Caught by Surprise

There is one conclusion you come to if you live long enough and are observant. That is that things change. This is true for some things that seem to be impervious to significant change.

It would surprise people today that are not senior citizens, that business did not always value or want college graduates.  Up until the middle of the last century, it was tradition that employees rose through the ranks and achieved tenure. The person that occupied the corner office likely started in the stock room and advanced over decades. Even a founder family member had to apprentice. Business believed that the way to get the best employees was to develop and acculturate them. They frowned on people that changed jobs or careers. They were considered not to be loyal. Loyalty was valued.

The biggest large diverse businesses at the time, such as AT&T, IBM and General Motors had their own employee education facilities. Their facilitates could rival some of the better universities. Remember the times. America was still a manufacturing behemoth and most any job was hands on. This skill development was not going to be acquired in a traditional classroom setting. Nor was the desired acculturation to the business.

The training at these business education facilities was specific to the needs of their jobs. It was a "best practices approach". Employees in the more technical areas amassed certification credits. However, there was also a gentlemen’s agreement amount these businesses that the credits were not accepted at another company. This locked the employees in to their company. 

What changed? Manufacturing picked up the moniker of "the rust belt". Manufacturing shifted "off shore" and facilities were idled. America in the 1980s inaugurated its shift to a service economy. Service economy jobs required far less skills training. What was required was basic competency in reading and writing. The businesses needed far less workers and could pay less. They shifted much of their core training needs to the traditional education system. The businesses were able to reduce their training expenses and be more profitable. The public picked up the tab. 

Many graduate schools have what is known as a "capstone" project. It is where a group of students goes to a business and craft and execute something in the business' interests. This is done under the guise of giving students real business experience. Most often is an opportunity for business to get something done for free. It is no accident you hear the cry in regards to education, "...give business what they want".  We have shifted from an education system developing analytical thinkers to providing task skills.

The shift to college educated workers caught a whole generation by surprise and disenfranchised them from a here-to-fore middle class life style with a secondary education.

I started off by saying the only thing certain is change. Will you be caught by surprise at change, by something today seemingly impervious to significant change?

     

If Mitt Romney had won

If Mitt Romney had won the Presidential election, his Administration would be basking in the adoration of an improved economy. He would be taking credit for a lower jobless rate, a housing sector improvement, increased business spending and a surging stock market. There would have been no “Sequester”. The upbeat financial situation would allow pushing through the Conservative agenda. But as they say on those late night sales pitches …” but there is more”.

The Romney Administration would be trying to resist the neo-conservative hawks. The Hawks would want intervention in Syria. They would want an attack of Iran. They would want a direct confrontation with China. Romney would be looking at what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He would be thinking about the evolving fall out from the “Arab Spring”. More importantly he would be keeping his fingers crossed that World War III does not start on his watch.

Few Americans realize how precarious the situation with North Korea is at this point. We have consistently over the years misread their intentions. Today the government is downplaying the catastrophe that might take place. A Romney Administration would see it as a jeopardy to its domestic agenda. They know they cannot avoid being drawn in with a significant North Korean provoking. Other nations would see it as an opportunity to enhance their position with America by provoking situations of their own that further stretch resources. The other nations can use this angst as a bargaining chip. It would not be just Iran, but Israel and many others. America would find itself surrounded by a herd of restless cats nipping at its heels.

Perhaps North Korea’s belligerence is directed at the new administration in China too. China may have signaled they want change or greater control of North Korea. China would be forced to respond to significant American action in regards to Korea in some way. China would likely avoid direct military action. It has an arsenal of things it could do. America would need to placate China quickly to keep things from spinning completely out of control. America would probably immediately allow Chinese sovereign wealth funds to buy things considered strategic assets as a bribe.

Mitt Romney's domestic platform would be crafted to reward major election supporters. He would eviscerate the National Labor Relations Board, the EPA, the EEOC, and consumer watchdog agencies. He would reduce the effective tax rate of the wealthiest and dismantle public education. Religious initiatives would be instituted in public education. He would privatize social security, repeal Roe vs. Wade, shift more NASA funding and work to the Pentagon, fully militarize the southern border and enlarge the Medicare doughnut hole.

However most Americans would feel comforted that the Nation is back in the hands of a traditional White American.