In this article I continue to discuss motivational factors that must be taken into account to develop different ideas for helping black Americans improve their position in the American economy. Decades of government programs and trillions of dollars have not achieved acceptable outcomes. Some black American demographics are worse now than when massive government programs started in the mid-1960’s, involving increased family breakup and increased number of children born out of wedlock by teenagers. Different knowledge must be applied to develop different approaches that will achieve acceptable outcomes.
This article, and several that follow, discuss a major motivational factor relating to people understanding the significance of what they do. People who understand the importance of their actions will strive harder to do better. To understand the importance of their actions black Americans, along with all common Americans, have to increase their knowledge and understanding of history.
News reports recently stated that Americans know little about history. Having extensive university course work and decades of independent reading in the social sciences, including history, reviewing high school and university history textbooks brings to mind the possibility that little governmental or media effort is directed toward Americans knowing much about the real past. Uninformed, uneducated people, kept ignorant of their past, are easily fooled and herded for the political and economic benefit of a few wealth people. People, who study the social sciences across the broad scope of history, can see this pattern. It has existed for thousands of years and is designed to control the many for the benefit of a wealthy few. The pattern continues to exist throughout the world but is little discussed in textbooks or publicized through media news or programs.
Because of our American representative/democratic form of government it is more difficult for a few wealthy people to control our government as opposed to other nations like England, China, Russia, Angola, Mexico, etc. These other nations’ governments recognize different classes of people within their populations either legally or on a practical basis. They are established based on the assumption that a few wealthy people will control the government and economy and these few people will stay wealthy generation after generation while most people will remain uneducated, uninformed, politically powerless, poor, and a source of cheap labor.
Throughout thousands of years the wealthiest nations have been class-based made up of a few people who controlled governmental power and structured the economy for their personal benefit. During the last 500 years a movement has gained traction based on the idea that all people should be first-class citizens. The American founding documents included words about people being created equal and having equal rights, etc. Our history has included progress toward making these words a legal and practical reality, but only since the mid-1950’s has our Supreme Court and Congress institutionalized these concepts into legal practice. This progress must be seen as a continuation of the American Revolution but progress has not been uniform or continuous. It has been a “two steps forward but one step back” activity. Our efforts to continue this revolution must continue today.
A normal, human impediment to continuing the American Revolution involves efforts by the already wealthy to control government for their benefit and pass their riches from generation to generation. Based on our democratic system and practical implementation of a classless society during the last 60 years, wealthy Americans must resort to other means to control government and the economy as opposed to those used in other nations. Today to maintain this control, the wealthy own media outlets including television and radio networks, newspapers, news websites, movie and television production companies, and contribute massive masses of cash to political campaigns.
The following articles briefly discuss several elements of this strategy, including passage and enforcement of laws and government regulations that encroach on civil rights and liberties and imprison large segments of Americans, overemphasis on the need for government and government protection, increased taxes for common Americans, and implementation of approaches that foster divisiveness among the common people. This strategy involves governmental pronouncements and manipulation of news and historical information designed to keep common Americans in their place. Of course, black Americans continue “in their place” where they have been for 400 years, but for them to do anything meaningful about this they have to better understand their past and devise new approaches to accomplish different results from that that have been resulting for the last 60 years.
Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D. is a retired business/organizational consultant, seeking to improve society using his decades of experience enhancing corporations and government agencies. What is a society other than a large, complex organization created by a people for their own betterment? He is executive director of the non-profit ABetterSociety.Info, Inc.
Showing posts with label african american issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label african american issues. Show all posts
Monday, June 20, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Organizational and Motivational Factors
In this article I explore assumptions about the relationship between business and government organizations, our national economy, and different approaches for helping black Americans. What is a society other than a large, complex organization created by a people for their own betterment? This article begins a series discussing different approaches designed to achieve different conclusions for black Americans.
In a previous article I quoted Dr. Watkins who wrote the following in “Why Black Men Continue to Suffer, and Why It Must End Now” that was published in Your Black World on June 1, 2011. “… the state of black male existence and employment is at a 40-year low. But this 40-year low is preceded by a 400-year old problem. If we continue to address the problem in the same ways we have in the past, we will continue to reach the same conclusions and find the same faulty solutions. It’s time for a new day in black male America and that day must come right now.”
I agree with his words but think the issue should be expanded to include both black males and black females. Black Americans represent one of our greatest challenges that must be overcome. As everyone knows, these challenges come from the fact that black people were used as a source of legally-enforced cheap labor in the American economy from 1619 up until the mid-1950’s. If you are in doubt about this last date, see http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/. A quote from this website reads, “Across the South, a new variety of slavery emerged after the Civil War. Laws were rewritten to criminalize African-American life. The judicial system was retooled to provide cheap forced labor to mines, farms, timber camps, turpentine makers, railroad builders and entrepreneurs large and small. Tens of thousands of men, the vast majority of them black, found themselves pulled back into slavery.”
In previous articles I wrote about the on-going pattern of dramatic swings in our economy that help a few (Wall Streeters and bankers) and do not help the many in the long run. This is particularly true of black Americans who have been at the bottom of the economic ladder for 400 years. As Dr. Watkins wrote, to rectify this situation we have applied the same faulty solutions that have not resulted in desired conclusions. The bottom line is that none of what has been done has successfully addressed the real issues regarding black American’s employment, health, wealth, and retirement.
As an introduction to this series, this article discusses organizations and their relationship with our national economy. Before I retired I worked as a business/organizational consultant for corporations, government agencies, and non-profits. In virtually all cases, each organization I was asked to help was experiencing challenges related to employee/organizational productivity and motivation. Some of them were in such bad shape I represented their last-ditch effort to not close their doors and go bankrupt. My job was to determine why each organization was experiencing challenges and help them see how to overcome them. (Without pulling a muscle in my old shoulder while patting myself on the back, I can say I was quite good at doing this.) And it is my firm belief that the approaches I used with these organizations can be applied to our national economy. From my point of view the failed approaches attempted to help black Americans did not take into account knowledge that today is applied to business and governmental organizational improvement.
