MERELY AN OVERSIGHT

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MERELY AN OVERSIGHT

 

 Dear Friends:

 

Years ago, people would reprimand each other for neglecting to look at, or to “factor into” their analyses or activities, certain things. We (the guilty culprits who had been careless) would say, “Sorry, sir. It must have been an oversight on my part. I’ll be more careful next time. I promise.”

 

Oversight was [etymologically speaking] a first cousin to the term “Overlook.”  I remember saying things like, “Damn. We must have overlooked something. It’s got to be somewhere. We’d better find it before your dad comes home.”

 

Under any circumstances, the terms oversight and overlook were generally used in the negative. Ironically, in government and big business, we find a proliferation of Oversight Committees. I think these committees, or subcommittees or other groups are actually intended to oversee matters – to watch over them diligently. But perhaps what they do is more overlooking than overseeing. The sad reality of this is that whether these oversight groups overlook or oversee, they generally take no corrective action.

 

These groups are merely public relations ploys to appease disgruntled citizens that something is “being done.” Oversight committees are generally impotent, compromised (conflicts of interest sometimes tempt people to simply let evil things go on – especially if they are paid well), confused (i.e., “This is a swell job. Thanks Mr. President. Umm…. Whatta we supposed to do again?”), experimenting with astral projection (where their physical bodies remain in their leather seats, but their minds are travelling to vast reaches of space) or making paper planes.  

 

I hope that you enjoy this biodegradable piece plucked from the recent annals of The New York Times.

 

Obama to Urge Oversight of Insurers' Rate Increases

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Sun, February 21, 2010 -- 9:13 PM ET
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Obama to Urge Oversight of Insurers' Rate Increases

President Obama will propose on Monday giving the federal
government new power to block excessive rate increases by
health insurance companies, as he rolls out comprehensive
legislation to revamp the nation's health care system, White House officials said.

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/health/policy/22health.html?emc=na

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Now get New York Times breaking news alerts sent to your mobile phone.
Sign up by texting NEWSALERTS to 698698 (NYTNYT).
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My questions: What does “oversight” mean? What’s the point? Why have an attack dog without any teeth and a lame leg? Why spend money on an investment that is certain to lose?

 

My Observation: Oversight is not a substitute for constructive, decisive action. It is means of deferring or avoiding a commitment to responsibility.

 

Thank you all for letting me rant.

 

Faithfully,

 

Douglas Castle

 

  

Social Media: Self Promotion vs. Self Destruction

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Social Media: Self Promotion vs. Self Destruction

Futurist, Internationalist and Author Douglas Castle Showcases Brenda Krueger Huffman as an invaluable informational resource.

Dear Friends:

Most of us utilize social media as a communication or news-gathering medium.

It is wonderful to have ideals. From our dreams, future reality is crafted. I am not opposed to dreaming. But I would advise that you carefully tread the line between dreams and a denial of reality as it exists in our World. I have been quoted as saying that "George Orwell was an optimist." I have also been quoted as saying that John, while writing the Book of Revelations during his inspiring but unsettling imprisonment, was  not so much a religious scribe as a student of Human Behavioral Psychology.

Before delving further into this discussion, realize the following facts, and think about their implications. While this may be unsettling news to many of us, that contingent of us which is considered to be paranoic will feel a bit vindicated. As my late father once said, "Being paranoid is not always crazy. Sometimes some people are really out to get you."

1. There is no such thing as "off the record." If someone hears (or overhears, or reads) your comments, they will invariably divulge what they know given a careless moment, coercion or compensation. As Delilah asked of her disillusioned shorn spouse, "How could you give me power and not expect me to use it?"

2. All telephone calls, computer keystrokes, emails, website surfing lists, faxes and other wire-transmitted, web-based or hard drive-stored information is accessible to numerous government agencies and private parties. All of it.

3. There is no longer any such thing as a privileged relationship between a congregant and his/her priest, lawyer or other person. All persons can be induced, by law, or by other means to testify.

4. When you fill out confidentiality forms at healthcare institutions and other sanctified places, the forms you sign are all subject to legal seizure, subpoena, or illegal inspection.

5. When you give any online (or other vendors), financial institutions, governmnet agencies your Social Security Number or other unnecessary personal identification information (which they claim is necessary, but can't explain why), odds are greater than 1 in 50 that you identity will be compromised through either direct abuse, or by sale to a third party who likes to buy things which you wouldn't ordinarily buy.

