Ready Aim Fire

 

A Constructive Analogy

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I use a few metaphors to make the point.– Posted 5/31/12

 

Barack Obama won his election. Then he moved into the White House. But, just like many people surmised based on his campaign, he did not like the decor; he didn’t like drapes; he didn’t like the carpet; he didn’t like the pictures on the walls; he didn’t like the white walls; he didn’t like the layout; and he didn’t like the services it came with. A joke? Sort of.

In reality, he did like the big house and he really liked the service and amenities. However, what he didn’t like was almost everything connected to it. He didn’t like the relationship to other respected powers, the economy, the budget, defense, the use of our military, or the recently appointed justices to the high Court, our energy supply, our use of natural resources, use of federal lands, our healthcare system, Constitutional limits and process, certain laws, or the former occupants, and so on. He did not like much of what was connected to it, the job he was elected for, or conditions of the surroundings. However, he did have allies in the neighborhood who mostly agreed with him.

 

What happened

He set about changing whatever and wherever he could. Almost four years later do you recognize the place — the country? Do you think we are better off after this experiment (for lack of better word) or are we worse off?  Do you like the remodeled nation still under construction? Is it in keeping with what you want to see?

If you basically answered no to the above, then we should do what we can to halt this work in process.

The nation’s house

The foundation is being replaced to rest on something other than it had before. It is well on its way to a whole different place than it was. Some say they really didn’t like the old place, the floors creaked and the plumbing was slow and leaking. But what is being done is far from a few upgrades and maintenance you were told. It is something most people did not even fathom or sign on for. Yet here we are, right in the middle with dust all around us from tearing out this and tearing up that.

So you take out the blueprints to see that it looks nothing like the original plans or the rendering. It’s not the same.  It’s not what was discussed either. And that contract you signed is being rewritten every which way and all these clauses added, so you hardly even remember what was discussed and promised when they started this project. But they are busy whacking away at it, on your budget – or what’s left of your budget. What do you do?

He anticipates your concerns, though they are headstrong on doing it anyway. They’re making change orders every day, even from the flimsy promises he originally made, most of which never materialized . You are just sitting there aghast and they tell you that you need to just “believe in” him, the boss, and everything will be okay. He and his cronies start telling you about a whole bunch of new things they are going to do – though none of it to satisfy you but their own agenda. They keep reminding you how bad it was before and what condition it was in then, which was still much better than what you see right in front of you. “Your fears and worries are way overblown”, they tell you. They know what is best for you and say, “It is you that do not know what you really want or what is best for you.” They do. You don’t seem to get anywhere as much as you call and let them know what you think. You petition them about your grievances. They turn a deaf ear. They are too busy, they tell you.

Then it is time for another bank draw for construction. They tell you just let it roll and leave everything to us. We know best. Now you are livid. What little control you thought you had, the budget and the credit card, are now in their hands and they will do as they see fit. They only thing they tell you is that you really have no choice. No, I am not dragging this out. This is reality. What can you do?

Meanwhile, he is running around telling everybody else and his allies their golden project underway is too valuable to disrupt in any way. The boss doesn’t tell his allies any new details but boasts about what they’ve started. Everyone needs to stay committed and have faith in them is their reasoning. “It’s the only  way now, forward.” The boss travels around the country raising money to renew their contract, not to pay the cost of the project but only to force your hand. He talks, campaigns to others, and wines and dines off of his efforts, seemingly oblivious to your hopes or dreams. The boss’s team says, “you will just have to bend to his will if you want to get anywhere with them. It’s out of your hands now.” He enlists cooperation from others by making promises to people so they can continue what they are doing. The others seem to be getting paid off. None of which applies to the growing debt on the project. It all looks like pure insanity to you.

A few of your friends notice too, but you are marginalized to the public due to their heavy pleas and buying support from others and groups who want to push it forward, on “faith and hope”, not even knowing what it will turn out like. And most of them do not care. All the others seem to think it’s a foregone conclusion the contract will be renewed, that this disagreement is only minor red tape, and you will lose even more of your say – as if you have much at this point.

Sorry, but that is where we are right now. That’s the spot. What will you or all of us who care do? What can you do? My guess is giving up is not a real option — no doubt the only one O-Team thought they have given us. But that would be your choice.

© 2012

Firing the contractor should be a priority.