Nine Shift

America in decline: a real bummer

Decline of a superpower is a real bummer, says Professor Niall Ferguson, a Brit who now teaches at Harvard.

He was interviewed last week by Peter Day on the BBC's Global Business radio show. Click here to listen to this great 25 minute interview. 

Ferguson says relative decline for a superpower is a real bummer, with serious big time economic consequences. I don't disagree.  But I take issue with Prof Ferguson on when the British Empire decline took place, however. And this only adds to the bummer, because if I am correct, it means the people of the superpower nation (this would be us Americans today) don't even realize they are in decline until decades later.

Ferguson claims the British Empire and world dominance declined after WWII. I would say it happened 100 years ago this month, when King Edward VII of England died. The Edwardian Age ended, and Great Britain went into decline.  By 1920 America was leading the world in automobiles, military might, and even stole movies from France and created Hollywood.  But apparently the Brits were clueless, like the Americans today.  In WWII even Winston Churchill actually thought the United Kingdom would get back its colonies after the war. IF America is in decline, we won't realize it until way after it is too late.  Photo: King Edward VII

Privacy declining, really?

Is privacy declining, or do people have greater personal information protection now? Tell us your thoughts.

My favorite line of the week: "In the 21st century, everyone will have 15 minutes of - - privacy."  In the wake of Facebook's privacy announcement this week, I've been thinking about privacy past and present.

Up until the 1950s in my town, if you received a long distance phone call it was printed in the newspaper, along with the name of the person who called you.  100 years ago one could be ostracized from the community for not going to church, or having a disabled child, or having your daughter go to work, or driving on Sunday, or charging more than 7% interest, or not keeping your word.  The difference in this century is that while "privacy" may not mean the same thing as in the last century, no one will be able to do anything with your info. Laws will be made to prevent misuse of information about another person. What do you think? How will privacy and personal information be protected (or not) in this century?

Baby scared of train, oh my

As we move into the new century, you will see lots of silly, contradictory and emotional responses.

Today's favorite:  the new high speed passenger train coming to Madison, Wisconsin may scare the Schroeder family's baby.  Check out the story here.

My brilliant co-author Julie says the train whistles happened every night growing up. She soon did not even hear them.  My mother talked about hearing the milk wagon on the cobblestone street at 5 a.m., though it did not scare her.  I"m scared of cars, lawn mower noises, and this awful truck that drops a dumpster at the school next store at 6 am.   Trains scaring the baby, oh my.   There's irony somewhere: the Schroeder's live in a 19th century home.

Nine Shift Webinar Huge Success!

Missed the big webinar? Access the recording at

http://breeze.uliveandlearn.com/p81158280/

Thanks for all your participation!  More than 125 people attended, others are accessing the recording.

This was my first video webinar. Went well. Thanks to Denise Easton of ULiveandLearn.com

Free Webinar "Nine Shift for 2010" Set for May 19

Only a few hours til webinar time, but not too late to register.

Now 250 people signed up! 

Free webinar of my annual (new every year) Nine Shift speech.

Nine Shift for 2010: The Transition Begins

Wed May 19,  2 pm ET.  Click here to register.  No charge, complimentary, FREE.

PREMIERE of video!  You (hopefully) will be able to see me as well as the slides!

The debate over "high speed"

People are arguing over the term "high speed."  It's both a silly and good argument to have.

Specifically, with regard to Internet download speed and passenger trains.

Good. Because it means we are headed in the right direction, understanding higher speed is better.

Silly.  Because when it comes to trains, older people don't get it. Riding a slow train is still faster than driving.  Example: It takes 3 hours to drive to your city of choice, and 5 hours by train.  The train still takes less work time than the car, because one can work on the train all the way there. 

Photo: My brilliant co-author Julie Coates bought Internet wireless hardware so LERN staff driving to a staff retreat could access the Internet while in the van. Tammy Peterson listens to voice messages and responds to customer emails during the trip.

Rage and Age on the Right: Part III

Age is the third reason why there's Rage on the Right.

This is the third reason you won't find anywhere else.

The New York Times did a study of the 18% of Americans who sympathize with the Tea Party. They found a whole host of interesting demographics and characteristics, some totally bizarre.  For example, Tea Party people themselves feel better off under President Obama than do other Americans.

But here's the defining characteristic: they are old. 

Three. Age causes the Rage.

The generation gap is absolutely huge, and the cause of many if not most of the divisions in our country. If only people over 40 voted, John McCain would have been President.
If only people over 40 could decide, we would not have had healthcare reform.
And if only people under 40 could join the Tea Party, there would be only a few followers.

Interesting dilemma for Republicans: healthcare, trains, financial reform, etc. are all good for business, all good for society, all will happen.  How Republicans adapt and embrace the 21st century will be interesting. 

Photo: Birthplace of the Republican Party, at the time a school house. Photo by our Nine Shift photographer, Doyle Darvis.

Rage on the Right: Part II

Tea Party folks and others have a legitimate fear of the 21st century.

This is the second of a 3 point explanation of Rage on the Right you won't get from any other source.

Two. Legitimate fear.  

One hundred years ago, a Pennsylvania farmers group urged its members to shoot at cars. I used to think that was funny, so did all my audiences.  Now with right wingers threatening violence, I understand more the fear they have. 

It is a legitimate fear.  The auto destroyed a whole way of living.  Today the web is destroying a whole way of living.  There's nothing they (or anyone) can do about it, but it is a legitimate fear.

Photo: Front cover of Harper's Magazine from 100 years ago.  The title, "The Invader," aptly sums up the legitimate fear farmers had of the auto.

Why the Rage on the Right? Part I

Why do you think there is rage on the right and an interest in the Tea Party?

Is it racism, just regular right wing thinking, all due to Fox News, a swing in government to more initiatives, the deficit, socialism, or what? 

Is it just "normal" or is the emergence of the Tea Party something different in our history?

This week we discuss 3 main elements you won't get from any other source.

One. Beliefs versus Facts
   In this time of change, older people hold on to their beliefs, even though there is no evidence to back them up.  The beliefs justify their comfort system of the last century.
  

Photo: Bumper sticker on a car in my small town of River Falls, Wisconsin, population around 12,000.  The "DFL" stands for the Minnesota Democratic Party, which is the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party. What the Minnesota party would be doing in Wisconsin is at least as far fetched as the other claims.

 

Will your children keep all your junk - I mean - antiques?

Will your children keep all your antiques and valuable family keepsakes?

Or will they throw them away or sell them to foreigners? Tell us what you think.

Julie and I were shopping in an antique store today and she was telling me how antique stores are getting a rush of "new" items to sell.  The main reason is that the Boomers' parents of the World War II generation are passing on. 

Gen Y does not value material goods. They want flexibility and mobility.  They want small apartments downtown.  They want a few long lasting goods that won't destroy the environment.  So will all those valuable family keepsakes stay in your family, or will your children and grandchildren simply not want them?