To develop different ideas for helping black Americans, as Dr. Watkins says we should, we have to apply different knowledge and develop different approaches. From my experience, the failed approaches were designed like a circuit board that didn’t have its power cord plugged in. Every improvement program I have studied and observed involved acquiring money, establishing goals, hiring staff, developing work processes and activities, advertising availability, and opening the doors. Not one program was established taking into account the electricity that makes human society successfully function – human motivation. Not one included group-process activities designed to foster the involvement and participation of the people the program was supposed to help. Not one included any determination of what the people the program was supposed to help would have to do themselves to insure program success. How can any human society successfully function without taking into account human motivational factors?
There will be more about this in future articles.
NOTE: If you are interested in knowing more about organizations and motivation read about Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and his 1954 book Motivation and Personality (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs), Frederick Herzberg’s motivational approaches and his book Work and the Nature of Man (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Herzberg and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-factor_theory), and J.R. Hackman’s and G.R. Oldham’s job satisfaction approaches and their book Organizational Behavior and Human Performance in a chapter titled Motivation through the Design of Work (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_satisfaction) These were my primary references for my doctoral dissertation at the University of Southern California.
Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D. is a retired business/organizational consultant, seeking to improve society using his decades of experience enhancing corporations and government agencies. What is a society other than a large, complex organization created by a people for their own betterment? He is executive director of the non-profit ABetterSociety.Info, Inc.
In a previous article I quoted Dr. Watkins who wrote the following in “Why Black Men Continue to Suffer, and Why It Must End Now” that was published in Your Black World on June 1, 2011. “… the state of black male existence and employment is at a 40-year low. But this 40-year low is preceded by a 400-year old problem. If we continue to address the problem in the same ways we have in the past, we will continue to reach the same conclusions and find the same faulty solutions. It’s time for a new day in black male America and that day must come right now.”
I agree with his words but think the issue should be expanded to include both black males and black females. Black Americans represent one of our greatest challenges that must be overcome. As everyone knows, these challenges come from the fact that black people were used as a source of legally-enforced cheap labor in the American economy from 1619 up until the mid-1950’s. If you are in doubt about this last date, see http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/. A quote from this website reads, “Across the South, a new variety of slavery emerged after the Civil War. Laws were rewritten to criminalize African-American life. The judicial system was retooled to provide cheap forced labor to mines, farms, timber camps, turpentine makers, railroad builders and entrepreneurs large and small. Tens of thousands of men, the vast majority of them black, found themselves pulled back into slavery.”
In previous articles I wrote about the on-going pattern of dramatic swings in our economy that help a few (Wall Streeters and bankers) and do not help the many in the long run. This is particularly true of black Americans who have been at the bottom of the economic ladder for 400 years. As Dr. Watkins wrote, to rectify this situation we have applied the same faulty solutions that have not resulted in desired conclusions. The bottom line is that none of what has been done has successfully addressed the real issues regarding black American’s employment, health, wealth, and retirement.
As an introduction to this series, this article discusses organizations and their relationship with our national economy. Before I retired I worked as a business/organizational consultant for corporations, government agencies, and non-profits. In virtually all cases, each organization I was asked to help was experiencing challenges related to employee/organizational productivity and motivation. Some of them were in such bad shape I represented their last-ditch effort to not close their doors and go bankrupt. My job was to determine why each organization was experiencing challenges and help them see how to overcome them. (Without pulling a muscle in my old shoulder while patting myself on the back, I can say I was quite good at doing this.) And it is my firm belief that the approaches I used with these organizations can be applied to our national economy. From my point of view the failed approaches attempted to help black Americans did not take into account knowledge that today is applied to business and governmental organizational improvement.
To develop different ideas for helping black Americans, as Dr. Watkins says we should, we have to apply different knowledge and develop different approaches. From my experience, the failed approaches were designed like a circuit board that didn’t have its power cord plugged in. Every improvement program I have studied and observed involved acquiring money, establishing goals, hiring staff, developing work processes and activities, advertising availability, and opening the doors. Not one program was established taking into account the electricity that makes human society successfully function – human motivation. Not one included group-process activities designed to foster the involvement and participation of the people the program was supposed to help. Not one included any determination of what the people the program was supposed to help would have to do themselves to insure program success. How can any human society successfully function without taking into account human motivational factors?
There will be more about this in future articles.
NOTE: If you are interested in knowing more about organizations and motivation read about Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and his 1954 book Motivation and Personality (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs), Frederick Herzberg’s motivational approaches and his book Work and the Nature of Man (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Herzberg and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-factor_theory), and J.R. Hackman’s and G.R. Oldham’s job satisfaction approaches and their book Organizational Behavior and Human Performance in a chapter titled Motivation through the Design of Work (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_satisfaction) These were my primary references for my doctoral dissertation at the University of Southern California.
Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D. is a retired business/organizational consultant, seeking to improve society using his decades of experience enhancing corporations and government agencies. What is a society other than a large, complex organization created by a people for their own betterment? He is executive director of the non-profit ABetterSociety.Info, Inc.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Other Artificial Economic Stimulators
In this article I explore assumptions about several other ways our economy is artificially stimulated. These stimulators do not, in the long run, help black Americans. The information provided is designed to question underlying assumptions. It is provided to help readers think critically and participate in an online dialogue. We all want effective programs that truly help black Americans, but successful programs have to be based on valid assumptions. Programs based on invalid assumptions will not achieve desired results.
Like other economic stimulators previously discussed, those discussed here cause dramatic economic ups and downs. When the economy goes up, the media and government make a lot of noise about black Americans doing so much better. But artificial stimulations that do not create wealth ultimately result in dramatic economic declines. Whether the economy goes up or down, Wall Streeters and bankers collect their market fees that they use to finance their incredible salaries and bonuses. A stable economy would not help fatten their personal and corporate bank accounts like an economy that dramatically swings. And this continuing pattern involves nothing directed toward overcoming the systemic issues associated with black Americans being on the bottom of the economic heap.