Having said this, remember that whatever you place on the internet, regardless of your privacy settings, can be accessed. if you put up pictures of yourself in compromising poses, or make some irresponsible statements, a prospective employer or partner can (and likely will find them) -- and thus your chances of getting hired will likely be greatly diminished.

If you use social media (and even texting) during business hours, it is likely that you are being monitored. The best way to contend with this lack of privacy is to be either A) silent; or B) honest but avoid incendiary, suggestive or insulting language (especially about your place of employment or about your incompetent, overbearing, flatulent and debaucherous boss); or C) use the social media to plant communications that you would want others to tap into which could serve your advantage...in the old days, when I rode a bike with training wheels, we called this "counter-espionage."

Brenda Krueger Huffman, a colleague and a Featured Columnist in The National Networker Newsletter writes her own blog, and I am a fan. I would suggest that you subscribe to Brenda's Blog (which is loaded with real-world, no-holds-barred insights) and to The National Networker Newsletter and its related GICBC at http://bit/ly/JoinTNNW .

The following content was excerpted from a recent issue of Brenda's Blog (http://brenda-huffman.blogspot.com/ ). I would suggest that you read it. On a regular basis.

Brenda's Blog

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Social Networking Can Get You Fired - Posted by Law & Social Networking Posted: 21 Feb 2010 03:00 AM PST I have written several articles regarding social networking and privacy with particular emphasis on how it relates to interviewing for a job in today's employment environment.  I've also written several articles regarding the importance of an online presence in competing well in today's business world.  A balance of the two is needed as well as just plain common sense! I am a member of the group Law & Social Networking.  I wanted to share this most important L&S blog post with you written by Shalanda Ballard titled "Social Networking Can Get You Fired".  Article Link

____________________________________________________ 

Thank you, Brenda. And thank you for joining our GICBC at The National Networker Companies - your insights and information are an invaluable resource for all who are fortunate enough to tune in.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

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WALKING AWAY...

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WALKING AWAY...

Dear Friends:

I have said it before: "Stop watering a dead tree."

Sometimes a limb is so badly infected that it cannot be repaired...it must be amputated. Sometimes something is so tragically broken that it no amount of effort, love or money can fix it...it must be scrapped and replaced.

When you cannot work within a system, sometimes you must work outside of the system --i.e., working on it instead of in it. And when you cannot win playing by somebody else's rules, sometimes you must make your own.

It takes time, but some special people arrive at a point in their comprehension of the way things are where they fully understand that the game is rigged, and that no matter what they do, they are slated to lose. It hurts to have been hustled or conned, but it downright kills you when you know that you are being hustled and that you are powerless to walk away. It erodes your self-esteem. It can embitter you.

When a socio-economic system is so inherently corrupt that it is cancerous, you can no longer work within its confines to reform it. You must pack your bags and leave, or perhaps, if you've the requisite courage (and artillery), you can get everyone else to clear out and play in somebody else's yard.

I frequently speak of the need for new beginnings, for fresh thoughts, for a clean slate. I frequently speak of the need to get people's attention - to shake them out of their hypnotic torpor. I frequently speak of collaboration and cooperation instead of confrontation and partisanship.

In my socio-economic model of the Global Interworked Cooperative Business Community as a new form of entity, I  do not see the need for stealing from others to enrich myself. I believe that if we work together, the inherent synergy produced will allow both of us to win, and to share in the prosperity. It saddens me to think that so many people have become brainwashed into believing that there are only winners and losers, and that winners can only become winners by stealing from the losers, leaving them to starve. We live in a time when people define morality to suit convenience.

I have come to understand how riots are incited and revolutions are born; how some people walk away from the trappings of "civilization" and disappear to live "off the grid."

I find it incredibly frightening, yet somehow encouraging, when a career politician walks away from the game because he becomes disgusted with its lies, rationalizations, destructiveness...its inertia and its hopelessness.

I salute US Senator Evan Bayh today for his taking decisive action instead of resorting to empty rhetoric. [cue drumroll]. He decided to say "no more."

