges appointments and delivers on schedule. He is the walking embodiment of the vision for the Caribbean Union’s Taxi & Limousine Commission.

John McPhee delivers on a business model that can be profitable, efficient, and effective (as frontline ambassadors) for forging change in a region too accustomed to the status quo (failure); a region with governmental policies designed to benefit the LCD and thus they miss out on victories that one champion can achieve. This is the winning model of both the industrial and information revolutions, where individuals, entrepreneurs and industrialists transformed society with their innovations. John McPhee represents that new corps of Caribbean entrepreneurs.

In a person-to-person interview, recorded in the Go Lean book at Page 39, these were his responses:

What are the details of your project?

A Cashless Payment System for Taxi Cabs. This will allow for passengers to pay their fare by means of any major credit/debit cards. Considering the reality of The Bahamas where many citizens, even in the middle class, do not possess credit cards, the target market will be tourists, and the corporate sector. This service should empower taxi drivers to have a competitive advantage over their peers. This project’s goal is to have 50 cars within a fleet, and to provide all of their dispatch services.

Who are the competitors of this service?

There is the Bahamas Taxi Union, a cooperative among individual taxi drivers. Then there are other private entities like H. Forbes Charters and other similar companies.

Why did you not leave, like the many before you?

The Bahamas can still be a land of opportunity. This is what the people here deserve. This is a small country, I should be a big fish in this small pond, but I’m not. If I’m not the head-of-the class here, how can I expect to succeed as a small fish in a big pond somewhere else. So I do not intend to leave.

How do you feel about Bahamian/Caribbean Security?

A lot is lacking here. All citizens can easily be in danger of the pervasive crime and violence.

How do you feel about Bahamian/Caribbean Economy?

Even more is lacking. This country is not suited to encourage entrepreneurism. Economic growth is only going to come from the private sector, not the government. For the private sector to flourish there must be the appropriate structure, incentives and economic drivers. These ingredients are not here now. For my project, I had to sue the government agency (Taxi Commission) to force their hand in doing the right thing. The governing principle used here follows the policy of egalitarianism. This sounds good on paper, equal opportunity for all, but in practice, it’s a disservice for job creation. Catering to the LCD sets the bar low. Excellence does not emerge from that.

What areas are you most disappointed in when considering the last 20 years?

There is a trend towards social equality, which is good if the equal status is a high standard of living and high moral fortitude. But instead, there seems to be a steady decline in all aspects of Bahamian life in which we are all becoming equally mediocre, inadequate. This indicates a fault in leadership; there is a lack of vision and no plan to elevate, if not for all the people, then at least for an achiever class.

What do you want to see in The Bahamas in … 5 years?

Turn-around from the current path, otherwise there will be a collapse of the middle class.

What do you want to see in The Bahamas in … 10 years?

All societies must innovate, or be overrun with innovations from abroad. If the current trend continues, there will be a disenfranchisement of Bahamians in their own country.

What do you want to see in The Bahamas in … 20 years?

I want to see a social and political revolution; the status quo cannot continue. While a revolution denote a quick sudden change, perhaps an evolution (slow, steady and consistent) is better. But we must start now, by first abandoning these LCD policies and expectations.

What features of North American/Europe would you like to see here?

In addition to a NATO-like force, the Caribbean should be more connected/integrated; there should be a central trading/purchasing entity to represent the entire region.

Where do you consider to be the best place to live?

Canada. They seem open to growth, inviting foreign nationals. There is a common language – but respect for minorities – and plenty of opportunities in the areas that entrepreneurs seek.

How would you feel if your children emigrate?

Being a husband and father, I fear that my son will one day leave. He will need such a move to soar in his endeavors. If that happens, while we will miss him, we will simply accept and support him.

Download the book Go Lean … Caribbean – now!

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Appendix – VIDEO: New York Proclaims “Hail Yes!” as First Nissan NV200 Taxicab Hits the Streets of Manhattan – https://youtu.be/za1xO3WcnQs

Published on Oct 29, 2013 – NEW YORK (October 29, 2013) — A new era in public transportation has begun with the Nissan NV200 taxi now in service on the streets of New York City. The meter on the first NV200 taxi fare officially kicked-off at JFK International Airport on October 23, dropping its inaugural passenger near 13th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan. Mr. Ranjit Singh, an owner/operator of Medallion No. 7F20, took delivery of his NV200 taxi from Koeppel Nissan in Queens on October 18.
AMC131029102.
 
