Skip to main content

Madam President?

As the confusing American election process comes to a head into the end of 2016, it will be the first time a black man will have commandeered (he is called Commander-in-Chief) a predominantly white nation in its 240 year history, for eight consecutive years.

That in and of itself is not a marker for anything other than a collective agreement that leadership, empathy and qualities that defined America at one point in history could be found in a person of any color and background.  As the latest installment to anoint a leader of these United States gets played, it is becoming apparent that the gender of the leader also might (not) be a deciding factor, after all.

I am not of the camp that goes overboard with leader worship calling the US President the leader of the free world because it is factually wrong, arrogant at best and belligerent at worst.  Suffice to say the policies and behavior of America in a post WWII era has been that of bootstrapping its own economy, driving wealth to a large middle class through hard work and inventive spirit and breaking down bureaucratic boundaries to let free enterprise flourish.

That approach has been called into question today where America lags in its education and STEM skills for younger generations graduating high schools, the middle class that was brandished as a success story is shrinking, our national debt is rising and violence on the street seems to get from bad to worse.

As stop gap they continue to import the skills they need from outside their borders to ensure that the well does not run dry thereby ensuring legitimate access to the best in innovation.  Continue to use the Federal Reserve Bank as a tool in their arsenal to right the economic ship and debate gun laws each time there is a mass shooting.

To lead this complex society into the next few years the public has a choice as it now becomes clear between a narcissist, egomaniac who may or may not have a grasp of global inclusion and diversity vs. a former secretary of state with lot of political experience (or baggage) who happens to be a Woman and former first lady.

There is consensus depending on which poll you follow and some might argue a wishful desire on part of the global leaders that the cards fall in favor of the lady.  It might just be too ugly and surreal if an animated character known as an irritating duck to many toddlers actually also ended up becoming a Commander-in-Chief of their republic.


Comments

  1. Duck Tales merging with the Nuke Button is really, really scary!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On the go(zay masta) in Japan again

Cool cat the Japanese are Tokyo at dusk  My second visit to this land of the rising sun after almost a decade. Back then clearly I was wet behind the ears product manager and likely didn’t pay attention to all (efficient) things Japanese. But today I did and of course continue to be impressed. It is as much the obvious stuff like on time travel that is both clean and comfortable and all that which makes it possible. The impressive landmark and landscapes that these humans have put together despite their cramped (or because of it) surroundings and precarious geological conditions could amaze a novice architect among us. But it’s also the little things that someone had to think about which have a phenomenal impact on day to day lives that make the Japanese stand apart. Below are few random examples- 1. Providing a very fine machined wooden toothpick in every packet of wooden chopsticks. The said chapsticks are simply set on the To Go counter of any food vendor/ convenience store wher...

Presumptive Society

Today's world is hyper connected.  I am not so sure what it means but you hear it a lot.  It is probably hyper but not sure how connected it is.  Sugar (fermented or not) is available in many ways than before and so getting hyper is easy.  It is probably more a threat than cocaine since it is sold legally. And what is this connected stuff?  Most people I encounter seem disconnected from reality.  So going back to this assumption that we are connected there are subtle and no so subtle instances of how brands and companies and middle men try to portray someone - A linkedin profile for somebody working for X years at a place advertises to the connected network that so and so is CELEBRATING X years @ Such and Such Inc. Do we know if (s)he is celebrating or cringing?  Perhaps a better way to portray will be - So and So LASTED X years @ such & such inc. Then it exhorts the readership to go ahead and congratulate them for this lasting effe...

The Central State aka MP

Narmada river and site of Omkareshwar Indore Rajwada or palace of the Lady Holkar   Somewhat geographically centered in India is the hot landscape of MADHYA PRADESH. A region I had a faint memory of visiting as a young lad eons ago. Now in my (along with my best half) quest to get to know lands far and wide I got an opportunity to visit Indore city and surrounding areas in MP. It begins with an evening visit to a bustling old market selling native snacks both savory and sweet. It is the realm of jewelers who run night time street side restaurants once they close their primary operations at dusk. Think of it as desi style block party that I am told goes into wee hours of the morning. My impression was it is worth one visit.  The humid and hot ambience along with crush of humanity doesn’t make for a pleasant dining experience but the sheer variety of foods sort of makes up for it. From piping hot coconut filled fritters to oodles of milk based sweet confections, I gorged on item...