In my last blog my right brain asserted that what will replace “individualistic capitalism would be “social or community capitalism,” and that paradigm will prevail by 2015 – 2020. My right brain also claimed that over the next 10 years we will see the emergence of local and community-based micro-economies, of companies and corporations that we will assess by 3 if not 4 bottom lines and so on.
My right brain has had second, third, fourth, and many more thoughts since then – in its inimitable right-brainy way.
Now my right brain attributes that what is replacing our hitherto form of capitalism and others’ hitherto forms of socialism is neither capitalism nor socialism, but both capitalism and socialism together dialectically, synergistically.
The form that companies will take my right brains foresees is one of 4 bottom lines equally measured on the re-invented stock markets that will play at all levels: locally (owned by local investors in a county say), nationally (owned much like today’s investors in the NYSE etc) and globally (owned by investors anywhere but traded in a neutral venue like a United Nations Sustainability or Green Zone.
“The 4 bottom lines, or integrated bottom line,” says my right brain, “will consist of the following 4 Ps.”
Profit (WHAT) – sustainable financial returns that provide for re-investment and some reasonable reward for all contributors to the organization’s success.
People (WHO) – social capital that is derived from the connections (true connections) made by the 3 Cs i.e., the Company (employees), the Customers and the Community. This is measured by the social benefit metric, to be discussed in another blog and which is emerging as we speak.
Planet (WHERE) – environmental awareness and stewardship derived from the understanding that Nature is our meta-parent and the only one we all share. It, so my right brain insists, has heaps of ideas, suggestions, actions and behaviors that, if we mimic them much like we mimic our own parents, elders or older siblings or role models now, can quickly help us back onto a sustainability course versus the extinction track we have chosen thus far. This is measured by environmental neutrality or enhancement, also to be delved into at a later date.
Notice that when my right brain uses the word sustainability, it means at least what the definition of sustainability is per the “Sustainability Dictionary” (www.sustainabilitydictionary.com) i.e., development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Peace (HOW) - the strategy or way for living, working, playing, transacting, interacting and relating with one another and Nature going forward. This way, my right brain thinks, is the conscious alternative to what humanity has, by and large, employed as its predominant strategy since time immemorial, namely War. Ironically, my right brain urges us to notice, whether in politics, business, sports, or whatever, we have all too often made the claim that the current war – be it against another nation, against disease, against illegal substances will achieve peace. The new paradigm, my right brain asserts, has integrated as reality the fact, so succinctly stated by Mahatma Gandhi: there is no way to peace, peace is the way.
Wow! Imagine a world in which businesses, their customers, their shareholders, their suppliers and partners hold themselves to those 4 bottom lines?
Exciting isn’t it?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The Economic Context Shift - Picking Up Speed …
We are in the midst of what we call the “economic downturn,” or “the recession,” or “the economic crisis.” The reality is much deeper than any of those terms imply. In fact, my right brain avers, we are experiencing the demise of individualistic capitalism, the system we thought of as synonymous with democracy; as the way the world should function!
Wait, wait! Before you jump to conclusions, get defensive, argumentative or dismissive and at least hear my right brain out.
It began in 1980 with Ronald Reagan becoming president of the United States, the leading example of “the capitalist system.” During those years, Reagan et al focused on cutting taxes and reducing reliance on government while increasing U.S. national defense (calling it “defense” is actually a misnomer – a topic my right brain will explore down the road) It was when capitalism as individualistic economic ideology culminated and began its decline, which is now accelerating and it feels like a crisis.
If my right brain remembers correctly the 1980s was the “ME” era when Leona Helmsley, Ivan Boesky and Donald Trump emerged as icons of “the haves,” and the United States triumphed at the LA Olympic Games while the Soviets sat out “citing security concerns and chauvinistic sentiments and an anti-Soviet hysteria being whipped up in the United States.” (Wikipedia/NY Times).
With Apple, Microsoft and Silicon Valley growing prodigiously, Michael Jackson, and Madonna wowing the world; Americans that had it flaunted it and turned a blind eye while Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North traded drugs and guns with Iran and the Contras in the basement of the White House.
