Even a Bush talk sense from time to time

[Mosiah]

Education, entrepreneurial capitalism key to economic growth - Jeb Bush
JULIAN RICHARDSON, Observer staff reporter
Thursday, July 19, 2007

Former governor of Florida, Jeb Bush (left), shares a laugh with President and CEO of Scotiabank Jamaica, William Clarke (right) and Scotiabank Director, Mayer Matalon. The occasion was the annual Scotiabank Lecture Series held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston yesterday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
FORMER governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, yesterday identified a government's commitment to entrepreneurial capitalism and a vibrant education system as the two most critical components needed for a state to catalyse growth in the ever-changing global economy.
Speaking at the annual Scotiabank Lecture Series, themed 'Confronting Radical Change to bring future Economic Rewards' at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston yesterday, Bush, who is the brother of United States President George W Bush, said that countries that fail to adhere to the accelerating world of changes face the risk of severe economic stagnation.
"The simple fact is that the world is moving at a (rapid) speed, what used to take a year, now takes a month etc....as the world becomes more interdependent," he said. "Some would hope that the effects of this, these new realities that do exist, will just go away... well the simple fact is that they won't, the countries that seize these timeless opportunities will come out ahead, those that stand pact with what they have will see incomes decline etc."
Bush said that developing countries should look closely at the successes of countries such as Korea, Chile and Ireland - economically-challenged countries that with the adaptation of innovative government policies, had achieved significant prosperity over time.
"In times past, countries have developed strategies that has (achieved) quantum leaps in progress, " Bush said.
"Who will be the next Ireland, Korea or Chile? Which countries will be in the ascendancy and which will be in decline?" Bush asked rhetorically, to which he said that a combination of bold public leadership, a commitment to entrepreneurial capitalism and a focus on education is key.
In terms of a government's leadership style, Bush noted that it is critical for an administration to move away from monotonous policies and "have a healthy disrespect for the status quo".
"A lot of times, the way we do things is because we have been doing it that way before, not because it is rational, not because it improves the human condition or creates the chance for people to pursue their dreams, but because we have been doing it that way," said Bush. "So in a world where change is happening a lot, whether the government is changing or not, it is important for leadership to have a healthy disrespect for the status quo.
"You won't change everything but the things that don't work needs to be changed and without leadership, this won't happen," the former governor added.
Bush also stated that "rewarding the achievers of society and more importantly working to create more achievers should be the primary goal of countries in this world that we live in."
"A transformed education system and entrepreneurial capitalism in my mind are the two best ways that that can be achieved," he added.
In entrepreneurial capitalism, which he said is the most dynamic form of capitalism, a commanding focus is paid in encouraging businesses through low taxes, open markets, less regulations etc. This, he said, stimulates individual entrepreneurial goals, which is critical for any economy, but added that a good education system is the critical foundation that needs to be laid out.
"Individual pursuits truly matters, they should be protected and they should be held as the highest examples for other aspiring achievers in our society," said Bush.
"Every Jamaican, every Caribbean [national], no matter the standing in society, no matter the level of income of their family, should be given the tools to succeed and to do that we would need a radical transformation of our education system," he added.

[Muadib]

Bush needs to get his priorities in order.

First, Jamaica has to solve its 'class issues' then worry about economic development and education transformation.

To do this, First we make sure we have black representatives in all the important Govt positions and quasi-govt agencies, make sure we have a black prime minister THEN we can move forward.

Look how much progress has been obtained since the 'revolution' in 1972 following this priority of color before competence...

WI NUH WAAN SERVE IN HEAVEN NONE AT ALL.. (well unless wi run guh merica or Hingland or cayman) but NOT AH YARD !..

Wait.. who is dat beside Bill Clarke....

Heh, heh.

[Karl]

Preaching to the choir!

mmmm?

With our craving for rapid change for the better, how does this fit with all the 'various parts' that need billions of dollars to be fixed - immediately?

Bruce Golding says, he shall deliver same...??????

[Muadib]

Preaching to the choir!

mmmm?

With our craving for rapid change for the better, how does this fit with all the 'various parts' that need billions of dollars to be fixed - immediately?

Bruce Golding says, he shall deliver same...??????

PNP has had their opportunity, a golden one... 18 straight years !?.. not our fault they squandered it.

NEXT !!