The economic stimulations discussed in this article and other articles result in on-going increases of governmental debt including the national debt, and state and local government debt. Combining difficult-to-come-by numbers, each American man, woman, and child must own about $60,000 in government debt that someday must be paid off. As this debt increases, government only pays (with our tax money) the interest on the debt, paying little, if anything, on the principle. Because government debt continues to rise, we have not created adequate wealth through the programs and activities financed with the money borrowed. (See http://www.cato.org/pubs/tbb/tbb_0706-37.pdf) Too much of our economy is a house of cards and government continues to borrow and spend money to artificially prop it up.
It is important to remember that a lot of the money spent by government comes from borrowing. It is also important to remember that little of this helps black Americans in the long run. As has always been the case, some black Americans continue to do well in our economy - Oprah is clearly not poor. What has not happened as yet is for a much larger percentage of black Americans to achieve an improved, stable livelihood in a growing, but stable, mainstream economy. When economic stimulators again result in a declining economy, these people will again not do well.
Economic stimulators briefly discussed in this article include various types of government spending that do create jobs but do not result in borrowed money being paid back.
Money spent by the Department of Defense and other federal government agencies on the Afghan war and the continuing conflict in Iraq will be greatly reduced when our government declares victory and brings the troops home. Government employees, members of the military, and defense contractor employees will be layoff and our economy will swing down. It always does following a military downturn based on either victory or defeat.
When other government spending is reduced in attempts to bring down debt, many government employees will lose their jobs as will employees of companies that sell goods and services to government agencies. These will surely include ineffective welfare and skills training programs that do not result in recipients getting a job and paying enough taxes to pay back the borrowed government money used to finance the ineffective programs.
In summary, this and recent articles deal with swinging business cycles that help a few (Wall Streeters and bankers) and does not help many in the long run (particularly black Americans). The bottom line is that none of this addresses the real issues regarding black American’s employment, health, wealth, and retirement. Future articles will deal with these issues.
Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D. is a retired business/organizational consultant, seeking to improve society using his decades of experience enhancing corporations and government agencies. What is a society other than a large organization created by a people for their own betterment? He is executive director of the non-profit ABetterSociety.Info, Inc.
Like other economic stimulators previously discussed, those discussed here cause dramatic economic ups and downs. When the economy goes up, the media and government make a lot of noise about black Americans doing so much better. But artificial stimulations that do not create wealth ultimately result in dramatic economic declines. Whether the economy goes up or down, Wall Streeters and bankers collect their market fees that they use to finance their incredible salaries and bonuses. A stable economy would not help fatten their personal and corporate bank accounts like an economy that dramatically swings. And this continuing pattern involves nothing directed toward overcoming the systemic issues associated with black Americans being on the bottom of the economic heap.
The economic stimulations discussed in this article and other articles result in on-going increases of governmental debt including the national debt, and state and local government debt. Combining difficult-to-come-by numbers, each American man, woman, and child must own about $60,000 in government debt that someday must be paid off. As this debt increases, government only pays (with our tax money) the interest on the debt, paying little, if anything, on the principle. Because government debt continues to rise, we have not created adequate wealth through the programs and activities financed with the money borrowed. (See http://www.cato.org/pubs/tbb/tbb_0706-37.pdf) Too much of our economy is a house of cards and government continues to borrow and spend money to artificially prop it up.
It is important to remember that a lot of the money spent by government comes from borrowing. It is also important to remember that little of this helps black Americans in the long run. As has always been the case, some black Americans continue to do well in our economy - Oprah is clearly not poor. What has not happened as yet is for a much larger percentage of black Americans to achieve an improved, stable livelihood in a growing, but stable, mainstream economy. When economic stimulators again result in a declining economy, these people will again not do well.
Economic stimulators briefly discussed in this article include various types of government spending that do create jobs but do not result in borrowed money being paid back.
Money spent by the Department of Defense and other federal government agencies on the Afghan war and the continuing conflict in Iraq will be greatly reduced when our government declares victory and brings the troops home. Government employees, members of the military, and defense contractor employees will be layoff and our economy will swing down. It always does following a military downturn based on either victory or defeat.
When other government spending is reduced in attempts to bring down debt, many government employees will lose their jobs as will employees of companies that sell goods and services to government agencies. These will surely include ineffective welfare and skills training programs that do not result in recipients getting a job and paying enough taxes to pay back the borrowed government money used to finance the ineffective programs.
In summary, this and recent articles deal with swinging business cycles that help a few (Wall Streeters and bankers) and does not help many in the long run (particularly black Americans). The bottom line is that none of this addresses the real issues regarding black American’s employment, health, wealth, and retirement. Future articles will deal with these issues.
Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D. is a retired business/organizational consultant, seeking to improve society using his decades of experience enhancing corporations and government agencies. What is a society other than a large organization created by a people for their own betterment? He is executive director of the non-profit ABetterSociety.Info, Inc.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Wall Streeter Games
In this article I explore assumptions about Wall Streeter and banker games that do not help black Americans. The information provided is designed to question underlying assumptions. It is provided to help readers think critically and participate in an online dialogue. We all want effective programs that truly help black Americans, but successful programs have to be based on valid assumptions. Programs based on invalid assumptions will not achieve desired results.
To explore these assumptions it is first necessary to discuss what is meant by “wealth.” Consider the following example. Two business people have $100,000 of their own money and borrow another $100,000 to create a business. Start-up costs include: renting a facility, securing business licenses and permits, paying for facility remodeling, paying for advertising, purchasing equipment, hiring staff, purchasing inventory, paying for power, heat, air conditioning, etc. They operate their business for one year. All start-up expenses created jobs for the people from whom they purchased goods and services, for the people they hired, and for themselves through paying themselves a monthly salary. At what point do they make a profit? At what point do they create wealth?
A reasonable business answer is: They make a profit, they create wealth, when they are able to pay their bills, pay their employees and themselves a monthly salary with benefits, and pay off the $200,000 used to start the business. When these conditions are met and they make one more dollar, they have made a dollar in profit (created $1.00 in wealth). If during the first year of operation the business were to fail, the partners have artificially stimulated the economy and artificially created jobs but created no wealth. When the business fails the partners have lost their investment and still have to pay off their debt or go bankrupt.