Simultaneously, the antithesis of individualistic capitalism, communism or state capitalism, was nearing the end of its disgusting run. Led by a person of intellect, Mikhail Gorbachev, whose ‘perestroika’ (restructuring) was actually aimed at opening up the choking Soviet economy, the Soviet system collapsed in part in the period 1987 – 1991. My right brain says “in part” because it is resurging again temporarily under Putin like individualistic capitalism did under Bush-Cheney for a few years. Ironically, while Reagan took, and America gave him, credit for the collapse of communism, it was really the first phase of individualistic capitalism’s demise that he, and we, had achieved!
Individualistic capitalism (“capitalism”), the thesis, had to have state capitalism (“communism”), the antithesis, to survive. Once communism fell, it was just a matter of time before capitalism went too. And now it is on its way, inexorably, unequivocally.
“Why is individualistic capitalism over?” my right brain asks, “and what is replacing it?”
It is over because it is unsustainable, simple as that. It is unsustainable because its two keystone principles “individualism” and “maximal growth” attempt to defy the laws of Nature.
Human beings are not individualistic evolutionarily or by design. We are relational creatures who need one another to survive. In fact, we not only need other humans to survive, we need a healthy ecosystem of water, air, soil, plant, insect and animal life – there is no doubt about it.
In Nature, growth is optimal not maximal and where that precept is denied the organism dies out like the brontosaurus did. Trees, animals, humans and all other organisms grow and then they reach a level of sustainability where aspects of them are shed for new growth (innovation) to appear.
With the election of Barack Obama as U.S. president, the world has entered a new economic context, “social or community capitalism,” which will become our paradigm by 2015 – 2020. The economy will never return to what it was.
Over the next decade we will see the emergence of local and community-based micro-economies, of companies and corporations that we will assess by 3 if not 4 bottom lines; financial, social benefit, environmental and even spiritual. We will address climate change and thus we will learn to become green (read: sustainable) in everything we do; how we think, converse, lead, govern, manage, tend, attend, work, play and relate. We will significantly alleviate poverty, hunger and violence on the large scale i.e., government, cartel and gang related.
This is an exhilarating time to be alive!
Wait, wait! Before you jump to conclusions, get defensive, argumentative or dismissive and at least hear my right brain out.
It began in 1980 with Ronald Reagan becoming president of the United States, the leading example of “the capitalist system.” During those years, Reagan et al focused on cutting taxes and reducing reliance on government while increasing U.S. national defense (calling it “defense” is actually a misnomer – a topic my right brain will explore down the road) It was when capitalism as individualistic economic ideology culminated and began its decline, which is now accelerating and it feels like a crisis.
If my right brain remembers correctly the 1980s was the “ME” era when Leona Helmsley, Ivan Boesky and Donald Trump emerged as icons of “the haves,” and the United States triumphed at the LA Olympic Games while the Soviets sat out “citing security concerns and chauvinistic sentiments and an anti-Soviet hysteria being whipped up in the United States.” (Wikipedia/NY Times).
With Apple, Microsoft and Silicon Valley growing prodigiously, Michael Jackson, and Madonna wowing the world; Americans that had it flaunted it and turned a blind eye while Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North traded drugs and guns with Iran and the Contras in the basement of the White House.
Simultaneously, the antithesis of individualistic capitalism, communism or state capitalism, was nearing the end of its disgusting run. Led by a person of intellect, Mikhail Gorbachev, whose ‘perestroika’ (restructuring) was actually aimed at opening up the choking Soviet economy, the Soviet system collapsed in part in the period 1987 – 1991. My right brain says “in part” because it is resurging again temporarily under Putin like individualistic capitalism did under Bush-Cheney for a few years. Ironically, while Reagan took, and America gave him, credit for the collapse of communism, it was really the first phase of individualistic capitalism’s demise that he, and we, had achieved!
Individualistic capitalism (“capitalism”), the thesis, had to have state capitalism (“communism”), the antithesis, to survive. Once communism fell, it was just a matter of time before capitalism went too. And now it is on its way, inexorably, unequivocally.
