On the Recent Unemployment Numbers

Republican Congressman from Michigan, Thaddeus McCotter, gives a powerful speech on the recent unemployment numbers and what they mean to our society. As you listen to him think about the following questions:

  • What can each of us do to release our own entrepreneurial spirit in these troubled times?
  • What must we demand of our government as unemployment rises and economic news worsens?
  • Who do we want to be at the other end of this economic downturns?

The Bobby Kennedy Quote in the Speech:

“Even as the drive toward bigness [and] concentration . . . has reached heights never before dreamt of in the past, we have come suddenly to realize how heavy a price we have paid . . . in loss of the values of nature and community and local diversity that found their nurture in the smaller towns and rural areas of America. And we can see, as we enter the last third of the twentieth century, that the price has been too high. Bigness, loss of community, organizations and society grown far past the human scale-these are the besetting sins of the twentieth century, which threaten to paralyze our very capacity to act, or our ability to preserve the traditions and values of our past in a time of swirling, constant change. . . . 
 

Therefore, the time has come . . . when we must actively fight bigness and over concentration, and seek instead to bring the engines of government, of technology, of the economy, fully under the control of our citizens, to recapture and reinforce the values of a more human time and place . . . 
 

It is not more bigness that should be our goal. We must attempt, rather, to bring people back to . . . the warmth of community, to the worth of individual effort and responsibility . . . and of individuals working together as a community, to better their lives and their children’s future . . . if this country is to move ahead

. . . it will not be by making everything bigger, not by piling all our people further on top of one another in huge cities, not by reducing the citizen to the role of passive consumer and recipient of the official vision, the official product.” 

The District, Episode 5

And without further adieu, this week’s episode of “The District.”

Categories: Politics, The District

Be Careful

With unemployment increasing by over 500,000 people each month it’s more important now than ever to be cognizant about how others see you. If you are on facebook, check out this video.

The District: Episode 4 “Team Barack World Tour”

Yet another episode of my favorite reality TV show since MTV’s “The Hills.”

Categories: Politics, The District

The Agenda

Last week, President Obama outlined his agenda to a joint session of Congress. He will tackle green jobs, health care, education, and will slash the budget deficit. I’ve spoken with a number of people who have watched the speech and I’ve heard mixed reviews. Some thought it was too broad, while others thought it was just right. Some said there weren’t enough specifics, while others reported feeling hopeful and inspired by rhetoric.

Whether you thought the speech was effective or not it doesn’t matter. Our new President has outlined a bold agenda for the next four years. I believe that by giving a speech – void of the minutiae – he appealed to our highest ideals. He was saying that we are on a journey for which there is no charted course. He was saying that while we may not know the territory, we do know the destination. Isn’t that what JFK did when he challenged America to land a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s? At the time he had no idea how we would get there, and in 1969 we landed a man on the moon.

Big dreams and high ideals make America great, and Obama’s speech left filled me with hope and optimism. I don’t quite know how we’ll get there, but I know that we will – somehow… someway.

Barry Schwartz on Practical Wisdom

February 20, 2009 Ross Rocketto Leave a comment

In this TED Talk Ben Schwartz delves into what got us into this current economic crisis and gives us some suggestions on how we may find our way out of it. Here are some questions to think about as you watch this talk:

  • Does your organization give you the flexibility to be wise?
  • How – if at all – can government play a role in creating wise citizens?
  • What does ‘practical  wisdom’ mean in your life?

The District, Episode 3

February 20, 2009 Ross Rocketto Leave a comment

Yes, you’ve guessed it. Time for another installment of Newsweek’s online reality series ‘The District.’ Check it out!

Categories: Politics, The District

A New Way to Think About Creativity

February 15, 2009 Ross Rocketto Leave a comment

In this TEDTalk author Elizabeth Gilbert takes a new look at genius and creativity. As you watch this video think about the following question:

  • How do you relate to your own personal genius?
  • Where does your inspiration come from?
  • How can you alter the relationship with your genius?

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

February 14, 2009 Ross Rocketto Leave a comment

President Barack Obama discusses the recent passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Newsweek’s “The District” Episode 2

February 14, 2009 Ross Rocketto Leave a comment

Newsweek has created a second episode of the hit internet sensation “The District.” Feast your eyes out!

Categories: Politics, The District