Read this, brought to you by the Yahoo! News Blog:

Disillusioned Bayh advocates electoral “shock” to broken system

Tue Feb 16, 7:35 pm ET

In an interview on MSNBC this morning, newly retiring Sen. Evan Bayh declared the American political system "dysfunctional," riddled with "brain-dead partisanship" and permanent campaigning. Flatly denying any possibility that he'd seek the presidency or any other higher office, Bayh argued that the American people needed to deliver a "shock" to Congress by voting incumbents out en masse and replacing them with people interested in reforming the process and governing for the good of the people, rather than deep-pocketed special-interest groups.

Bayh's announcement stunned the American political world, as up until just last week he looked to be well on his way to an easy reelection for a third term in the Senate, and his senior staff was aggressively pursuing that goal.

But Bayh had apparently become increasingly frustrated in the Senate. In this morning's interview he noted that just two weeks ago, Republicans who had co-sponsored a bill with him to rein in the deficit turned around and voted against it for purely political reasons. He also stated repeatedly that members of his own party should be more willing to settle for a compromise rather than holding out for perfection.

"Sometimes half a loaf is better than none," Bayh insisted.
####

Bayh has taken a necessary first step -- acknowledging that something is just plain wrong, and walking away from it. But who will take the second step -- finding a better way for all of us? That remains to be seen... Pointing out a problem is helpful, but solving problems is what growth and progress are ultimately all about.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

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Labels, Tags and Terms: Evan Bayh, Problem-Solving, partisan politics, negotiation, compromise, collaboration, integrity, new social paradigms, TNNW, Articles by Douglas Castle,

Drawing The Line - Don't Let Your Competence and Generosity Make You a Target For Abuse.

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Drawing The Line.

If you should have the misfortune of being competent and word of your ability gets out...if you should be generous, and word of your generosity escapes...you will invariably find yourself at the very bottom of a heavy and malodorous pile of compost comprised other people's problems, burdens, errands and favors. You might feel guilty. You may feel overwhelmed.

Eventually this can lead to a growing malignancy of resentment and anger. Don't explode! Unload.

The problem is caused by limitless acceptance of responsibility, and the fault is in your failure to communicate your limitations to those who have become overly-dependent upon you. You may have even helped to inculcate a feeling of entitlement in these people. This pattern helps neither your, nor those who depend upon you. All parties are weakened by it.

Draw the line, and learn to guard it. Your sanity might be of benefit to everybody.

Here's an example of a proclamation, wherein a line is drawn:

Dear Family, Friends, Colleagues and Hard-Won Clients:

I have drawn a line, and you are treading close to it. I am nobody's clerk. I am nobody's errand boy. I am nobody's servant. I have no further interest in yielding to anybody else's priorities, agendas or problems. Mine must come first. I will accommodate you when, as and if I have adequate time and resources.

Life is filled with deadlines, responsibilities and emergencies. They cannot all be mine. 

I am asking you to be more self-sufficient and enterprising, and to be as respectful of my needs as I am of yours. Thank you.

Respectfully, and finally,

Douglas

p.s. Perhaps the problem can be solved by more self-reliance, more staffing for assistance and delegation, and by letting me do the things that are most important to my life and my mission, for our collective benefit.

About Douglas Castle 
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Braintenance - Stay razor sharp.
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Pay Attention. Look Around You.

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The New U.S. Work Ethic

Dear Friends:

I have a question about which of the following two slogans best describes the new U.S. Work Ethic -- the ethic that drives the poorer and middle classes:

1). Horatio Alger's "Strive and Succeed."

or...

2). "Arbeit Macht Frei." *

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

* Arbeit Macht Frei (German, exact origin obscure)


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Labels, Terms and Tags: arbeit macht frei, Articles by Douglas Castle, history repeating itself, horatio alger, Humanitarian Vigilance, irony, self-advocacy, strive and succeed, work ethics.






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A Brief Note About Nuclear Energy.

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Rare Earth Elements and Thorium advocates. Champions of atomic and nuclear power. The only good news that I offer you today is that fact that US President Barack Obama is coming out strongly in favor of nuclear energy. Windmills, solar panels and other "green" alternatives are excellent, each in its own way. The first difficulty is the time required to convert our entire infrastructure and technological interface to utilize wind and solar power. The second is the amount of work which must be done, and the amount of time that work will take to complete, in order to produce and harness sufficient stored supplies of these types of power (think of the example of a battery) to be free of the yoke of fossil fuels and Big Oil. - Douglas Castle








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