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Jewish World Review Oct 11, 2011 / 13 Tishrei, 5772 The Innovation Deficit By Cal Thomas
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
The death of one of the great innovators of our time, or any time -- In a country that used to encourage, promote, honor and reward innovation, why does there now seem to be far fewer innovators? In our past, they propelled us to higher standards of living and made life more enjoyable and comfortable. If you missed them while studying sex education in school, try Googling "inventors and innovators" and see what pops up. Once we applauded innovation. Now, politicians like President Obama, denounce the successful, maliciously labeling them "millionaires and billionaires," as if success were a flu virus that we needed an inoculation to protect ourselves from. If we penalize and stigmatize success we are likely to get less of it. If we promote and encourage the principles that can lead to success, we are certain to get more successful people and the entire world will benefit as a result. Instead of admiring the principles that propelled people to become successful and encourages others to follow the example of a When you plant, water and fertilize a field of seed corn, you get a bumper crop. When you deny the field these basic elements, you get nothing. It is the same with inventiveness and innovation.
Why work when you can get a government check for doing nothing? Why be motivated to achieve when blaming someone else for your lack of achievement makes you feel better? Whatever happened to that little phrase I was taught as a child, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again"? Today, the failure to succeed just once can lead to a discrimination lawsuit. Instead of persistence when we fail to accomplish a task or satisfy a desire, we call a lawyer to sue someone for blocking our way. Accountants and bankers too often focus on quarterly earnings, not the long haul that sometimes requires spending on projects that don't work until one stumbles upon a project that does.
Sometimes doors must be broken down, but, today, breaking down doors is more likely to get a person's business success regulated and taxed to death by government.
Long time passing; long time ago.
JWR contributor Cal Thomas is co-author with Bob Beckel, a liberal Democratic Party strategist, of "Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That is Destroying America". Comment by clicking here.
© 2011, Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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