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Role Model: Kevin Connolly – Advocate for Muhammad Ali

Posted on March 21, 2014 in Ethos, Social

Go Lean Commentary

This story-line is retrieved from the movie “Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight” (2013). See the summary here:

muhammad-ali-jpgIn 1964, world champion boxer Muhammad Ali requested exemption from the military draft based on his religious beliefs. His request was denied and when he subsequently refused induction into the army, he was convicted and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. His case eventually works itself up the Supreme Court. In their first conference after the case is presented, the justices decide by majority vote (5 to 3) to uphold the conviction and Justice John Harlan is tasked with preparing the majority opinion. He assigns one of his clerks, Kevin Connolly, to prepare a first draft but try as he might [Mr. Connolly] believes that the decision is wrong. His draft argues for overturning the conviction… eventually Justice Harlan agrees with him. The Justice must now find a way to convince his colleagues.
Source: IMDB – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2061756/?ref_=nv_sr_2

The review of this movie –  The Atlantic Magazine – adds great insight and perspective. Consider here:

In 1960 Cassius Clay burst onto the scene – and burst is about the only word to describe it – he was an 18-year-old amateur boxer who lit up the Summer Olympics in Rome with his brashness and youthful exuberance, to say nothing of his breathtaking ability. (He easily captured the light heavyweight gold medal.) Clay turned pro a few months after the Olympics, and within two years, he became more of a media star than the reigning heavyweight champion, Floyd Patterson, or Patterson’s successor, Sonny Liston. From the beginning he transcended boxing, making bold predictions – usually correct – about what round he would stop his opponents in; his hilarious doggerel poetry was recited by school kids who had never seen a boxing match. He cut a record (a cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me”), appeared in a movie (as a heavyweight contender who knocks out Anthony Quinn in the opening moments of Requiem for a Heavyweight) and, in February of 1964, shocked everyone but himself by whipping the fearsome Sonny Liston, a 7-1 favorite for the heavyweight title. Within days of his victory, though, he created an even bigger shock when he announced that he had become a Black Muslim and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. And that was just the beginning.

In 1965, he failed a mental aptitude test for the draft. But early in 1966 the war in Vietnam was escalating and resistance to it was gathering momentum, so the standards for induction were lowered and Ali was classified as eligible for the draft. His lawyer presented a letter to the draft board requesting deferment as a conscientious objector. Three days later, the request was denied, and in 1967 he was arrested, convicted of draft evasion, and stripped of his heavyweight title by New York and other powerful state athletic commissions. In 1971, his appeal was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Opinion polls at the time (1971) indicated that the vast majority of older whites believed Ali should have been sent to jail, while an overwhelming number of blacks and younger white college students, many of whom had gone to see Ali on one of his campus appearances, vehemently supported his anti-war stance. Public sentiment about Ali pretty much followed the same lines as public opinion on the war in Vietnam, and as more people turned against the war, more supporters flocked to Ali’s corner.

The Justices reviewing this matter included Thurgood Marshall, as the only black justice on the court at the time. But Justice Marshall recused himself from the case, having been the Solicitor General on Ali’s earlier conviction. [(The Solicitor General is required to argue in front of the court on behalf of “The People”)]. Justice Harlan, the responsible party for communicating the majority decision, delegated this task to Kevin Connolly, his chief clerk; [(the Justices are allowed up to 4 Clerks to do the heavy-lifting of researching and composing opinions on before of their legal “masters”)]. Mr. Connolly was convincingly idealistic in this case; his dogged pursuit of justice helped turn the Court’s decision around.

At the time Justice Harlan, who was dying of cancer and would resign from the Court later that year, became finally convinced of the sincerity of Ali’s religious and anti-war beliefs and, against the wishes of his close friend Chief Justice Burger, shifted his vote to even the balance at 4 to 4. [(There was no further testimony from Ali or supporters, just the ruminated logic of the clerk Connolly and the appeal of a better nature)]. He eventually made such a convincing argument to the other conservatives on the court that the decision became unanimous (8 to 0, with an abstaining Justice Marshall).
Source: Extractions from Allen Barra, The Atlantic Magazine. Posted October 4, 2013; retrieved February 14, 2014 from: http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/10/muhammad-alis-most-formidable-opponent-was-the-us-supreme-court/280280/

The advocate in this drama is Kevin Connolly, the chief clerk for Supreme Court Justice Harland. His steadfast commitment to justice prevailed, in the end. He saw the miscarriage of justice in the un-balanced application of the law for religious/conscientious objections for White ministers as opposed to Black Muslim adherents of faith. He wielded his influence on his boss, Justice Harland, who then influenced the remaining court – one man made a difference on this court, and eventually the world.

The book Go Lean … Caribbean serves as a roadmap for the introduction and implementation of the Caribbean Union Trade Federation (CU). The book posits that one person can make a difference in the Caribbean; that there are many opportunities where one champion can elevate society. In fact the book is a collection of 144 different advocacies, so there is inspiration for the Kevin Connolly’s and Muhammad Ali’s of the region to make their mark in many different fields of endeavor. The roadmap specifically encourages the region to foster the genius potential (Page 27) in their communities, forge leadership skills (Page 171) and pursue the Greater Good (Page 37). With the participation of many advocates on many different paths for progress, the Caribbean can truly become a better place to live, work and play.

Download the book Go Lean … Caribbean – now!

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