What’s the connection?
This installment does not attempt to debate the merits of, or offer an opinion on, The Plan. Rather, it accepts as reality the intentions and ability of those in power to execute it. An ongoing discussion on feasibility, motivation, or any other aspect of The Plan is most welcome, but beyond the scope of primary blog content. The goal of these installments is to illuminate direction and identify opportunities for small businesses in the changes prescribed by the new leadership in Washington, D.C.
The author of this blog encourages the reader to remain aware of current events but to remember that rarely and only in extreme circumstances do singular events alter the long term policy intentions of a Presidential administration. Events such as the recent bombing of sites inside Pakistan and/or the change in policy regarding stem cell research, especially when undertaken in such a nascent Presidency, should be understood to be positioning for the long haul. In short, the actions that dominate daily media reports are means, not ends. The Plan is about ends; this blog will suggest means by which they may be accomplished and opportunity areas created therein.
Background
The "bedrock principle" behind The Plan is, “You do your part, and your government, your company, and your country will do theirs (page 52).” By gaining followers to this principle, the authors hope to achieve a "new social contract for economic growth (p 46)" in America.
The first of The Plan’s tenets is “Universal Citizen Service.” To preserve context, the summary provided by the authors is restated here, in its entirety:
If you forget everything else you read in these pages, please remember this: The Plan starts with you. If your leaders aren’t challenging you to do your part, they aren’t doing theirs. We need a real Patriot Act that brings out the patriot in all of us by establishing, for the first time, an ethic of universal citizen service. All Americans between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five should be asked to serve their country by going through three months of basic civil defense training and community service. This is not a draft—nor is it military. Young people will be trained not as soldiers, but simply as citizens who understand their responsibilities in the event of a natural disaster, an epidemic, or a terrorist attack. Universal citizen service will bring Americans of every background together to make America safer and more united in common national purpose (p. 54).
Emanuel and Reed present two options for implementation, both centered on Americans aged 18 to 25. The first involves the creation of a new program:
[T]he nation will enlist them for three months of civilian service. They’ll be asked to report for basic civil defense training in their state or community, where they will learn what to do in the event of biochemical, nuclear or conventional attack; how to assist others in an evacuation; how to respond when a levee breaks or we’re hit by a natural disaster. These young people will be available to address their communities’ most pressing needs (p 62).
The second option, “for those willing to make a longer commitment,” comes with a prescriped expansion of Americorps (p 62) http://www.americorps.org/.
Opportunities
Even as the US government increases its own responsibility and involvement with the economy and its players, there are limits to what it can accomplish. Successful marketers pose questions such as, “What needs are unmet/underserved?” Another way of looking at this might be to say, “What might be in it for me in supporting this effort?” The answer lies in fulfilling the needs of the client—in this case, your community; your government. They know where they want to go; how can we help them get there?
Needs that private enterprise may offer in the execution include:
- Transportation – of youth to and from training centers
- Lodging – of participants and facilitators
- Facilities – principle and support facilities, i.e. medical, storage
- Infrastructure – Where will the training take place? Some communities will require more change and preparation than others.
- Diversion – entertainment for participants and facilitators
- Training – supplying the subject matter experts, trainers, simulators, materials, etc.
Opportunities may also avail in the follow-through. What, the astute observer asks, happens once the training is finished and these young people return to their communities with this knowledge? How can the community take full advantage?
Ongoing reinforcement and ROI for the community can be realized, and private enterprise can find opportunity, through (for example):
- Community meetings on the training - facilitating and moderating discussions on the changing physical and psychological impact the initiative has on the community.
- Executing and managing changes to physical and procedural infrastructure that will inevitably result from the training. This will include residential, commercial and municipal areas.
- Rewarding these youth for their contribution, and validating their sacrifice.
How can we help to ensure these programs maintain an acceptable level of effectiveness? That conditions remain optimal for learning, retention and re-conveyance? How will a program like this alter this generation, and future generations, in terms of their worldview and stewardship? What will be their outlook and long-term goal for our nation?
What will the answers to these questions reveal for the next level of opportunities? And the next…?
WIFM
Anyone who has been given pause noticing our young people isolate themselves behind their iPod earphones will surely be able to appreciate the initiative to re-engage our youth. “Many aspects of our lives,” The Plan offers, “are simply not the common experiences they once were…Opportunity and responsibility go hand in hand (pp 66-67).”
