How Do You Eat An Elephant?

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Comment by ML Hayes on November 10, 2008 at 5:34pm

Chris,
I have been working too hard lately. I took a day or so to get a perspective. That works, you know.

Third Parties are always there, most of the time its just a matter of NOT voicing an opinion, which as you know isn't the same as not having one.Untill about last Spring, there were a lot of Not Vocal Party people out there then the price of gasoline went through the roof along with mortgage finance falling through the floor. To be honest, those of us wgo were fight the storms over the Summer and Fall caught a psychological break from the onslaught of bad news, worst news and could it get worst news. At least, we had physical things on which we could exert our pent up frustrations out on.

Now that the yard is clean and devoid of those pesky trees, ornamentals and fencing it is a lot easier to see my neighbors and get some indication that there is a world beyond the end of my driveway. Understandable Anger was an essay written just post the election night. It was a reflection of the ideas w\regards to 3rd Party political considerations as follows.

I am totally unfamiliar with Canadian politics, but I do understand the parlimentry concept of a government that must establish a pluralist majority to retain control over the executive. Things work differently in Texas. It isn't quite as bad as our neighbor to the East (Louisianna), but there was a time when there were joking signs posted on interstate highways about our succession from the United States.

A true third party effort is an effort that unifies interests that are out of the mainstream consciousness. Sometimes, this happens when the mainstream political apparatuses just flat run out of originality as have the Republicans in the USA. The Democrats have hit upon an old idea and found a charismatic personality to personify core ideas on which the Union was established. It remains to be seen if they are simply mimicing the Republicans.

A third party online wouldn't work because regardless of what you may thnk, the truth is that most of the entire Internet could be shutdown by tomorrow this time or in thirty minuets for any regional section of almost any continent. The primary reason for the vunerabilty is that power is required to run computers and if you cut the power, there isn't an Internet to speak of. Selective power outages are standard military strategies in the 21st Century,

I don't want to dwell on the negative. A third party could use the Internet to "broadcast" a message, but the security required to actually execute a politcal action that influenced mainstream leaning Opinion Not Voiced people to support your candidates would look just like the Obama Campaign.

The Democrats of the Clinton persaussion were the mainstream core of that political alliance, but they were fragmented as quite a few were influenced by the legacy of LBJ in conjunction with the Reagan message and the Bush imperative. In plain language, Dixie Democrats, not matter how true to the idea of Imperialism, American style, have become very tired of taking their shoes off to go from the parking lot to the boarding gate. Fear, as in the fear of the great unknown third world has dissipated to the point that reality says, you can beat your imagined enemies into submission anymore.

What happened in America's voting booths is history because it shows the world that at some point, the capitalist had to make a decision with regards to the consideration of the aspirations of the rest of the planet's occupants. Not all of the dissaffected ar in Asia, Africa and South America. Just as the communist had to concede the point of the capitve nations of Eastern Europe, so did the USA have to concede to the interests of dissassociated minorities who contribute disproportionately more greatly to the nation's prosperity than they participate in its largest.

The art of government that the 3rd Party currently in power has to demonstrate is that it is capable of protecting the rights of those newly designated minorities . . . the wealth opposition. Herein, Mr. Pickens is a pioneer who seeing the handwriting on the wall recognize that the greated freedom in that of expression. The people who run the Obama Administration would be well advised to conceptualize their "New Democratic Party" as one that can and will protect this voice, but not to the point of tollerating unsubstantiated attacks and contrived alarmisms that we have been so subjected to under the lame-duck and parting Administration.

The DScotts concept of a third party is valid but too visceral to be attractive to people who don't want to be bothered with details. Especially, they are not interested in difficult details like ecology. The real role of such action is to bring the truth to light so that the people have the opportunity to become informed. This may mean opposing people we admire, but do not agree with.

To conclude, it isn't important that we agree on the who and what; what is important is that we act on the how, when and where. Why is a secret that allows us to act.

M.L. "Mickey" Hayes
Pickens Plan Ambassador

Comment by Lou De Frog on November 8, 2008 at 6:05pm

Have been thinking about dscotts 3rd party. I believe that a virtual political party makes more sense than a real one. If the virtual party decided to do something and its several million members supported the decision, I think that real political parties - or Governments for that matter, would have to move smartly to stay out in front of the tsunami.

So a few of us met the other day over a coffee and chose the name On-Line North American Party. Alternate name invited.

