TVNewser posts word of a CNN special this weekend hosted by Fareed Zakaria:
Fareed Zakaria will debut his first primetime special this weekend, solidifying his new role at CNN. The special, Restoring the American Dream: A Fareed Zakaria GPS Special, will feature Zakaria’s talks with four global CEOs, who provide advice for businesses and political leaders in the U.S.
His guests will include: Former IBM chairman and CEO Lou Gerstner, Google, Inc. chairman/CEO Eric Schmidt, Coca Cola Company chairman/CEO Muhtar Kent and Alcoa, Inc. chairman/CEO Klaus Kleinfeld.
The CNN press release tells ustheCEOs will discuss “America’s unacceptable unemployment rateâ┚¬Ã‚¦and how America can leverage the keys to bringing good jobs back to America–education and innovation.” Because when I want to know about unemployment and the state of the American dream, the first–and only–people I want to hear from are CEOs.
Is Zakaria looking to take Charlie Rose‘s job?
What makes anyone ask CEOs political questions anyway – especially about national unemployment problems? They are not necessarily politically aware, they’re notoriously platitudinous (ask any employee who’s had to sit through a quarterly meeting listening to their speeches) figureheads, and their task vis a vis employees is to reduce the company’s expenditures on them! Be it right or wrong, CEOs do NOT run employment agencies, and have few skills and little interest in that – – – they’re ‘bottom-line’ people, looking for a few good quarters of results so that they can parlay it into another gold-star on their resume and use that as a stepping-stone to an even better compensation package at another company, or at least a golden parachute if things start to go bad.
After listening to this very interesting and pertinent program, and believing firmly that Mr. Zakarias is actually for real, I must introduce myself. I am an educator and have written a proposal, the product of 33 years of experience at many levels of education, in the US and abroad. I would like Mr. Zakarias to hear about it , read it actually; although, I know how difficult this is. Please let me know where I can mail it. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Maria
Applied Linguist
After listening to this very interesting and pertinent program, and firmly believing that Mr. Zakarias is actually for real-unlike so many- I decided to introduce myself. I am a teacher and applied linguist and have written a proposal which aims to improve our Education. The said proposal is the product of 33 years of teaching experience, at many levels of education, in the United States and abroad. I would like Mr. Zakarias to hear about its content, read it in fact; although, I know how difficult this would be. Please let me know where I can send it, if interested. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Maria
815-877-7346
Academic references:
dick@ling.ucl.ac.uk PROF. RICHARD HUDSON
cornish@univ-tlse2.fr PROF. FRANCIS CORNISH
a-kasten@uiuc.edu PROF. ANNA KASTEN
chdez@american.edu PROF CONSUELO HERNANDEZ
Re: CNN Program on “Restoring the American Dream” on October 31, 2010
Mr. Zakarias presented an excellent show regard to the “job” problems in America. I work as a Chief Scientist for Advanced Innovative Technology & Architectures since 1980 to the present. My career started on the American Space Program back in 1985 until the launched of the Apollo/Saturn 1, 1B, and V until after landing on the Moon on July 20,1969 and thereafter on the US Star Wars Program and into the Space Physics.
Now with that background information (NOTE: there is “no” way I can complete this unless understands co-op program and job shopping, etc, but I will try), I will not address the CEOs comments, but address what is wrong with our Education Dreams to obtain an American Job. From experience with the successful Apollo/Saturn Program is as follows:
While attending college/university, immediately in my Freshman year, I was haired by Aerospace R&D Companies working to develop America’s objects to place man on the Moon before 1970. I worked in these companies in the morning and/or evenings doing productive work on the different stages of the Saturn Rockets (e.g. cryogenics, testing large fuel lines to feed the large rocket engines, etc) , and at the same time went to school majoring in Physics learning my subject to complete my education.