This example outlines the standard situation for any small business owner. One of the great challenges for small business owners, including black Americans, is that we continue to experience dramatic swings in the economy. These swings hinder effectively doing anything about the fact that many black Americans live on the bottom of the economic heap. When the economy swings up and black Americans do better, we hear “a rising tide raises all ships,” and the media and government cheer! When Wallstreeters’ and bankers’ house of cards falls many black Americans lose their jobs or businesses and their homes. And media and government focus is on rebuilding the same house of cards so we can do the same thing all over again.
One of the factors in these swings is that government allows large corporations to operate on different standards from those describe above for small businesses. For example, on April 26, 2011, the New York Times reported that Ford Motor Company made a quarterly profit of $2,550,000,000 ($2.55 billion). The same article reported that Ford’s chief executive is being paid $26,500,000 ($26.5 million) a year. (See http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/business/27ford.html?_r=1&ref=fordmotorcompany). But it requires much internet searching to discover that Ford had a long term debt of $101,640,000,000 ($101.64 billion) on 3/31/11. (See http://ycharts.com/financials/F/quarterly_balance_sheet) How can a business claim to make a profit of $2.55 billion while still owing $101.64 billion in debt? And it is not uncommon for corporations with similar debts to pay share holders a dividend when the corporation hasn’t really made a profit. This practice allows corporations to channel borrowed money to share holders.
Why play this game or any of the other shell games played by Wall Streeters and bankers? The fundamental issue is that they want people to buy and sell “things” in their markets. Their “things” include stocks, bonds, derivatives, etc. They don’t care about the fundamental value of what they sell. The more attractive they can make purchasing their “things,” the more fees they can charge. The more ups and downs in the markets the more people buy and sell.
Regardless of the real value of what they sell, fees are their source of income. Their income is used to pay Wall Streeters and bankers huge salaries and bonuses. As long as these people are allowed to play their games, they will continue to channel money into their personal accounts while not creating real wealth for the American people. And they will do nothing to provide meaningful help for advancing black Americans into the mainstream economy.
Using the money from their personal and corporate accounts these people donate large amounts to political campaigns. They donate to candidates in both parties and, to a certain extent it doesn’t make any difference who wins. They have great influence with either candidate going into an election. Without regard for what should be done for black Americans, Wall Streeters and bankers only care about maintaining their games and the very large sums of money that flow into their personal accounts. As long as voters continue to allow themselves to be distracted by meaningless fringe issues that make up most campaign noise, economic swings that benefit a few will continue. Until American voters make it clear to politicians that changes must be made, nothing meaningful will be done for black Americans. What do readers think about this? Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D.
To explore these assumptions it is first necessary to discuss what is meant by “wealth.” Consider the following example. Two business people have $100,000 of their own money and borrow another $100,000 to create a business. Start-up costs include: renting a facility, securing business licenses and permits, paying for facility remodeling, paying for advertising, purchasing equipment, hiring staff, purchasing inventory, paying for power, heat, air conditioning, etc. They operate their business for one year. All start-up expenses created jobs for the people from whom they purchased goods and services, for the people they hired, and for themselves through paying themselves a monthly salary. At what point do they make a profit? At what point do they create wealth?
A reasonable business answer is: They make a profit, they create wealth, when they are able to pay their bills, pay their employees and themselves a monthly salary with benefits, and pay off the $200,000 used to start the business. When these conditions are met and they make one more dollar, they have made a dollar in profit (created $1.00 in wealth). If during the first year of operation the business were to fail, the partners have artificially stimulated the economy and artificially created jobs but created no wealth. When the business fails the partners have lost their investment and still have to pay off their debt or go bankrupt.
This example outlines the standard situation for any small business owner. One of the great challenges for small business owners, including black Americans, is that we continue to experience dramatic swings in the economy. These swings hinder effectively doing anything about the fact that many black Americans live on the bottom of the economic heap. When the economy swings up and black Americans do better, we hear “a rising tide raises all ships,” and the media and government cheer! When Wallstreeters’ and bankers’ house of cards falls many black Americans lose their jobs or businesses and their homes. And media and government focus is on rebuilding the same house of cards so we can do the same thing all over again.
One of the factors in these swings is that government allows large corporations to operate on different standards from those describe above for small businesses. For example, on April 26, 2011, the New York Times reported that Ford Motor Company made a quarterly profit of $2,550,000,000 ($2.55 billion). The same article reported that Ford’s chief executive is being paid $26,500,000 ($26.5 million) a year. (See http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/business/27ford.html?_r=1&ref=fordmotorcompany). But it requires much internet searching to discover that Ford had a long term debt of $101,640,000,000 ($101.64 billion) on 3/31/11. (See http://ycharts.com/financials/F/quarterly_balance_sheet) How can a business claim to make a profit of $2.55 billion while still owing $101.64 billion in debt? And it is not uncommon for corporations with similar debts to pay share holders a dividend when the corporation hasn’t really made a profit. This practice allows corporations to channel borrowed money to share holders.
Why play this game or any of the other shell games played by Wall Streeters and bankers? The fundamental issue is that they want people to buy and sell “things” in their markets. Their “things” include stocks, bonds, derivatives, etc. They don’t care about the fundamental value of what they sell. The more attractive they can make purchasing their “things,” the more fees they can charge. The more ups and downs in the markets the more people buy and sell.
Regardless of the real value of what they sell, fees are their source of income. Their income is used to pay Wall Streeters and bankers huge salaries and bonuses. As long as these people are allowed to play their games, they will continue to channel money into their personal accounts while not creating real wealth for the American people. And they will do nothing to provide meaningful help for advancing black Americans into the mainstream economy.