“Why is individualistic capitalism over?” my right brain asks, “and what is replacing it?”
It is over because it is unsustainable, simple as that. It is unsustainable because its two keystone principles “individualism” and “maximal growth” attempt to defy the laws of Nature.
Human beings are not individualistic evolutionarily or by design. We are relational creatures who need one another to survive. In fact, we not only need other humans to survive, we need a healthy ecosystem of water, air, soil, plant, insect and animal life – there is no doubt about it.
In Nature, growth is optimal not maximal and where that precept is denied the organism dies out like the brontosaurus did. Trees, animals, humans and all other organisms grow and then they reach a level of sustainability where aspects of them are shed for new growth (innovation) to appear.
With the election of Barack Obama as U.S. president, the world has entered a new economic context, “social or community capitalism,” which will become our paradigm by 2015 – 2020. The economy will never return to what it was.
Over the next decade we will see the emergence of local and community-based micro-economies, of companies and corporations that we will assess by 3 if not 4 bottom lines; financial, social benefit, environmental and even spiritual. We will address climate change and thus we will learn to become green (read: sustainable) in everything we do; how we think, converse, lead, govern, manage, tend, attend, work, play and relate. We will significantly alleviate poverty, hunger and violence on the large scale i.e., government, cartel and gang related.
This is an exhilarating time to be alive!
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Beginning ....
My right brain way of thinking has been a blessing (to me) most of the time as it offers me the opportunity to surprise myself with connections and patterns I have not heard, seen, or experienced before.
My right brain way of thinking has been a challenge (to some others and to me) some of the time because the surprising connections, patterns and ideas can collide with conventional or traditional thinking.
All that said, I have decided to share my right brain's perspectives on what is happening in the world generally and specifically.
The meta-story or overarching backdrop to what is happening in the world, that my right brain perceives, is the most meaningful contextual shift for humanity since the Industrial revolution about 250 years ago i.e., the Sustainability revolution.
My right brain is not alone in this perception by the way and that is both good and comforting news!
Good news because since the Sustainability revolution shift is contextual, much of what we think, feel and do is changing fundamentally everywhere.
Comforting news because after many years of being dismissed (at worst) or not taken too seriously (mostly) my right brain detects company!!
Over time my right brain will unpack the meaning (to it) of the Sustainability revolution. For this introductory blog suffice it to say that sustainability means appropriate or "as it would be if it were deigned by Nature."
And the implication is that human beings are learning fast that only by being that way i.e., sustainable, are we assured, if not guaranteed, a future on this magnificent planet.
Being sustainable then in every aspect of our lives from how we steward Nature (air, water, soil) and how we converse with one another; to how we manage, lead, follow and create human culture to how we relate to and with animals, birds and insects.
My right brain encourages you to enjoy the ride!
My right brain way of thinking has been a challenge (to some others and to me) some of the time because the surprising connections, patterns and ideas can collide with conventional or traditional thinking.
All that said, I have decided to share my right brain's perspectives on what is happening in the world generally and specifically.
The meta-story or overarching backdrop to what is happening in the world, that my right brain perceives, is the most meaningful contextual shift for humanity since the Industrial revolution about 250 years ago i.e., the Sustainability revolution.
My right brain is not alone in this perception by the way and that is both good and comforting news!
Good news because since the Sustainability revolution shift is contextual, much of what we think, feel and do is changing fundamentally everywhere.
Comforting news because after many years of being dismissed (at worst) or not taken too seriously (mostly) my right brain detects company!!
Over time my right brain will unpack the meaning (to it) of the Sustainability revolution. For this introductory blog suffice it to say that sustainability means appropriate or "as it would be if it were deigned by Nature."
And the implication is that human beings are learning fast that only by being that way i.e., sustainable, are we assured, if not guaranteed, a future on this magnificent planet.
Being sustainable then in every aspect of our lives from how we steward Nature (air, water, soil) and how we converse with one another; to how we manage, lead, follow and create human culture to how we relate to and with animals, birds and insects.
My right brain encourages you to enjoy the ride!
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