Leadership

Oh that Bernie Sanders!  What a guy. He speaks to the nation from little Vermont. He’s even an Independent – too clean to be a republican or democrat. Probably what makes him so good to listen to! He makes so much sense. Like this little reminder:

“Frankly, we will look like fools throughout the entire global economy if we are talking about the need to combat global warming while, at the same time, advocating for more and more dirty oil.”  ~Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Well that’s a good take on the situation. Oil is a finite commodity. It is found with much difficulty, and extracted from the earth with even more difficulty and consequences. Intended or otherwise! And the geopolitical issues abound with the commodity. Seems it is dirty in more ways than one.

So the question is – Why do we insist on maintaining the oil standard in America?

I think the answer to that question is pretty obvious: Because big oil, big auto, and big investment banks insist on it. And then, the consequences of geopolitics insist on war or warlike armaments and the military/industrial complex joins big oil, big auto and big investment banks in the ear splitting chorus of “Save the Oil!”

Leadership? Seems more like follower-ship to me. And down the wrong path at that!

The world is a bright and inventive place. Educational institutions abound. Research and development efforts are abuzz with many things. How about new energy forms? You know, to replace Big Oil?

We now drive a hybrid. Made in South Korea, even. A solid, reliable car. And the hybrid part makes the importance of gas stations dwindle. We smile, even smirk at their falling prices. We need them less and less. Oh, we still need them, but less and less you know?

If we all insisted on this Big Auto would get the message. So would Big Oil. Then the Big Investment Banks would have nothing much to say. They don’t lead anyway. They follow other leaders to the well of return on investment.

Big Auto and Big Oil are in protective mode. They fight change. They are not in transportation or energy. They are into the specifics that boost their return on investment. Only it is the world’s geopolitics that are losing out.

So we, the consumer, the citizens of the global community have to raise our voices and demand the new energy and transportation standards. Can you imagine the new jobs, the new investment, the new returns on investment? And all on managing change for the good of the globe.

The Mind Boggles!

December 2, 2014