All too frequently this past decade we have heard the refrain “connecting the dots”, or more specifically a failure to connect the dots, which has resulted in some of the most traumatic and devastating events in our history. The question, which begs an answer is, “why can’t or will we connect the dots if the potential failures could be catastrophic?
With this refrain in my head, due to the recent media barrage of the unsuccessful airline terror attempt, I settled in to reading a couple of articles, which on the surface seemed to be on entirely different topics; a welcome relief from all the terror dot noise.
The first article by Frank Rich, The Other Plot to Wreck America” is a warning to not become fixated on looking in people’s underwear for bombs while the “Too Big To Fail Banks” and Wall Street continue unregulated to build and amass weapons of economic mass destruction. His intent was not to minimize the need for better airline security, but when comparing threats to national security it deserves to be colored coded yellow, and the threat to our financial system should be raised to RED.
Rich is hopeful, but not optimistic, that a recently initiated Congressional investigation will result in needed changes, “If they (Wall Street Banks) all skate away yet again by deflecting blame or mounting pro forma mea culpas, it will be a sign that this inquiry, like so many other promises of reform since 9/15/09, is likely to leave Wall Street’s status quo largely intact. That’s the ticking-bomb scenario that truly imperils us all.”
Rich also quotes Paul Volcker, highlighting another dot, which is begging to be connected, “There is not one shred of evidence that any financial innovation of the past 20 years has led to economic growth.” My take on this quote is that bank profits, along with executive bonuses were and continue to be made on financial products, referred to as instruments, that don’t contribute in a tangible way to creating and sustaining a viable and robust economy and a sustainable planet. These instruments have primarily contributed to the wealth of less that 1% of the U.S. population and have left the folks who live on “main street” financially vulnerable, with many facing ruin. At one-time banks invested in people who articulated their ideas in business plans to produce something of value. In this arrangement the bank, the investor, her employees and consumers all benefit. Now banks place their bets on credit default swaps were the only winners are themselves (even when they lose their bets).
The second article, Who’s Sleeping Now, by Thomas Friedman focuses on China’s ascendance in the Energy Technology (ET) Revolution. Friedman quotes C.H. Tung, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, “China was asleep during the industrial revolution. She was just waking during the Technology Revolution. She intends to participate fully in the Green Revolution.” China is placing it’s bets on the world needing alternative energy sources to fuel it’s economic engines, therefore they are investing and taking risks in ET.
Later in the article he quotes Bill Gross who runs a California company called eSolar to show how aggressive China is investing in ET, and which exemplifies the “old” way banks made money and contributed value: “The biggest solar-thermal deal ever. It’s a 2 gigawatt, $5 billion deal to build plants in China using California-based technology. China is being even more aggressive than the U.S. We applied for a loan for a 92 megawatt project in New Mexico, and in less time than it took them to do stage 1 of the application review, China signs, approves and is ready to begin construction this year on a 20 times bigger project.”
This vignette was followed by a prediction from Andrew Brandler, the C.E.O. of CLP Group, “By the end of this decade, China will be dominating global production of the whole range of power equipment.” Additionally, China will also introduce the fastest bullet train in the world this year as our rail system struggles to be viable. This information was amazing and distressing; the dots were becoming increasingly clear and larger, and by connecting them the picture become increasingly alarming.
While all of this is in process, our government creates committees and holds hearings to address dots, while being oblivious to how they are connected:
- Establish blame for airline security breaches
- Decide how many billons should be spent for body scanners
- How to take less than half measures to deal with financial weapons of mass destruction
- How to avoid meaningful and effective legislation to deal with climate change
- How not to approve a system of healthcare that is fair and equitable
- How two people crashed a State Dinner
Meanwhile, China is investing its resources in becoming the preeminent global producer of green energy, power equipment and efficient mass transportation. Does anyone see any DOTS we should be connecting? Is anyone aware that if we don’t connect these DOTS we will be contributing and hastening the demise of this nation and become a bigger threat than we are currently to the planet’s health and its inhabitants?
Lets hypnotize that we could guarantee that not one terrorist will ever board an airplane, this factor will not significantly impact our level of national security compared to the risks of climate change and the need for alternative energy. We may feel safer, but in reality we will be less safe, a lot less safe.
Why do we get so fixated on the small dots – bombs in underpants and body scanners, and lose sight of the immense security issues that climate change and energy security are to all of us? One possible explanation is that our collective PTSD from 9/11 has our brains on permanent terror alert. This hyper-vigilance and absorption with our self-interest keeps us locked in reaction mode, which reduces our peripheral vision. These reactions reduce our capacity to see and connect the dots.
Patrick Smith and airline pilot and writer recently wrote and article with the sub-title: When did we become such a nation of scaredy-cats? In the article he asks, “What has become of us? Are we really in such a confused and panicked state that a person haplessly walking through the wrong door can disrupt air travel nationwide, resulting in mass evacuations and long delays? “The terrorists have won” is one of those waggish catch-alls that normally annoy me, but all too often it seems that way. Our reactionary, self-defeating behavior has put much at stake — our time, our tax dollars and our liberties.” In reading his article I could not help asking myself, will Congress panel another committee to investigate why people, who are over stressed, make mistakes and open secure exit doors in airports?
Our security and our fate, truly rests in our ability to connect the DOTS, to make difficult decisions backed with actions that are not half, but full measures – actions that will fully address the magnitude of the problems confronting us. Do we have the courage to face our fears, and to respond with a purposeful commitment to do what is right and fair for everyone? Or are we so intoxicated with our need for self-gratification and hyper-adrenalized fears for our security that we’ll shrink and cower from the real challenges that are clearly in front of us?
To overcome our human tendency to react to threats out of self-interest, we only need to connect with the story of human history. We were able to evolve and overcome threats and challenges by banding together in pursuit of a common purpose. In coming together we can soothe our individual and collective fears and regain our courage to face our challenges and move forward. Many times we have heard our leaders use another refrain, “We are a resilient people and nation, and we will not bow to threats and challenges.” These words do match our current behavior. We are not behaving in resilient ways nor are we thinking resiliently.
We have reached a tipping point, and we must call forth the courage that resides inside us. We must come together and share and celebrate our oneness. In our Oneness resides our resiliency, which provides us the courage, the strength and resolve to pursue a common purpose steadfastly.
Our government is dysfunctional and incapable of leading in these difficult times, but we need not feel abandoned and leaderless. If we band together in our oneness and common purpose the power of our resiliency will immerge and transformational change will take place.
One-way to begin connecting the Dots and to overcome our fear is to get involved. Fear isolates us and drives us to react in ways that are counter productive to our long-term goals. By banding together, as we have throughout our history, our voices will be heard. I invite you to explore the many partner organizations on the Planet 2025 Network and the Power of One site that are committed to courageous and resilient action. Find one you can connect with and join in their efforts. I guarantee you will feel safer, happier and you will be part of the solution. And please plan to be with us on 10-10-10.
Thank you for this. Knew within 24 hours of the 9/11 event that unless everyone in the U.S. took on the psychic mantle of ‘Soldier’ that terrorists would win. I am not afraid. Banding together in courage is the best defense. Bravo, Power of One, and good luck!