Why we need recessions

We do everything to prevent recessions and by doing that, we reward unsustainable business behaviour, destroy sound businesses and corrupt generations of future managers.

The unfair competition

unsustainable growth

Image: flickr/Arenamontanus

I was always wondering how a sustainably managed business could compete against a cancerously managed business. Imagine for example a fast expanding company with hyped executives. They squeeze out all existing values (hidden assets and reserves, unrealised gains, customer loyalty, product pipeline, quality, employees, etc.), take high and irresponsible risks and thus generate much more profits in the short run than a sustainably managed business. After a certain time, shareholders of the latter business will look enviously to the much better performing business – and ultimately sell their company to the more successful management. Read More

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Why we need to reform democracy

The «discussion» about the debt ceiling is the obvious proof that democracy as we know it has turned dysfunctional. A whole nation – if not the whole world – are being held hostage by a few representatives. Representative democracy gives too much power in the hands of too few people. This worked as long as there were representatives that did at least balance the good for all with the assumed special interests of their own constituencies and the outspoken interests of their lobbying groups. And it was the only way to organise a society in times when stage coaches were the only way to communicate.

Both conditions have changed: Read More

Why Obama finally lost my hope for change

In 2008 lots of people around the world – including me – were thrilled by the campaign of Obama, using grass root approaches to overcome the old establishment. He presented himself as someone who could change the way the United States are ruled because he was a man of the folks and not of the establishment – accountable only to the main street and to the constitution of his beloved founders of the modern America.

My first disappointment even during the early campaign came with the learning, that Obama had no scruple to use legal tactics in favour of his advancement, even if it was not necessary. Read More

We cannot afford waiting any longer for Mandelas in Israel and Gandhis in Palestine

The Israeli Palestinian Conflict – And What a Solution Could Be

The next round of efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Israel and Palestine does not start promising.  And some people have spent almost all their lifetime to bring forward a peace deal without any results – not to talk about almost every US president and numberless international initiatives. That is a situation the world no longer can afford. It costs hundreds and thousands of lives in many places around the world – and almost as important – it costs the western values lots (if not all) of its credibility in one of the worlds’ actually most important regions. It is one of the most successful recruiting and fundraising arguments for terrorism and it endangers the security in even the remotest and seemingly securest places around the world. And one of the most unsettling consequences: it even corrupts our own values in the western world.

How do we normally solve conflicts?

Read More

The Good of the Swiss Vote on Minaret Building

First of all: I’m against a ban on minaret building – I think, it is stupid.

BUT: With the vote of the Swiss people, democracy shows, why it is the best model of governing. The public debate on immigration, integration, islamisation (3i’s) is fare too simplistic. There are the good guys, who see no problems at all. And there are the bad guys, who see problems alone.

The REAL problem is, that there is no proper discussion about the the 3i’s.