Using the money from their personal and corporate accounts these people donate large amounts to political campaigns. They donate to candidates in both parties and, to a certain extent it doesn’t make any difference who wins. They have great influence with either candidate going into an election. Without regard for what should be done for black Americans, Wall Streeters and bankers only care about maintaining their games and the very large sums of money that flow into their personal accounts. As long as voters continue to allow themselves to be distracted by meaningless fringe issues that make up most campaign noise, economic swings that benefit a few will continue. Until American voters make it clear to politicians that changes must be made, nothing meaningful will be done for black Americans. What do readers think about this? Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Creating Jobs vs Creating Wealth
In this article I explore assumptions people have about “solutions” for making life better for black Americans. I explore several assumptions about creating jobs as opposed to creating wealth, stimulating the economy artificially, and “a rising tide raises all boats.” The information provided is designed to question underlying assumptions. It is provided to help readers think critically and participate in an online dialogue. We all want effective programs that truly help black Americans, but successful programs have to be based on valid assumptions. Programs based on invalid assumptions will not achieve desired results.
Dr. Watkins wrote the following in “Why Black Men Continue to Suffer, and Why It Must End Now” that was published in Your Black World on June 1, 2011. “… the state of black male existence and employment is at a 40-year low. But this 40-year low is preceded by a 400-year old problem. If we continue to address the problem in the same ways we have in the past, we will continue to reach the same conclusions and find the same faulty solutions. It’s time for a new day in black male America and that day must come right now.”
I couldn’t agree more. Since Lyndon Johnson in the mid-1960’s we have applied the same “solutions” that have either partially worked, not worked, or made things worse. Too many activists campaign for more of the same programs that have not accomplished desired goals. And we have continued to allow financial practices that result in dramatic swings in the economy. Every time it goes down, like right now, black Americans suffer the most.
We can explore destructive welfare programs later, but suffice to say, like those in Europe, American versions provide sops for those not taking part in the mainstream economy. The sops are supposed to placate the poor while others make billions.
When the economy has been artificially stimulated, the media makes much of the supposed-improved lot of black Americans who temporarily have more jobs, make more money, etc. And this is when we hear “a rising tide raises all ships.” All this reinforces continuing to do the same things, allowing a few to put billions in their personal accounts while temporarily creating jobs that are not based on creation of wealth. Of course, this financial house of cards always falls and many black Americans lose their jobs and their homes. And media and government focus is on rebuilding the same house of cards so we can do the same thing all over again.
There are a number of ways to artificially create jobs without creating wealth. The most recent fiasco is a good example. As our American population grew people needed a place to live. People designed rental property or houses, other people built them, other people sold them, and other people made loans to those desiring to purchase. All of this created wealth as long as the renters and purchasers could pay their rent or make mortgage payments. In the past banks held the mortgages until they were paid off, making their money from interest.
But Wall Streeters and bankers are full of creative ways to make money for their personal accounts that create no additional wealth for the rest of us. Their questionable financial practices result in dramatic swings in the economy. These practices need to be examined and changed so that we can stabilize the economy and focus on the systematic problems that cause black Americans to be at the bottom of the heap. Until this is done, the economic swings and welfare sops will continue and many black Americans will continue “in their place.”
As is often the case, a Wall Streeter/banker “gimmick product” got us into our current mess. Instead of continuing the time-tested practice of bankers holding onto mortgages until paid off, they came up with the idea of packaging various types of mortgages and selling them on the market as separate products. These “products” were divorced from the wealth associated with houses and loans. Selling those produced fees used for Wall Streeters’ and bankers’ salaries and bonuses but created no additional wealth. The huge salaries and bonuses resulted in some of this “funny money” flowing into the economy, artificially stimulating the economy and artificially creating jobs. But all of this was divorced from the original wealth created through building rental buildings and houses.
Today stocks and other gimmick products are owned for seconds instead of being owned for years. This is true of your 401 (k) retirement package, which allows those handling your retirement money to buy and sell “things” as much as they want. This generates more and more fees that generated higher Wall Streeters’ and bankers’ salaries and bonuses.
As everyone knows there are other issues in the black world that need to be examined and addressed. But it will be extremely difficult to do so as long as we experience artificial economic stimulation, “boom or bust” economic swings, and a few making billions. Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D.
Dr. Watkins wrote the following in “Why Black Men Continue to Suffer, and Why It Must End Now” that was published in Your Black World on June 1, 2011. “… the state of black male existence and employment is at a 40-year low. But this 40-year low is preceded by a 400-year old problem. If we continue to address the problem in the same ways we have in the past, we will continue to reach the same conclusions and find the same faulty solutions. It’s time for a new day in black male America and that day must come right now.”
I couldn’t agree more. Since Lyndon Johnson in the mid-1960’s we have applied the same “solutions” that have either partially worked, not worked, or made things worse. Too many activists campaign for more of the same programs that have not accomplished desired goals. And we have continued to allow financial practices that result in dramatic swings in the economy. Every time it goes down, like right now, black Americans suffer the most.
We can explore destructive welfare programs later, but suffice to say, like those in Europe, American versions provide sops for those not taking part in the mainstream economy. The sops are supposed to placate the poor while others make billions.
When the economy has been artificially stimulated, the media makes much of the supposed-improved lot of black Americans who temporarily have more jobs, make more money, etc. And this is when we hear “a rising tide raises all ships.” All this reinforces continuing to do the same things, allowing a few to put billions in their personal accounts while temporarily creating jobs that are not based on creation of wealth. Of course, this financial house of cards always falls and many black Americans lose their jobs and their homes. And media and government focus is on rebuilding the same house of cards so we can do the same thing all over again.
There are a number of ways to artificially create jobs without creating wealth. The most recent fiasco is a good example. As our American population grew people needed a place to live. People designed rental property or houses, other people built them, other people sold them, and other people made loans to those desiring to purchase. All of this created wealth as long as the renters and purchasers could pay their rent or make mortgage payments. In the past banks held the mortgages until they were paid off, making their money from interest.
But Wall Streeters and bankers are full of creative ways to make money for their personal accounts that create no additional wealth for the rest of us. Their questionable financial practices result in dramatic swings in the economy. These practices need to be examined and changed so that we can stabilize the economy and focus on the systematic problems that cause black Americans to be at the bottom of the heap. Until this is done, the economic swings and welfare sops will continue and many black Americans will continue “in their place.”
