Predictions?

So I'm up late (like always... I tend to be a night person), although for whatever reason, I actually feel like I really am up late tonight.

I'm reading through the news, to include the highlighted quotes and deeds one sees from political activists on Facebook. What I'm seeing is making me think back to the crap this country went through during Woodrow Wilson's time in office. While he's considered now to be one of the "Great Presidents," the truth is, by most standards, he would have been one of the worst presidents in this nation's 300+ year history. He pretty much ruled with an iron fist, and accomplished all the things Bush the lesser was trying to accomplish a few years ago. The only reason he is considered a "Great President" is because he had the fortune to preside over the first world war, and our side theoretically won. Never mind that the way it was blundered through led directly to the Great Depression and to the second world war.

Watching events unfold remind me of a comic by Jhonen Vasquez called "Johnny the Homicidal Maniac." There is a part in which Johnny, perhaps ironically, says, "The basic behavior of the modern human is hardly different from that of its primitive ancestors, the only noticeable changes are trends. Whether in a quit or in a loincloth, people are ignorant little thorns, cutting into one another. The seem incapable of advancing beyond the violent tendencies which, at one time, were necessary for survival." For my part, it's not the incapability of advancing beyond the violent tendencies that bothers me so much as the asinine excuses people make for them. Some like to blame religion, but in truth, if not for religion, another excuse would be found.

What I'm seeing now is a lot of power-grabs. A lot of regression. I don't know how many have watched that old "Xena: Warrior Princess" show, or out of those who have, how many would admit to it (I have the first season on DVD - boo-yah!), but I remember an episode in which Ares had been dethroned. With that, warriors were on their best behaviors while non-warriors were picking fights wherever the hell they could. Ares said something about the absence of war causing a lack of discipline among people. I'm not sure how to word it correctly, but in its own way, it made sense. People are hungry for what they don't (or shouldn't) have. Now it seems like people are aching for another big war.

For those who are reading this, I'm curious about your predictions for what's likely to happen in the next ten years or so. There's no time limit on this, so just join in whenever.

The Prodigal Sons Return

Were I one of the more cocky bloggers, or say... Rush Limbaugh, I would be telling you all to bow to my prophet-like powers of prediction. But I'm not all that cocky. Just cocky enough to have a blog and assume that a few people might actually be interested in it. Oh, and to do shameless plugs for a black Dodge Challenger that I so desperately want. But that's another story.

But, it seems that some companies are starting to see the folly of outsourcing that I've been preaching about: Manufacturers getting homesick.

In the story, the manufacturers talk more about logistics and the like, which sadly is probably a big part of this. It kinda depresses me that it still just comes down to the bottom line, and I'm not sure this quote makes me feel much better about it: "...we underestimated in some cases the value of our workers back here." Hmm... underestimated in "some" cases? No... what they did was completely screw over the ones whom their companies were built on.

Nonetheless, I am glad to see this happening, although it's only a start. Not all companies are doing this, and let's not forget that the article only names manufacturers. It doesn't mention, for instance, call centers. I do think though that such a move should be strongly encouraged and that measures should be put in place to strongly discourage another such exodus.

Some companies are now complaining that they are having a hard time finding qualified workers, though. Again, I largely suspect that this is where the companies have shot themselves in the foot. You saw several people with good, practical degrees having them go to waste when companies started shipping overseas. With that, people started going for different degrees or certifications. Ones that might actually get them a job, although with often significantly less pay than one of the degrees in question would have made for them, if such jobs were available.

To the people, I say this: the first go-around in college, get a useful, practical degree or certification. You can get your liberal arts degrees and the like later, or just independently study it and not pay thousands for it. Meanwhile, it'll hopefully save you from having to work fast food, retail, customer service... that sort of thing. Believe me when I tell you that such professions, with few exceptions, are not fun. By few exceptions, I refer to those where such things are part of your specialty - like mechanics will have to give some customer service, pharmacies are kind of specialized retail, that sort of thing.

To the corporations, I say this: never underestimate the value of the workers who have built you up to where you are and kept you there. Never screw them over just for the sake of your bottom line. They are the ones who do the hard work. And while you may sign their paychecks, they are the ones who give you yours. If you haven't yet, you may do well to watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Or perhaps Mr. Deeds with its question, "what would your child self think of your adult self?" When asked in the movie, many of the rich shareholders and the like came to the conclusion that their child selves would kick their adult selves' asses. In our youth, we all wanted to be heroes. Why has that ideal died in so many adults?