Archive for the ‘Voting’ Category
Saturday, July 18th, 2009
This article captures the rightful cynicism for those who pass themselves off as generational consultants without any strong understanding or commitment to the generations they are apparently expert on.
“All of which has led, as you’d expect, to a whole new industry — or epidemic — of consultants, experts they allege, in how to motivate, train and, yes, sometimes nanny the extraterrestrials who’ve taken over the workplace.”
Also check out the map further down the page that shows what the impact of 18-29 year olds was on the past US election
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
Fascinating/ horrifying stuff coming from the aftermath of Iran’s most recent elections, largely as a result of micro-blog posts, pictures and photographs being smuggled outside of Iran via Twitter. The Atlantic’s Andrew Sullivan has been covering the event in real time, posting tweets and videos. The raw, direct nature of this footage is fascinating, especially when you consider how it’s often only a few hours old.
Much is being made of the groundswell of action and protest stemming from Iran’s lyouth population. Thanks to the actions of an angry and engaged youth segment, we see a side of Iran that is far more secular and globally-oriented than is commonly understood. It seems to pervade the youth experience, right down to the street-level art protest.
Much will be made about the role of Twitter/ mobile phones/ You Tube/ Facebook as platforms for mobilizing these protests. Could this have happened without these technologies? I think Henry Farrell and Matt Yglesias get some things right in viewing the “Twitter made this possible” thesis with a more skeptical eye.
Still, it feels like something profoundly different is going on right now. It’s easy to criticize “Facebook participation” as some sort of easy, empty gesture. And yet? People in Iran appear to be gaining some comfort (and perhaps, motivation) in knowing that the world sees what they see. Communication is central to mobilizing protest.
No matter how this ends (and it may end poorly), it would be interesting to compare this to what little sneaked out during last year’s brutal crackdown in Burma. A few pictures snuck out, for a while there was some interest. But soon enough, Burma’s military leaders were able to choke information seeping out of the country. For some reason, Iran hasn’t been able to (or, perhaps has not chosen to) do the same.
*Updated: Twitter is the few fax machine: how Chinese students kept the world informed via fax.
Friday, June 5th, 2009
A Few years ago I had the unique pleasure of creating a role in a sort of amorphous multimedia project which explored the concept of Firsts entitled Orange Clouds. As a culture, a society and perhaps even as a species we are obsessed with Firsts. My experience illuminated quite a few challenges and some outstanding rewards associated with that oft sought position, First. From our historical vantage point we usually elevate the achievement and relegate the all important journey to the footnotes. In tracing the journeys of the pioneers featured in Orange clouds I was struck by the phenomenal risks they took. It seems that road of a trailblazer is necessarily fraught with risk and therefore often connected with youth. My greatest learning was that being first is always a journey defined by fear.
In reading A conversation with Lowell Bryan and Richard Rumelt I found myself constantly nodding in agreement and again contemplating the miraculous series of firsts that seems to have defined 2009. Management in this environment is unprecedented. Everything in this environment is unprecedented. Earlier this week Samir pointed out that Brian Deese is heading up the monolithic dismantling of GM. Hummer was purchased by a Chinese heavy machinery manufacturer. A development which North American auto industries are watching with the baited breath of an adolescent virgin about to experience his first kiss. One can almost hear Lewenza and his friends giggling as they whisper “Do you think that this means we get to sell our cars there?”
We have allowed ourselves to float along comfortably taking modest liberties thinking someone else is looking out for our best interest, but why should they? In fact often one should question how could they? As I have been known to say you get what you pay for. People always assume that this means that quality costs more and while effectively that is oft true it is not a natural conclusion that cheap is bad. You see antiquated though it may be I am a huge proponent of an apprentice based model of hierarchy. While you may not be most proficient at jobs you hire other people to complete you really need to know how those jobs are accomplished to truly assess if they’re being completed well. I still think that the knowledge garnered from consistent daily practice is invaluable. Translation: if management doesn’t really know how what the make/sell/do gets done they cannot replicate performance in changing environments. Well it seems the economic climate has drastically changed and the pervasive messages for me are elemental. First what an extraordinary time for all of us but young people in particular. We are become like that proverbial phoenix watching the ebb of the flames and preparing to rise from the ashes.The truth is that no one knows what comes next; we’ve shattered our own economic theory models and now we’re faced with that most dreaded of all economic and political woes – instability. The most interesting thing is that the volatility that created this mess is exactly and the fear it spurs is likely what we need to get out of it. From the 31 year old currently effectuating the largest bankruptcy in American history to fledgling chefs walking out on Canadian chef David Adjay over his refusal to source equitable trade coffee the marketplace is being redefined.
Next is the message I hear time and again and it is as old as the hills Keep It Simple Silly. We’re all afraid. Fear is life affirming. The upside of this economic situation is a levelling of the playing field where the experts may well be those people who see the problem and simply have the courage to offer a simple solution to a problem we are all afraid to face. Seems to me those cocky head strong whipper-snappers may have a leg up on that one.
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Category Citizen, Employee, Financial Services, Leadership, Social Networking, Voting | Tags: Tags: Attitudes, Canada, Financial Services, Leadership, U.S., youth,
Friday, May 15th, 2009
A recent study of cell phone and landline phone polling suggests we may need a new set of standards for how we process quantitative data. This is becoming increasingly important as landline-only usage is now lower than cell phone only usage in the U.S. (similar trends are likely in Canada. A substantial portion of the population is now actually beyond the reach of random digit dialing surveys.
Friday, April 17th, 2009
In the category of “not-so-surprising” and “surprising” you can now file the Pew Centre’s latest report on the 2008 U.S. Election. Unsurprisingly, the Internet was more likely to be source of election information than a newspaper. Remarkably, 10% of the population used Facebook or Myspace for gathering election information or to become involved.
Another nugget:
Politically-active internet users are moving away from news sites with no point of view to sites that match their political views, and this is especially true among younger voters.
What happens to a political culture where people are not exploring opposing viewpoints?
Friday, March 27th, 2009
Our Lifestage DNA study shows that young populations in the UK are far less likely to vote or volunteer than their American or Canadian counterparts (though they are roughly equally likely to donate money). This disconnection is also reflected in differences on self-perception about engagement. Over 60% of people aged 15-39 agree with the statement that they are “active citizens engaged in the community.” Just over 40% of UK participants felt this way.
Feelings of disengagement appear to be a self-perpetuating cycle, and one which leaders in the United Kingdom should be concerned about, especially in economic times where social instability is more likely to be a problem.
What accounts for these differences? A myriad of factors are likely at play. From a policy perspective, volunteerism has increasingly become mandatory in for high school students North American jurisdictions, particularly in here in Canada. Culturally, anyone who looks seriously beyond the stereotypes of American youth will know that the notion of community service is deeply ingrained in its culture, even among most conservative populations. The higher incidence of religious activity in the U.S. likely contributes to this sense of duty.
But what can we say about the U.K.?
