Americans are Lazy –Beginning of the End of the Republican Party
“American workers are lazy, angry, unkempt, unhygienic…” Elaine Chao. Obviously the labor Secretary is not a student of history. These same words, spoken by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan in the early 80s, ushered in the end of Japan’s economic expansion and the beginning of a twenty year long recession. The Japanese government quickly apologized and the politician was “retired”. This should have blown over. It should not have influenced Japan’s economy as it did.
The reason this tanked Japan’s economy is that the phrase was not just the words of an arrogant politician. They were a general feeling in corporate Japan and corporate America. Initially there were calls for boycotts that did not work. This should have ended there instead Americans made choices over time, they removed their investments from Japanese companies and when choosing a product, “Made in Japan”, became a negative characteristic.
Elaine Chao’s comments are pretty bad for a US labor secretary. More importantly they represent corporate America’s and the Republican parties thoughts about US workers. This too will blow over, already very few blogs are talking about it. Mass media outlets are not carrying the Secretary’s comments. It does represent the disconnect between the Republican Party and its electorate. It also represents Corporate America’s disdain for those who buy their products. If history teaches us anything we will look back on this moment, in twenty years, and say, “Remember the Republican Party? How did they ever get so far away from those who they represent?”
This may also be a good time to start looking at the company you work for in a different light. Is this what they think about you?
Tags: Government Illegal Immigration Corporate America Corruption
The reason this tanked Japan’s economy is that the phrase was not just the words of an arrogant politician. They were a general feeling in corporate Japan and corporate America. Initially there were calls for boycotts that did not work. This should have ended there instead Americans made choices over time, they removed their investments from Japanese companies and when choosing a product, “Made in Japan”, became a negative characteristic.
Elaine Chao’s comments are pretty bad for a US labor secretary. More importantly they represent corporate America’s and the Republican parties thoughts about US workers. This too will blow over, already very few blogs are talking about it. Mass media outlets are not carrying the Secretary’s comments. It does represent the disconnect between the Republican Party and its electorate. It also represents Corporate America’s disdain for those who buy their products. If history teaches us anything we will look back on this moment, in twenty years, and say, “Remember the Republican Party? How did they ever get so far away from those who they represent?”
This may also be a good time to start looking at the company you work for in a different light. Is this what they think about you?
Tags: Government Illegal Immigration Corporate America Corruption
Labels: Class Warfare, Corporations, Corruption, Immigration, Lying Politicians, Populism, Representation
posted by Small Business USA at 3:01 PM
4 Comments:
Having read Michael Crichton's "Rising Sun", I found it a fascinating insight into the differences between the Japanese and American approach to business.
Lexcen I have not read the book however the Japanese culture sees things differently than Americans. This is also true with Europe. I do not know Japanese companies but I do know that, generally, European workers have a great feel of being part of the company and most often will think in the best interest of the company.
This difference is due to the rapport between the company and the worker. Many workers in the US understand that they have no respect from their employer. They also understand that the company will let them go at its convenience therefore why should the employee do anything other than the minimum necessary to get their salary.
Does this make US workers Lazy, unkempt etc. or is it a direct result of the type of contract that now exists between the company and the employees?
There are a number of issues here.
1.I wouldn't label any nation as lazy,including Australia
2.Employers are not benevolent, they need to compete in business.
3.The Japanese personally identify with their employer. Their loyalty is absolute. Of course this is a legacy of their culture. Nevertheless, it would be advantageous to understand the Japanese system as I'm sure it would have benefits for an employer who could extract such loyalty from employees as the Japanese.
Lexcen I agree that national stereotypes do not workhowever there is the question of what is culturally acceptable that may modify behavior.
Companies do need to compete. The companies need not be benevolent simply follow the basic economic principles of "enlightened self-interest". A simple example is that it costs 5 times as much to acquire a new client than to keep an existing one. The same is true for employees.
The US business culture is very short-sighted. The result of 30 years of cowboy capitalism is an inability to compete because they no longer have access to an experienced and mature work force. It seems that they are now understanding the mistakes made in the past and attempting to correct some of them, with the additional costs associated.
I have always believed that a contract must be good for both sides otherwise it is destined to fail and a failed contract always brings unintended consequences.
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