The Shoulder-to-Burden Ratio

Untapped anger just sits there seething. Tisk. Such a waste of energy – the karmic twin to air conditioning pouring out an open door. Anger just drains power if it’s not channeled. Tap it, however, and you may reverse the charge. Injustice has made great citizens stand up and fight, and usually, eventually win. History’s biggest losers are the ones that bitched and blamed their way to defeat and immortal villainy. So what are we regular folk to do when daily news reports get our hackles up? How are we to respond when prospects look “nasty, brutish, and short,” with scant promise of a speedy upside correction? These days, even Jon Stewart seems more inspired to satire than playful humor. But his recent “facedown” of Jim Cramer at least offered something of an antidote to public frustration. And maybe that’s the right place to start. It’s okay to be furious at what’s gone so badly wrong and it’s okay to make those who violated the trust placed in them face appropriate censure. Then, let’s all take a breath, stand up, and fight for something better. Whether we’re consciously recalling our Locke and Rousseau or not, a sense of “social contract” guides the fairly common understanding that we’re all playing by the rules of the State because those at the helm are looking after the general interest. Elections, of course, are one of those nifty things we democracies have that empower us to renegotiate. Protection of property is the Big Kahuna – if the social order blows that fundamental justification for renouncing the “state of nature’s” freewheeling groove, then what’s the point? How can we restore the public trust in financial institutions, real estate transactions, business leaders, government – because we must do so and the trust must be well-placed. It occurs to me that a stripping down is in order. Not just the pants-ing that Jon Stewart is so brilliant at administering, nor the just prosecution of thieves like Bernie Madoff, but a fundamental reevaluation of society and the concept of public trust. Public companies have seen dramatic changes in the past 20 years. Some have responded better than others, but few would deny that corporate social responsibility is much more than the rallying cry of the radical fringe. Many successful ones have proven it can be a distinct competitive advantage. Additionally, the most impactful and engaging global brands have learned that consumers want to be collaborators not passive audience. Shoppers listen to each other, so if they don’t like a company’s message, conduct, or products, then the secret is out and spreading like wildfire. More dialogue on issues that impact business and society and individual citizens is in order. And I don’t just mean within one country or part of the world. I mean all of us. If you reject the argument that your quality of life is diminished when children go hungry and rivers are poisoned, I believe it’s only because you think those are dynamics you can’t change. Maybe not you alone, but you acting is one more than none, so get going! Redesign what you think of your own place in society. Maybe there’s a business leader out there for you to inspire. Or an elected official. Or even just a neighbor. Put your anger into ideas and move them around. Tell us what you’re thinking. Let’s open it up. There are plenty of us listening and ready to respond. ATLAS by Kay Ryan Extreme exertion isolates a person from help, discovered Atlas. Once a certain shoulder-to-burden ratio collapses, there is so little others can do: they can't lend a hand with Brazil and not stand on Peru.