As is often the case, a Wall Streeter/banker “gimmick product” got us into our current mess. Instead of continuing the time-tested practice of bankers holding onto mortgages until paid off, they came up with the idea of packaging various types of mortgages and selling them on the market as separate products. These “products” were divorced from the wealth associated with houses and loans. Selling those produced fees used for Wall Streeters’ and bankers’ salaries and bonuses but created no additional wealth. The huge salaries and bonuses resulted in some of this “funny money” flowing into the economy, artificially stimulating the economy and artificially creating jobs. But all of this was divorced from the original wealth created through building rental buildings and houses.
Today stocks and other gimmick products are owned for seconds instead of being owned for years. This is true of your 401 (k) retirement package, which allows those handling your retirement money to buy and sell “things” as much as they want. This generates more and more fees that generated higher Wall Streeters’ and bankers’ salaries and bonuses.
As everyone knows there are other issues in the black world that need to be examined and addressed. But it will be extremely difficult to do so as long as we experience artificial economic stimulation, “boom or bust” economic swings, and a few making billions. Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Assumptions about Improvement Programs
The daily news frequently includes negative information about black Americans. Articles report black on black violence, poverty, inadequate educational achievement, high incarceration rates, high school dropout rates, etc. Anyone that reads Your Black World knows this. These same news articles discuss different programs designed to do something positive about these problems. There seems to be a consensus among article authors and readers-that-comment, that these programs are the way to go.
This article, and others that follow, question the assumptions being made about these programs and the problems they are supposed to overcome. These articles are not designed to report but provide information to get readers to think about their assumptions and comment on them. Readers’ comments are more important than what I write. The information I provide is designed to question underlying assumptions being made about improvement programs. The information provided is designed to help readers think critically and participate in an online dialogue with other readers and me. We all want effective programs that truly help black Americans, but successful programs have to be based on valid assumptions otherwise they will not achieve desired outcomes.
I am a retired business/organizational consultant. Frequently when ask to consult with a large corporation that was in serious trouble, managers and employees always said they thought they were already doing all the right things. My most common work involved getting them to examine their assumptions about why they were doing what they were doing, nearly all of which was obviously not working. If I were not there, they would have continued to “do the same old same old” until they had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Please allow an example of an underlying assumption that many think is true. But first I want to say that people often find the truth of this matter quite upsetting. In today’s world of political correctness we have to understand that people often find the truth to be inflammatory, regarding many matters. To get at the truth we sometimes must discuss issues that many find uncomfortable. But, if we don’t discuss them, we don’t get at the real issues and the result is we support programs that do not work.
My example follows: If a violent criminal has broken into your home and is attacking one of your loved ones and you dial 911, do the police have a duty to come to your aid? Do police have a duty to provide individuals protection from criminal harm? The answer to these questions is a clear “no.” If anyone doubts this “no,” read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_v._District_of_Columbia. I do not need to read the site to know that this is true. I lived in South Central Los Angles for some years and I was there in the smoke and flames of the Rodney King riots. The various police departments in the area pulled all officers off the street during the time when more than 50 people were murdered. And they could legally do this because police have no duty to provide protection for individual citizens. If you want to read more about these issues you can read some of the books by Dr. Gary Kleck, criminology professor at Florida State University at Tallahassee - even if the police decide to come, they will not arrive in time to save your loved one’s life.
In summary, the daily news frequently includes negative information about black Americans and programs that are supposed to overcome these problems. Have you ever really thought about the assumptions these programs are based upon? Are the programs focused on the real problems or are they only attempting to address the symptoms of the real problems? Chasing the symptoms of problems without addressing the real issues may do nothing to help the people involved. And we seriously do want effective programs that improve the lot of black Americans.
What do think about all this? Your comments are more important that what I write. I hope many readers will join in this discussion so that we can better understand the truth and do something positive about our improvement opportunities. Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D.
This article, and others that follow, question the assumptions being made about these programs and the problems they are supposed to overcome. These articles are not designed to report but provide information to get readers to think about their assumptions and comment on them. Readers’ comments are more important than what I write. The information I provide is designed to question underlying assumptions being made about improvement programs. The information provided is designed to help readers think critically and participate in an online dialogue with other readers and me. We all want effective programs that truly help black Americans, but successful programs have to be based on valid assumptions otherwise they will not achieve desired outcomes.
I am a retired business/organizational consultant. Frequently when ask to consult with a large corporation that was in serious trouble, managers and employees always said they thought they were already doing all the right things. My most common work involved getting them to examine their assumptions about why they were doing what they were doing, nearly all of which was obviously not working. If I were not there, they would have continued to “do the same old same old” until they had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Please allow an example of an underlying assumption that many think is true. But first I want to say that people often find the truth of this matter quite upsetting. In today’s world of political correctness we have to understand that people often find the truth to be inflammatory, regarding many matters. To get at the truth we sometimes must discuss issues that many find uncomfortable. But, if we don’t discuss them, we don’t get at the real issues and the result is we support programs that do not work.
My example follows: If a violent criminal has broken into your home and is attacking one of your loved ones and you dial 911, do the police have a duty to come to your aid? Do police have a duty to provide individuals protection from criminal harm? The answer to these questions is a clear “no.” If anyone doubts this “no,” read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_v._District_of_Columbia. I do not need to read the site to know that this is true. I lived in South Central Los Angles for some years and I was there in the smoke and flames of the Rodney King riots. The various police departments in the area pulled all officers off the street during the time when more than 50 people were murdered. And they could legally do this because police have no duty to provide protection for individual citizens. If you want to read more about these issues you can read some of the books by Dr. Gary Kleck, criminology professor at Florida State University at Tallahassee - even if the police decide to come, they will not arrive in time to save your loved one’s life.
In summary, the daily news frequently includes negative information about black Americans and programs that are supposed to overcome these problems. Have you ever really thought about the assumptions these programs are based upon? Are the programs focused on the real problems or are they only attempting to address the symptoms of the real problems? Chasing the symptoms of problems without addressing the real issues may do nothing to help the people involved. And we seriously do want effective programs that improve the lot of black Americans.