Comment by Monte Smith on October 29, 2008 at 9:26pm

I'm going to post this in both The Structure of the Elephant blog and the How do You Eat An Elephant blog.

You'll have to activate your imagination for this one.

What you are about to look upon is a holographic as all the people that are described herein are actually in some physical location with a computer terminal at their disposal.

The name of this holograph is the Green Elephant Investment Club Organization (GEICO). :) BTW, this holograph is not a still holograph. It has motion and it moves in a time continuum.

And so it begins...

Everything that you see here is enclosed in crystal clear glass. While there are walls the separate the overall space into compartments and hallways and coliseum sized auditoriums...you can see through it all into any other space within GEICO. There is nothing hidden here. Everything is open for observation and inspection.

The administration for GEICO is actually a facilitating body of personnel that wear various administrative and technical hats and have the task of keeping GEICO running smoothly. They make sure that the outer gates to the parking lot are open and that the walkways are clear, the lights are on, the floors are swept, the glass is clean, the electronics are plugged in, the machines are working, everyone is informed and knowledgeable of the numerous procedures and policies etc., etc. The bottom line is that the administrative body of personnel ensure that all things run smoothly per policy and as intended.

As the members begin to arrive and login at GEICO HQ they are directed to the large auditorium where each member takes his or her seat. The auditorium is a vast space. In the center of the auditorium there is a huge container constructed out of the same glass as is everything else here. Each member has a vacuum tube that runs from their seat to the huge container. Once a member has taken their seat they begin to routinely emit a flow of energy into their vacuum tube and this energy is deposited into the huge container. With all the members emitting their energy into the container the container begins to rapidly fill but no matter how much energy goes into the container the container will always be large enough to hold what it receives. Of course, all members are able to view the energy going into the container and see the container's contents rise. As the container receives the energy transmissions it records the exact time of receipt and the source point of each particle of energy. Next to the container there is a digital meter that displays the gross content of the container as it fills.

At one end of the auditorium there is a large platform (a stage if you will) and next to the stage is a waiting area that is separated into a number of compartments. There is the solar compartment, the hydrogen compartment, the wind compartment, the hydro compartment, the compressed air compartment, the education projects compartment and many others including a "wild card" compartment. As directed by someone in the administration, a person (who is a member in good standing of GEICO) comes onto the stage and addresses the entire membership body of GEICO. In their address they are essentially doing a detailed "show and tell" of their project/product (including business plan with exact infusion amount needed) and demonstrating to the membership why their project/product is one deserving of a GEICO monetary infusion (grant). Note: prior to getting to this point of being able to get on stage (the semi-finals and finals), the applicant member has had to meet specific criteria set forth by the administrative body and has also had to successfully pass through a series of screenings performed by investigatory panels that are composed of members that have volunteered to be on these panels. Of course any member has the option to observe these proceedings and interact with the applicants by asking their questions or requesting further clarification of presentation points via the panel. Also, these applicant screening proceedings are recorded and archived for access by any member needing to check back on something.

It is needless to say but I will say it anyway and that is...that with the passing of each second ticking by on the clock new members are signing into GEICO. They are signing in, getting their membership hat put on (includes new member orientation covering policy and procedure and basic training on how to interact with the various procedures involved in the overall process - a Dept. 1 function) and they are coming into the auditorium and taking their seat and emitting their energy into the huge container. At whatever stage of the process they have become a member of GEICO that is where they begin participating in the process. So when the applicant finalists are giving their closing pitch to the membership the container is still filling and the new members are hearing an applicant speak for the very first time. At the instant that the final closing pitch has been given the existing container is sealed and any incoming energy after that is directed to a new container and a new energy collection cycle is begun.

After the final closing pitch has been made the voting begins. Per the voting results there is a hierarchy of winners chosen. And beginning with the #1 winner the grants are awarded in reverse progression. Note: there is always a winner (one only from this category) chosen from the "wild card" category in each cycle. Depending upon the amount of energy in the container and the amount of energy requested by each winner this will determine how many winners will receive grants in a cycle. The awarding of the grants marks the ending of one cycle and the beginning of a new cycle.

Once the winning applicants have been awarded their grants and have received their grants Dept 6 (Dept. of Membership Enhancement) in the admin body org structure begins to monitor the progress of the winners and keeps the membership routinely updated and informed as to the forward movement of the grant winners.

Looking back....