Perhaps this is the time for which many entrepreneurs have been preparing; a chance to profit fairly while strengthening your community.
Next:
Next week’s installment will focus on “Universal College Access,” and will feature expert input from Jennifer Marshall, Director of Education for College Assistance Plus Denver http://www.collegeassistanceplus.com/.
So, where does small business enter? The first idea that pops in my head is Meeting Space. Two of my clients with new facilities have added classrooms and community rooms for training. I don't believe they have thought about working together, but I think they could. One is a community bank, and one is a computer store. I think the computer store could teach computer skills to the community in the bank's meeting room, and the bank could send out someone to introduce computer customers to online banking. Both are sales opportunities and certainly go toward good PR.
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ReplyDeleteI am not sure what I think of a mandatory civil service requirement but my gut is that it is good for America. I struggle with the idea because I struggle with mandatory and government but, now, that said the right program could be the best thing that has ever been done to advance America.
ReplyDeleteI have a problem with the number of apathetic people I meet. A mandatory intense 3 months might get people more involved. Let people choose the projects that they want to be a part of but put everyone to a task for some period of time. If we give youth an avenue to express their passion in a way that is beneficial to their communities we might bust apathy.
Our nation lacks a cohesive modern narrative. This shared experience would help engage youth in a way that would not only bust apathy but also create a new narrative for the participants. A narrative that my generation can buy into would help us advance in ways that are more meaningful than GDP.
Mandatory civil service should not be military. Fortunately, I believe our nation is blessed with not needing to bring each of its sons and daughters into the military. For those, ready, willing and able to answer the call of duty we should commend them, reward them, respect them and we must without wavering take care of those who are hurt ensuring freedom for all.
Hopefully this program would impart skills that would help break cycles of poverty and increase advancement for all. Our country is failing in education but a program like this has the opportunity to teach life lessons that cannot come from calculus but are still vital to creating productive members of society. A scene of duty and reasonability are enviable byproducts of this type of program (if ran well) and will drive benefit to our nation as a whole.
The infrastructure to create this program is something that is a whole can of worms itself. I don’t have answers. I would want to see host organizations take some responsibility for the "crew members" they get. For example, Boy and Girls Clubs would get a group of volunteers (civil servants) and they would pay some percentage of the cost of having these volunteers there but they would be able to do critical projects.
The point I am trying to make is that civil service is good. Serving our nation is critical and I think that much of my generation has forgotten what it means to give of ourselves to make the world a better place. I hope this too can change.
Mike, Great job. Just joined. I'll be following your progress. As a business owner www.hockeymask.us and in an executive mode with a multi- thousand person company run by one guy (dual-class stock) I like what you have to say for both groups.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your responses, all.
ReplyDeleteRon, I think there are entrances for small business even within the facility. Think signage to direct foot traffic, the branding and imaging on the signage and for any ancillary community initiatives, security, food and beverage...? Your initiative to bring together previously unlikely partners will surely prove a more effective foundation for economic recovery than any stimulus/spending plan.
Steve, thanks for the thoughtful feedback. The Plan does not state that the 3 month requirement is consecutive. It will be interesting to observe the political machinations when this is introduced. I think your sentiment is very American and current. How do we balance obvious needs with our fundamental freedoms? If I were a betting man (and, to be truthful, I am), I would lay my chips on some sort of a reward-based (rather than mandatory/penalty-based) system modeled after military college credits; and perhaps the program could be administered over a larger period of time, i.e. measured in hours and conducted on an ongoing weekly basis (growing up in the South, this is how we acquired our gun safety certificates which were prerequisites to hunting licenses). And to clarify, the authors are very specific in stating this initiative is not a draft, nor is it military. I'm sure we can picture a time in the future where the September re-orientation conversations on college campuses include as standard fare one's progress toward UCS requirements, the comparison of experiences and recommendations to freshmen who have yet to begin...hey...is that another entrepreneurial opportunity...?
My response stepped away from an Obama administration plan and went more to what I believe in. There must be a way to challenge apathy, and the best way I know to do that is through service to others. Mandatory, is a problem but if we want to get the people it will help the most then I don't know another way to do it.
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