What do think about all this? Your comments are more important that what I write. I hope many readers will join in this discussion so that we can better understand the truth and do something positive about our improvement opportunities. Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Health Benefits Of Sex
If you thought that making love was just a gesture of love or for pleasure, think again. Sex has much more to it than most of us think and know. Did you know that sex is a form of physical exercise? Sex three times a week burns lots of calories, and if maintained throughout the year, is equivalent to jogging 75 miles. To make it simpler, a vigorous bout burns around 200 calories, about the same as running 15 minutes on a treadmill.
Regular sex is regular exercise and has similar benefits, including improved cholesterol levels and increased circulation Apart from giving you a good work out, sex once or twice a week improves the immune system as well.
Research has shown that an active sex life helps us live longer. Organs and systems in the body perform better and remain healthy because sex increases the supply of oxygen to the cells and stimulates the activity of various organs and systems within the body. People with complaints of cholesterol, take heart! You have a good medicine, which you would not refuse. Where sex balances out the good cholesterol to bad cholesterol ratio, it also simultaneously reduces the overall cholesterol count in the body. So there you go, you can now control your bad cholesterol with pleasure. By having sex three or more times a week, men reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke by half.
Man Details Alleged Police Brutality From Chicago Police
CHICAGO (CBS) ― New allegations of brutality by Chicago police have surfaced. In his
lawsuit, one man claims he was beaten during a traffic stop.
As CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports, the suit names two officers and implicates several others.
"I thought I was gonna die because I couldn't breathe," said alleged police beating victim Curtis Mason Jr.
Blood vessels were broken in an eye and his wrists were allegedly cut by tight handcuffs.
Mason says the injuries he captured with photographs were caused by Chicago police.
"In the beginning, that's what I asked them, 'why am I being arrested' and from that point, it turned into, 'why are you continually hitting me?'" he said.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Klansman May Walk From Charges of Kidnap and Murder
JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court should decide whether a reputed Ku Klux Klansman should have been tried on a kidnapping charge 43 years after two black men were abducted and slain in rural Mississippi, a federal appeals court said Thursday.
A majority of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said other Civil Rights Era cold cases could be affected by a Supreme Court ruling on whether time had run out for prosecutors to charge James Ford Seale.
Seale, now 73, was convicted in 2007 of abducting two 19-year-old friends who authorities said were beaten, weighted down and thrown, possibly still alive, into a Mississippi River backwater in 1964.
Since the conviction, Seale's case has worked its way through the 5th Circuit, including an acquittal that was overturned.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Illinois Files Discrimination Suit Against Wells Fargo
CHICAGO (Reuters) -- Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed suit Friday against Wells Fargo & Co., accusing the second-largest mortgage lender of steering blacks and Latinos into high-cost subprime loans.
"As a result of its discriminatory and illegal mortgage lending practices, Wells Fargo transformed our cities' predominantly African-American and Latino neighborhoods into ground zero for subprime lending," Madigan said in a statement.
High foreclosure rates resulted from the illegal sales practices, the state's attorney general said.
Tyler Perry Goes To Disney World With Philly Kids
A group of kids from Philadelphia who said they experienced prejudice firsthand arrived in Orlando, Florida on Friday for an all-expense paid trip courtesy of actor Tyler Perry.
65 day campers were rejected from a Philadelphia-area swim club earlier this summer, allegedly because of their race.
Shortly after the incident, Perry said he would be treating those kids and their families to a trip to Disney.
"We're excited to be here," camp parent Darryl Bizzell said. "We can't wait to get on the rides, see the amusement park, Mickey and Minnie, can't wait."
When asked about the June 29 incident, camper Taleeah Allen-Wight said she was disappointed and upset, but that Perry 's gift was kind and gracious.
Philadelphia officials are investigating the discrimination allegation against the swimming club.
Syracuse University Professor: College Athletes Should Be Paid
The NCAA, which is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 'educational' organization, has come under fire recently for capitalizing on the commercialization of college sports. Many athletes have accused the organization of unfairly using them for financial gain.
Since 1995, the NCAA has spent more than $84 million on legal fees, including some settlements. Former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon filed a lawsuit on July 21 against the NCAA and its member schools, accusing them of illegally profiting from using the likeness of former players for commercial pursuits like video games, DVDs, and jersey sales.
Dr. Boyce Watkins, a finance professor at Syracuse University, has become a vocal critic of the NCAA, for what he calls its exploitation of the black community.
click here to read moreThursday, July 30, 2009
Divorce Takes Health Toll
(CNN) -- Divorce causes more than bitterness and broken hearts. The trauma of a split can leave long-lasting effects on mental and physical health that remarriage might not repair, according to research released this week.
Research shows health differences between people who are married and those who have gone through a divorce.
"People who lose a marriage take such damage to their health," said Linda Waite, a sociologist at the University of Chicago in Illinois.
Waite and co-author Mary Elizabeth Hughes, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, found that divorced or widowed people have 20 percent more chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer than married people. They also have 23 percent more mobility limitations, such as trouble climbing stairs or walking a block.
NCAA Finally Gets Sued For Exploitation Of Images
It's about time.
"I've written extensively about the NCAA and what I perceive to be its consistent effort to exploit the black community," writes by Boyce Watkins, PhD. "It spends millions on public service announcements to protect its deception, but eventually the athletes and the public are going to wise up to what it is doing. The truth is that college athletes should be paid for the same reasons that any actor in a Hollywood blockbuster film would expect to receive compensation. The problem is that the families of athletes don't quite know how to organize and fight for their power."
Watkins, who teaches finance at Syracuse University, a school that earns millions off black families every year, analyzed the recent lawsuit against the NCAA for allegedly misusing the images of athletes for video games.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Michael Jackson's Doctor Gave Drug authorities Believe Killed Him
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, administered a powerful drug that authorities believe killed the singer, a source with knowledge of the investigation confirmed to CNN on Monday.
Murray, a Texas-based cardiologist, allegedly gave Jackson the anesthetic propofol -- commonly known by the brand name Diprivan -- in the 24 hours before he died, the source said.
