Vitesse Padded
America on the Edge dullness
France has just unveiled a new AGV (Automotrice Grande Vitesse) train will travel at speeds of up to 224 mph. A Japanese train that is suspended over the tracks by magnetic levitation is even faster-more than 360 kilometers per hour. Our trains operate at faster speed 54 mph, still being powered by diesel-electric engines that developed in the 1940s.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) maintains 60% of the users of its member countries are now on broadband network. The report said countries that have opted for fiber optic networks have the best speeds at the lowest prices. In Japan net users have 100Mbps lines and at the same speed up downloading, it is not possible ADSL (broadband via a telephone line) and most cable subscriptions. Sweden, Korea and Finland also offer 100Mbps net connections. In addition, Japan's price per Mbit / s is the lowest in the OECD at $ 22.00 per month.
Americans like to believe that U.S. companies are the forefront of technology, but are not. In fact, U.S. companies have a history of being left behind, even with technologies introduced in the United States such as the Internet.
Robert H. Goddard, an American, has launched a liquid-fueled rocket in 1926. The Germans were bombing England with intercontinental ballistic missiles in 1940. But when the Russians launched the first satellite into space and America entered a state of crisis to respond, we attempt rocket launch rocket then tried to explode at launch pads. It was only after we gave U.S. citizenship a group of World-criminal War II German war we managed to learn how rockets work. Between 1926 and the launch of John Glenn into orbit, no U.S. company had interest in rocketry.
Once again during World War II, American industrial might could not build small arms, tanks or aircraft that matched the quality of those built by the Germans and the "backward" Russians. American M4 Sherman tanks were no match for the German Tiger VI or even Russian tanks T-series. It was only after the Americans came to reverse engineer captured combatants reaction after the war German we have learned to build jet.
U.S. steel industry collapsed against steel imports from Japan, steel companies which were using the latest technology available to it, but never used by steel companies in America. U.S. health suffers in comparison with the population health care in other industrialized countries are, something so well known that no further comment is required.
So why Americans experience lower quality products and services that citizens of other industrialized countries? The only possible reason is that U.S. companies do not want to provide them. Those running our railways do not want to build and run high-speed trains and telephone America and the ISP cable unwilling to provide Americans with 100Mb of services. The steel industry of America did not want to invest in new technologies, but chose, in However, to go bankrupt. And the U.S. auto industry seems to be heading for extinction. Americans like to think of America as the great arena of competition, but in too many cases, U.S. companies choose not to compete at all.
The question is why?
The answer is in a difficult to draw a subtle distinction between companies that offer products and services to businesses, and companies are in business to provide products and services. Many ask, what is the difference?
Those who provide products and services to businesses, have their eyes on the bottom line while those who are in business to provide products and services, have their eyes on the assembly line. The old companies are characterized by "an olive less in each bottle to provide a higher return. "Buyers are companies like this every day while shopping companies in grocery stores, that reduce the amount inside the box without reducing the box size or price.
Many U.S. companies do not even tries to offer high quality products. Note into account the huge industry of food supplements. It would be neither difficult nor expensive to submit a large amount of vitamins, minerals and herbal concoctions marketed to double trials blind. But the nutritional supplement industry does not want to do that, because you do not care if their products are effective or not. The quality of products is not the concern of the industry and only the bottom is. The U.S. fast food industry does not care if their products are nutritious or even favorable to their clients health. What matters is the final result. And if your products contributing to poor health of Americans, well, that's too bad, but not affect the industry.
The Americans have absolutely ideas ridiculous about the nature of the business. It says, for example, that the only involvement of the holders of a company is accountable to its shareholders are, despite the firms often appear to operate for the benefit of its officials. However, a social enterprise is an entity created under the laws of society that exists and as such, has the same social responsibility to all citizens. To hold otherwise may have disastrous consequences domestically, as if the sole responsibility of a company is making money for its shareholders, even profitable, treason acts would be permissible. If China or Russia or any other nation is willing to pay very high amounts of military secrets, How can a company be prohibited from sale if the company is sole responsibility of their shareholders, who would get rich from the sale?
The absurd idea that companies exist only to make money for their owners, is why Americans do not have the quality of products and services that are available for citizens of other industrialized nations. Implementation of the latest technology costs money, at least temporarily, reduced the yield to the owners.
U.S. will not be a nation that operates on the cutting edge until everyone realizes that companies, like citizens, not only have responsibilities to their shareholders, but to their employees, suppliers, customers, society at large, and the nation that allows them to operate. The nations that do not enforce these responsibilities are doomed to mediocrity if not failure.
© 2008 John Kozy
About the Author
Retired professor of philosophy and logic who blogs on social, political, and economic issues at http://johnkozy.mindsay.com. Tries to avoid mere opinion and propaganda and emphasizes logic, facts, and evidence. All or any part of his articles can be cited or distributed.
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DescriptionAn ideal choice for both long rides around the lake and on the spinner at the gym, the Vitesse Triple Gel Bicycle Seat Cover protects against saddle sores and uncomfortable road and trail vibration. Made with shock absorbing gel, this seat cover increases comfort on any bike saddle and works great for both on- and off-road riding... |
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DescriptionSeat covered in a resilient breathable fabric that cleans easily. Layer of super soft gel gives more comfort and eliminates road fatigue. Spring network enhances with traditional cruiser springs and wide saddle maximize shock absorption. |