Briefly what was I doing? I/we was getting my education in parallel to working on-the job applying what skills I had, and involved in a National Effort to get Man on the Moon. We worked with already graduated engineers/scientist, learning from them, and at the same time being paid for work to be applied towards my education. At the same time as I/we was moving on in my education, I was also moving on with the different stage of the Apollo/Saturn 1, 1B, and V. For example, as the 3rd stage or other stages of the rocket (Saturn VB, S!!, S1/1B/V) moved to Huntsville (AL), for cluster testing of mating the different stages, I/we went there, worked, and continued my education. (I will skip a few items here since I am writing comments). As the lunched vehicles moved toward the Vertical Assemble Building (VAB) to be ready for launch, in this case the Apollo/Saturn 1 (one killed 3 Astronauts), then on to the Apollo/Saturn 1B, and finally to the Apollo/Saturn V which took Man to the Moon on July 29, 1969. All this time it was a combination of continued education and working a “team” playing in this countries objective sit forth by the great President Kennedy in 1960. One can readily see that the progress of continued education alone with â┚¬Ã…“understandingâ┚¬Ã‚ the management/technical anomalies that needed fixing where made towards Americas Greatest Accomplishment in this dynamic historical success â┚¬“ getting man on the Moon. There is much more to what I have written, and if you wish more, lets talk in person.
Now let me address President Reagan’s SDI (Strategic Initiative Program) called “Star Wars”. He I/we (those of us who were asked to participate), it was just a “fragmented” management and technology program. I became one of the Chief Scientist for Advanced Technology & Architectures and at that time we has somewhat 4 technical individual with responsibilities, as in my case, “all” the High Energy Lasers, Missiles/Rockets, Nuclear and non-Nuclear, Advanced Computer (e.g. working with DARPA, Supercomputers, etc), and program reviews of the National Laboratories along with its budget, and research). This is just the “tip-of-the-iceberg” of what I managed. Now SDI came into play after we had an potential (they say it was a “hit” on the warhead, but I didn’t agree), however, they was what they needed to get SDI going into a large “fragmented” program with many “fault” success which helped the Budget Increases in the Program for the Military Industrial Complex, National Laboratories, and making sure as many government agencies involved. Again, this is only “the-tip-of-the-iceberg”. In any case, we now had a SDI program with 100,000s working doing whatever they were assigned (many times â┚¬“ nothing but recycling Classified documents) even if it was not technical and ………………………..a very large Budget. Nevertheless, it made the news and that what it was all about. Anyone that got out of line were placed on the “shit” list and/or spied upon by inside intelligences, etc. All during this time, very little advanced training to educations that was meanful. Again, there is more to this that addresses “jobs” and much more.
Last but not least, once you read the different between the Apollo/Saturn Program and another program called: SDI called Star Wars.
What I presented is just the “tip-of-the-iceberg”, but if any President of a Company/Education Institution certainly can see, why we are in the position as America is in today. To change this mentality, it’s going to requires a “hammer” to hit Congress on the head, and if fact, I don’t see a solution since America has “no” objective such as the Apollo/Saturn Program which created millions of jobs, both Blacks, Caucasians, American Indians, and some Hispanics.
Thank you,
Joseph Soucier, Sc.D
(Email: Themis007@att.net)
Why is it called the American Dream? Because it’s so ridiculous you’d have to be asleep to believe it.
– George Carlin
I watched the Fareed Zakaria hosted special on October 31, 2010 featuring 4 CEOs discussing the topic “Restoring the American Dream.” It was extremely relevant and timely! In addition it cited a host of thought provoking facts. I am an educator working in a local technical high school and want to secure/buy a DVD of the entire program so I can show it to a many educators, students and politicians as possible. How may I secure a DVD containing this program? Please advise ASAP via my e-mail.
Is this tv special available on-line? thanks, Jim
Here’s a transcript:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1010/30/fzgps.01.html
Excerpts of the video are linked on the GPS homepage (“Coca-Cola CEO on Creation of U.S. Jobs,” et al.)–it doesn’t seem like the whole show is up.
http://edition1.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/fareed.zakaria.gps/
Saw some of the special today. Apparently the issue is not off-shoring or labor arbitrage, it’s that we are basically stupid. Or put a little nicer, more education particularly in math and science. Of course they don’t address the highly educated engineers, and computer scientists who are unemployed due to outsourcing.
The best scenario is to have the U.S. taxpayer fund the education, innovation and R&D for any new industries. Then the CEO’s can sweep in and transfer all of the knowledge and capital to overseas workers for high corporate profits, and bonuses.
We have to be trained for the jobs of tomorrow! Quick, get back to college, pick up another degree and enjoy the 6 months of employment before your newly invented industry is moved overseas for high profits.