The doctor's attorneys in a statement Monday said they wouldn't comment on "rumors, innuendo or unnamed sources." In the past, they have said Murray never prescribed or administered anything that could have killed the pop star.
Murray was the doctor who was at Jackson's home when the pop star died on June 25.
Last week, Texas authorities searched Murray's Houston medical office and storage unit, looking for "evidence of the offense of manslaughter," according to court documents.
Among the items removed from Murray's office were a computer; 27 tablets of phentermine, a prescription-strength appetite suppressant; 1 tablet of clonazepam, an anti-anxiety medication; and some Rolodex cards.
click here to read moreMonday, July 27, 2009
YourBlackWorld: Black, White Protesters Clash Over Dragging Death
PARIS, Texas (AP) — State police in riot gear rushed a downtown street to break up a standoff Tuesday between hundreds of black and white extremists who exchanged screams of "Black power!" and "White power!" during a protest over the state's handling of the case of a black man who was run over and dragged by a vehicle.
A skinhead carrying a Nazi flag and a shirtless white man were arrested on a misdemeanor charge of suspicion of disorderly conduct before the protesters separated peacefully, police spokesman Lt. Danny Huff said.
The conflict began with a march by about 100 mostly black activists who avoided a designated "protest zone" near Paris' courthouse and walked to the town square to chants of "Black Power!" and "No Justice, no peace!"
"We're going to be boxed in?" said protest leader Jimmy Blackwell of the Tarrant County Local Organ
"No, we're not your slaves!"
Monday, February 16, 2009
Singer Chris Brown Will Get Therapy
A week after allegedly beating and bruising his pop-star girlfriend Rihanna, Chris Brown finally released an apologetic statement Sunday via a representative that also discounted media reports claiming he'd commented about the incident on Facebook.
Chris Brown leaves his hotel on January 31, 2009 in Dublin, Ireland. A week after reportedly beating and bruising his pop star girlfriend, Rihanna, Chris Brown finally released a statement via his spokesperson.
"Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person," Brown said in the statement released Sunday evening.
"Much of what has been speculated or reported on blogs and/or reported in the media is wrong," the statement said. "While I would like to be able to talk about this more, until the legal issues are resolved, this is all I can say except that I have not written any messages or made any posts to Facebook, on blogs or any place else. Those posts or writings under my name are frauds."
While Rihanna has yet to speak out about the alleged fight, her father, Ronald Fenty, said that Brown hit her in an interview with People magazine Saturday. Describing Rihanna's current condition after seeing her Thursday, Fenty said, "There is some bruising. She will be all right. I think so." "At some point, she will speak out. I hope she will stand up for women all over the world," he said.Friday, February 13, 2009
Michael Vick is a Hot Commodity?
by Jason Henry – www.BleacherReport.com
Let the Michael Vick sweepstakes begin.
In a report on ESPN.com today, Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff stated that the team wants to trade away the rights of former quarterback Michael Vick. The team has taken small steps to rid themselves of the troubled player since his subsequent jail sentence in 2007.
The Falcons drafted Matt Ryan third overall in last spring’s NFL draft, and that pick has worked out well for the team so far. They made an impromptu playoff run last season and have not looked back.
Since the Falcons have been able to get past the Vick distraction, they are now ready to move on completely without him. But you may think, “What team in its right mind wants to trade for a former player that has been sitting in prison for the last two years?”
Try a team that is in desperate need of a quarterback or a difference maker on offense.
Let’s not forget that Michael took the Falcons to the NFC Championship game some years back, and they either led the league or were near the top of the league in rushing when he was under center. Your favorite team’s wide receivers may not like him, but your running backs will.
With Vick in the backfield, he opens up so many opportunities for your offense. He may not warrant being the starter for your team, but he can run a version of the wildcat offense and play a little receiver. Vick may be able to return punts and kickoffs if he gains a little more muscle when he comes back into the league.
But what teams would actually think about trading for him?
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Black News: Black Male Athlete Shot and Killed
Billey Joe Johnson Sr. opens the driver’s-side door of his dead son’s Silverado and begins to examine some of the leftover splatter. It clings to the dashboard, leeches out of air conditioning vents. Some of it even found a resting place on the truck’s exterior.
“There goes a hunk of meat right there,” the father said, pointing to a nickel-sized fragment of his son’s brain. “How’d it get over here?”
In the back seat, a geometry book rests next to camouflage clothing and empty boxes of buckshot. Billey Joe Johnson Jr. often woke up at 4 a.m. to hunt before heading to George County High School, where everyone knew him as the football star who would escape crushing rural poverty by running from it.
Piles of recruiting letters litter the back seat, the remnants of life as one of the most sought-after running backs in the Class of 2010. Alabama wanted Billey Joe. So did Notre Dame. And dozens of other schools. He was ready to commit to Auburn. By many accounts Billey Joe was a popular, big-dreaming, clean-living kid. So it’s no wonder his father stands in the yard next to a single-wide trailer, trying to play forensic expert. Searching – like many in this rural community – for answers about who shot his son.
Local authorities stopped Billey Joe for a traffic violation on the morning of Dec. 8, and they say the truck is simply the site of a terrible tragedy. But to the elder Johnson, it’s a crime scene.
Nearly two months later, only one fact is certain: Instead of running out of George County as a football hero, Billey Joe was buried beneath it at the age of 17.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Your Black Politics: Barack Obama’s Stimulus Finally Passed by Senate
With job losses soaring nationwide, Senate Democrats reached agreement with key Republicans Friday night on an economic stimulus measure at the heart of President Barack Obama's plan for combatting the worst recession in decades. "The American people want us to work together. They don't want to see us dividing along partisan lines on the most serious crisis confronting our country," said Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, one of two GOP senators who signaled support for the bill.
Officials put the cost of the measure at $780 billion in tax cuts and new spending combined. No details were immediately available, and there appeared to be some confusion even among senators about the price tag as floor debate continued late into the night.
The agreement capped a tense day of backroom negotiations in whichSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid, joined by White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, sought to attract the support of enough Republicans to give the measure the needed 60-vote majority.
In addition to Collins, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he would vote for the bill. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, remained uncommitted.
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