When GEICO was in its forming stages the first cycle was several months long. As the membership base began to grow and as the process got its bugs worked out and became more streamlined, the cycles began to shorten in duration. At present the typical cycle is 45 days long.

Looking ahead...

Hardly had GEICO come into existence when other elephants, using the GEICO template as their starting point, began to emerge on the scene. There were elephants established just for the purpose of building sustainable communities that were practically utopian in nature. There were elephants that formed to purchase, manage and operate organic farms where the members are their own primary customer base. Then there were elephants formed to create specialized schools and elephants created to develop green housing editions or renovate and retrofit existing housing so as to be green. In many cases the elephants operated as investment clubs that had rapid monetary ROI. In any event, elephants were springing up everywhere. Twenty-first century barn raising had caught on big time! No loans no interest no outside influences. Just people coming together and cooperating so as to achieve a common goal.


Okay. You can deactivate your imagination now and return to the "real" world. Above is my vision. It's a broad and general vision in this state. But what I want to know is...does it resemble the vision of this elephant that you have? Or is it not at all what you had envisioned this elephant to be. I think, that before we go any further, that it would be prudent for us to determine whether or not we are on the same page, same chapter or if we're even reading the same book.

Comment by Monte Smith on October 29, 2008 at 5:52pm

Chris, just the other day I heard a painting contractor say that he and his wife had an agreement that he would make all of the big decisions. He said that they have been married now for 24 years and so far there haven't been any big decisions to be made. :-)

Comment by Lou De Frog on October 29, 2008 at 10:12am

I'm not much good at sports because I am not competitive. Never made money in business for the same reason, but I have been married 36 years because I let my wife think she makes all the decisions.

Comment by ML Hayes on October 29, 2008 at 9:35am

Dear Chris,
Let's look at the kind of teams that everyone can recognize, sports. In particular ball games.

The objective of any ball game is to advance the ball to an agree on position where in the process gets repeated. The idea is that each team gets a turn in advancing and opposing the advance of their opponent. In you thinking, the ball is an invention or some other idea. In my perspective, YOU are the ball, if you are an inventor or entrepreneurer of some type.

Does this change your perspective? As the ball, you should be expected to be kicked, passed, batted, caught, thrown and packed. Everyone wants control of you and not necessarily because they have your best interest at heart. Remember the old adage, "there's no fairplay in love, war and politics?" Business is a combination of all of the formerly mentioned, so what fairness there is is brought in by the ball.

In a capitalistic system, the ball gets whatever the ball can, and a rest between games. There is no guarantee that you will get into the game just because you show up at the stadium dress for play. You perceptions are on the money, we have to create a self-serving system and determine what services will serve the majority of interest optimally. The community enterprises will need time to grow and gain market share, but they won't ever take root in a culture of exclusion. The Elephant doesn't address this for good reason. We have to configure a scheme that address the nation or the regional difference will Tear apart anything we suggest.

The local organization of the national Investment club are patterned after what we know already works, Pickens Plan. The individual Investment Clubs that service the private needs of Pickens Plan participants aren't under any obligations to the National Club because the membership in the national is via donation exclusively. Individual Clubs are free to use the information gathered from the National Clubs Treasury investment activity. Who we are talking to and what they are telling us is published for all to see from behind their Pickens' Plan logins. Once logged in, you have to go to the Pickens' Plan Investment Club and login to your membership to see the particulars of the activities related to American Blue Chip corporations and local startups.

I hope this description demonstrates the viability of the scheme \ proposition.

It doesn't matter if 90% of the startups are doomed. We are not going to give everyone that ask for money some money just because they asked. Many of the ideas will be rehashes of technology that we have already funded. What we want to do is fund invention, innovation and intuition that is creative and sustainable. The rest would be introduced to the leaders and given the opportunity to franchise or otherwise collaborate.

M.L. "Mickey" Hayes
Pikens' Plan Ambassador

Comment by Lou De Frog on October 28, 2008 at 2:36pm

When building anything - elephant or new business - no body can say whether it will succeed or fail.

The current program for launching a business is for the entrepreneur to mortgage his home and protect the banker from any and all loss. The Government wants to collect all its licenses and registration up front because 9 out of 10 startups fail. The lawyer on the 'team' gets paid, and the only person(s) on the hook for loss is the person(s) with the idea and motivation to do something. That's not my idea of a team. If everyone expects to be treated fairly when it comes to creating a business - because that's what it is - and divide the spoils of success, they should share the risk. For the Government and banks (investors) to be part of the team they should collect after, and if, any benefits materialize.

