d Blog

Welcome to d blog, also known as Dan's rant. The content herein is essentially comprised of miscellaneous ramblings and random thoughts on the nature of contemporary existence.

"Good Government"

Marketers conduct extensive research, analysis and layout a detailed plan prior to launching a campaign. Marketers are concerned with human behavior. Marketers test with focus groups and re-analyze repeatedly, before committing their dollars to a media buy. Marketers are constantly polling their customers. Marketers are obsessed with packaging a positive experience for their customers. Marketers are concerned with their brands image. Marketers plan for contingencies and rapid response. Marketers work within a budget. If for no other reason than the cataclysmic consequences, theoretically honesty and forthright disclosure are part and parcel of marketing.

To paraphrase a scene from Lyndon Johnson’s TV Bio where in defining why the US was losing in Southeast Asia, he said that a Viet Cong guerilla fighter could lie still in swamp for days while an American soldier wanted a cigarette and good chow every few hours….More than a decade ago I had a casual conversation with a childhood friend who had relocated to Israel. He informed me that an interesting characteristic of Arab culture was the fact that they consistently held onto grudges for years, even decades. Multi-generational feuds are not considered rarities. Recently a caller to NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” radio program where the discussion was on Saddam Hussein’s execution, chastised the participants that they knew nothing of Arab culture, that Americans are responding based on the American experience. He went on to elaborate that revenge was considered well respected, an inalienable right in that part of the world.

The history of the Mideast is fraught with adversarial conflict and tribal tyranny. Historically, the British took a few tribes and said, within these borders you are now the country of Iraq. It took the greater fear of a strongman dictator to keep the tribal factions from each others throats. It would seem obvious that culturally a people whose only experience has been under the thumb of a dictator in a tribal setting would have no motivation towards implementing democracy. Our troubles in Iraq would appear to have been easily predictable.

Up until recently it was my desire for smart leadership in government. I didn’t care so much about party affiliation or ideology as long as we had intelligent leaders. I had no clue as to how to achieve this. I am now of the opinion that we should draft Marketers for leadership roles in government. -db

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