I had the exciting opportunity to attend two sessions this week. Both of significant consequence - both in the near future. Each covered topics on opposite sides of the water's edge.
The Far Side - US vs the Wise Men
I attended a panel discussion at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government on Wednesday. The topic was - Attacking Syria - Yes or No. How do you vote?
This panel was conducted by super stars of US Foreign policy - heavy weights! The panel voted 3 out of 4 in favor of strike. Then the audience voted and it was 55-45 against strike (polls showed nearly the same 60% against).
It was a scintillating strategic dialog - I am here commenting as a strategist myself - just amazing geo-political analysis...
Our son hearing the anti-intervention tinted questions from the audience, was concerned about voting yes. So he voted no; and then was surprised that 45% voted yes. He learned a lesson about voting what one really thinks rather than what others think!
All three men voted yes and the sole woman on the panel voted no. Before we jump to a conclusion about men vs. women - it is worth noting that she was a fighter pilot and only one of the panelists who had actually been in a war! That having been said, it was a totally engaging dialogue.
Joseph Nye was the master strategist of the panel. Whatever he said, you could actually visualize President's listening to him and weighing his advice carefully before making their decision. Being a strategist myself (although not a geo-political one), I related to him the most.
Niall Ferguson was the provocateur. He was disdainful of President Obama in the extreme and had the audience riled up. It was a veritable food fight between him and the audience. Our son Rahul was enthralled by this whole fierce debate with Niall.
Marisa Porges was the careful hand of experience of war and unintended consequences.
Nicholoas Burns was the consumate diplomat. He was constantly looking for ways to smooth the rough edges and get to the next plateau of stability. The pragmatist and more importantly knew most of the actors on the diplomatic stage having served both President's Clinton and Bush 'W'.
Graham Allison the moderator, is the founder of the modern Harvard Kennedy School and as such commands respect of everyone. He said there were a dozen members in the front row who could have easily been on the panel and invited them to make comments as well.
It was a fascinating discussion on geo-political chess.
It was a frightening scenario as a concerned citizen that we would be embroiled in another fiasco.
Every day, ten thousand baby boomers turn age 65 in the US starting this year. Each of them become eligible for medicare. One in two who turn age 85 have a chance of getting some sort of dementia including Alzheimer's. The coming tsunami of medical care, costs and burden cannot be exaggerated.
Is there anything the government is doing that makes this easier on us, in some small way or fashion?
At the board meeting on the CEO Initiative on Alzheimer's, I heard a presentation by the National Institute of Health on the so called Blue Button project.
The blue button will be available to US residents. At the press of a button, we will be able to get a record of all our medical history. Prescriptions, information on blood type, doctor and hospital visits etc.
Imagine a scenario where you are taking your family member (parent, sibling or child) to emergency care and they ask you some medical history information. Rather than scrambling, you can just press this 'blue button' on your mobile, internet connected device and you will have it all at your finger tips.
Of course privacy concerns, access and issues such as that are being sorted through. But this is not a concept.
This is being rolled out next year!
http://www.healthit.gov/bluebutton
There are huge developments on either side of the water's edge. There is turbulence abroad and a tsunami at home.
Can our armada handle both?
The Far Side - US vs the Wise Men
This panel was conducted by super stars of US Foreign policy - heavy weights! The panel voted 3 out of 4 in favor of strike. Then the audience voted and it was 55-45 against strike (polls showed nearly the same 60% against).
It was a scintillating strategic dialog - I am here commenting as a strategist myself - just amazing geo-political analysis...
All three men voted yes and the sole woman on the panel voted no. Before we jump to a conclusion about men vs. women - it is worth noting that she was a fighter pilot and only one of the panelists who had actually been in a war! That having been said, it was a totally engaging dialogue.
Joseph Nye was the master strategist of the panel. Whatever he said, you could actually visualize President's listening to him and weighing his advice carefully before making their decision. Being a strategist myself (although not a geo-political one), I related to him the most.
Niall Ferguson was the provocateur. He was disdainful of President Obama in the extreme and had the audience riled up. It was a veritable food fight between him and the audience. Our son Rahul was enthralled by this whole fierce debate with Niall.
Marisa Porges was the careful hand of experience of war and unintended consequences.
Nicholoas Burns was the consumate diplomat. He was constantly looking for ways to smooth the rough edges and get to the next plateau of stability. The pragmatist and more importantly knew most of the actors on the diplomatic stage having served both President's Clinton and Bush 'W'.
Graham Allison the moderator, is the founder of the modern Harvard Kennedy School and as such commands respect of everyone. He said there were a dozen members in the front row who could have easily been on the panel and invited them to make comments as well.
It was a fascinating discussion on geo-political chess.
It was a frightening scenario as a concerned citizen that we would be embroiled in another fiasco.
The Near Side - Blue Button
Every day, ten thousand baby boomers turn age 65 in the US starting this year. Each of them become eligible for medicare. One in two who turn age 85 have a chance of getting some sort of dementia including Alzheimer's. The coming tsunami of medical care, costs and burden cannot be exaggerated.
Is there anything the government is doing that makes this easier on us, in some small way or fashion?
The blue button will be available to US residents. At the press of a button, we will be able to get a record of all our medical history. Prescriptions, information on blood type, doctor and hospital visits etc.
Imagine a scenario where you are taking your family member (parent, sibling or child) to emergency care and they ask you some medical history information. Rather than scrambling, you can just press this 'blue button' on your mobile, internet connected device and you will have it all at your finger tips.
Of course privacy concerns, access and issues such as that are being sorted through. But this is not a concept.
This is being rolled out next year!
http://www.healthit.gov/bluebutton
There are huge developments on either side of the water's edge. There is turbulence abroad and a tsunami at home.
Can our armada handle both?
6 comments:
Interesting that the Syria debate was scheduled for 9/11 ... Surely no coincidence,
Fascinating to see how the President is furiously back tracking from the threats of imminent action.
Must be a great experience for your son In addition to voting and having your own convictions, should also help him in the art of debate.
Thanks for this. Your descriptions of the ones I know fit with my impressions: Nye (sober strategist), Ferguson (peacock), Burns (well, uh, diplomatic).
I’m less surprised by the panelists’ positions (other than Nye since I seem to remember that he’s all about decline due to military over-commitments – though I could be confusing him with Paul Kennedy – but he sure talks a lot about ‘soft power’) than I am by the closeness of the audience’s vote.
On the other hand, it may be hard for them to weigh priorities – stay true to pacifist sensibilities or support the Messiah.
Interesting….
Also, great lesson for Rahul.
Interesting about the Blue Button project. Security issues aside, seems like a great idea.
Always enjoy your thoughts, opinions and insights.
Interesting - very cool exposure for Rahul in particular and great way to illustrate the dynamics and potential ramifications of such a heavy situation.
I don't necessarily understand the privacy concerns of having medical data accessible. Seems to me like a no-brainer, what's the big deal?
Elder Fraud and Elder Abuse is the worry ....
Sounds fascinating. Personally, I think that Congress is missing a huge opportunity to strengthen the President's negotiating hand by not supporting him. Here is my Huffington Post blog post on the topic (written before Putin the Peacemaker entered the fray):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/skip-shuda/syria-conflict_b_3886331.html
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