If the project is to create benefits for the entire group or nation – like better air, water, food and a stable economy, the proceeds are enjoyed be all players anyway and there is no reason to 'guarantee' anyone more than a return of their original investment .

Since we expect a small individual investment to a large fund that finances low risk community owned alternate energy systems (my version of the elephant), and one success could carry the losses of the failures, the odds of getting your investment back, improving the national energy situation and being a part of a successful grass roots solution to a serious problem that our experts are completely unable to understand, personal enthusiastic participation appears more rational than leaving money in the bank or in conventional investments with questionable return.

If anyone is able to demonstrate the function of this Investment Club the outline will be created for thousands of other Investment Clubs to form. You can't fix this problem alone, but if you can show how it is done, others can copy - and improve it.

Comment by mike fallwell on October 28, 2008 at 2:17pm

Hello folks,
I am setting up a global operation to market the cheapest energy system ever devised.
This will require creativity and vigilance from all partys involved.
So I intend to use a business model developed 100 years ago at Lincoln welders, Lincoln MA. This is a democratic model of governance with very limited management. I believe it is an ideal model for a business who's survival will depend on timely and aggressive action. 66% of the global annual profit will be dispersed by democratic action of the associates, no stock will be sold ever. No associate will earn over 10 times the starting wage. New associates will serve 3 year apprenticeship and be elected to permanent status.

The company has two products;
A wind turbine with many times less mass than other 1 megawatt machines, and a practical chemical energy storage system to deliver dispatch able power.

We are looking for associates to setup local production and sales organizations.
Would you like to participate?
If so reply to mike_fallwell@yahoodot com with a nondisclosure agreement

Comment by ML Hayes on October 28, 2008 at 2:01pm

My Pickens Tools & Addresses.htm

Please use the attached file to locate me off the Pickens' Plan site. We need to get the work started.

M.L. "Mickey" Hayes
Pickens Plan Ambassador

Comment by Monte Smith on October 27, 2008 at 9:25pm

What words we chose to use in describing and identifying elements of this elephant that we are creating is of great importance.

When ML started using the word club I found myself manifesting a bit of resistence to that word. Instead of club I was leaning more toward foundation. So...when in doubt look the word up in a dictionary. I did. Here's what I found...

Club: an association of persons participating in a plan by which they agree to make regular payments or purchases in order to secure some advantage.

Foundation: an organization or institution established by endowment with provision for future maintenance.

Endow: to furnish with an income. To provide or equip gratuitiously - enrich - invest.

Well, after looking at the definitions I now see that club is actually a better description for this elephant than the word foundation as I was originally thinking. However, I do believe that the word club should be modified in some way so as to provide more explanation. We could say investment club but investment, as Bill points out implies return. And sure, we are all investing our time, personal energy and effort into the Pickens Plan and are doing so knowing full well that we will not be earning any monetary remuneration for doing so (at least directly). But too, we all realize that we are investing in a future return that while it may in some way include more money in our pockets what we are hoping for and expecting is a bettered state of survival as a result of our investment and not just for us but for the generations to come. STOs can understand this concept of ROI. STSs cannot.

So here's my thought...

If we look at this elephant, as I have mentioned elsewhere, as being a set of concentric circles, like growth rings of a tree, and we being the core circle (the point of conception) and we construct the core (the foundation) to be completely philantropic the only players that we will attract are at the upper two levels of motivation i.e., personal conviction and duty. This is a good thing because this allows us to build the core of the elephant totally along altrustic lines that are easily understood, agreeable and attractive to a specific membership base of individuals that have broad awareness and understanding of interconnectivity and both short-term and long-term causes and effects. For sure, we do not want any STSs as part of the core.

Once the core is built and is proving itself out to be a viable design with all the "bugs" worked out and a good track record under its belt then we expand into the next circle. This does not mean that we leave the core behind. The core remains constant but the elephant grows and another ring appears. And possibly in this ring there are modifications made so that in this case there is an investment made with a monetary return expected. In this ring is perhaps where we can begin to use and channel the motivations of the STSs into enhancing a greater cause.

As we proceed and learn more about this elephant all manner of different uses and retoolings of the elephant will inevitably emerge and as they do and we act upon them they end up being another ring of growth.

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