[Jawge]

I onced preached the same words,
night and day on this site. Usually I would be mocked and be a target of snickers and jokes. It's very serious and as the info age takes more ground, reality will set in. Most in Ja will lose their wealth (even the elite), if Ja doesn't adjust, she will become a waste land that no one wants to even visit. This is the time for third world countries: it was a fact that based on the laws of thermodynamics all countires in the world could not be industralized. Now there is no excuse in the in fo age. Ja has some of the brightest and creative people, all they need is the chance to get the opportunity in a system of quality education (please look at many immigrants to the USA). The time has come for Ja to stop the non productive scheme of playing "master and slave". Now is the time for all on the island to roll up their sleeves and work to build a nation. This is going to be hard and Jeb doesnt know it. Why? well we on the island seem to think along the narrow confines of who went to this or that high school. If you didn't then no good can come from you. You also have one sector of the island thinking that they are superior to the rest (just by living in a certain location could cause you to be looked upon as less than human) and the list goes on . We are holding back ourselves and we take pride in it too. If one makes it from the bottom to the top, one turns around and scoff at the rest. We then turn to use the little education we have to manipulate the less fortunate, hence we exist in a continous state of insatbility.

I have a friend who came to Ja recently and he said he felt uncomfortable. Why? he was at a function and most of the people there carrried guns (these were people from the Jakan elite) He says what kind of society are we building? (please note he was born and raised in JA) If JA collectively doesn't make a shift to change, the info age will show no mercy. We now hear it from one of the movers and shakers.

[Assasin]

How do you think a goverment in power for 18 years and not achieve 3% growth in any of those years will put the tools in place to deliver what they haven't done.

The Jamaican people have been beaten down and is now saying like you that thing can't better. How it a go better without change? What is the PNP currenlty achieving? bigger debt, lower credit ratings so the interest is higher, the dollar is predicted to be 72 by next year, the price of fertizer gone through the roof and farm products price not going anywhere, that mean more farmers a go out a business.

[Jawge]

So how will the JLP remedy this stiuation?
By introducing art and craft? I really don't think that's what Jeb had in mind. Let's stay focused here.

[Muadib]

I onced preached the same words,
night and day on this site. Usually I would be mocked and be a target of snickers and jokes. It's very serious and as the info age takes more ground, reality will set in. Most in Ja will lose their wealth (even the elite), if Ja doesn't adjust, she will become a waste land that no one wants to even visit. This is the time for third world countries: it was a fact that based on the laws of thermodynamics all countires in the world could not be industralized. Now there is no excuse in the in fo age. Ja has some of the brightest and creative people, all they need is the chance to get the opportunity in a system of quality education (please look at many immigrants to the USA). The time has come for Ja to stop the non productive scheme of playing "master and slave". Now is the time for all on the island to roll up their sleeves and work to build a nation. This is going to be hard and Jeb doesnt know it. Why? well we on the island seem to think along the narrow confines of who went to this or that high school. If you didn't then no good can come from you. You also have one sector of the island thinking that they are superior to the rest (just by living in a certain location could cause you to be looked upon as less than human) and the list goes on . We are holding back ourselves and we take pride in it too. If one makes it from the bottom to the top, one turns around and scoff at the rest. We then turn to use the little education we have to manipulate the less fortunate, hence we exist in a continous state of insatbility.

I have a friend who came to Ja recently and he said he felt uncomfortable. Why? he was at a function and most of the people there carrried guns (these were people from the Jakan elite) He says what kind of society are we building? (please note he was born and raised in JA) If JA collectively doesn't make a shift to change, the info age will show no mercy. We now hear it from one of the movers and shakers.

26 of the 35 years since the 'Revolution' have been under the PNP.. why are we faced with this reality in 2007 ?

Look like yuh nuh unnastan yuhself.

[Willi]

So how will the JLP remedy this stiuation?
By introducing art and craft? I really don't think that's what Jeb had in mind. Let's stay focused here.

G,

Where U get this arts and crafts thing from???

Also, what has the PNP done in the last 18 ears to justif the development U advocate?

[Jawge]

Ben seriously; the truth is way above
the petty politics that we engage in JA. Is it the PNP that causes you to constantly rant that you went to good school and that your school is the only good school in ja? Think about it; how does it benefit the island to have one good school with a few kids and the rest is left in the dark? When most jakans (who did not have the benefit of being taught at a traditional high school) go to the USA, they excel and add value to the US. Something is fundamentally wrong with our education system at the secondary to tertiary level. It makes no sense wasting millions on kindergarten when we know that most kids really don't blossom until primary to secondary school. Why is it that kids at voactional school (not college) in Philipines can write virus codes (this shows an understaning of the architecture of operating systems) to attack the web whilst most of our students seem to have a surface knowledge of computers? (listen to the questions on school challenge: What's a floppy disk or what's an IO device? are you kidding me?) Is it that Ja is going to wait until the info age is in full effect and tehn we are looking at lost opportunities?

This is beyond politics in the sense that what's on the horizon is beyond the control of politicans. We are looking at emerging market forces coupled with new technologies; these in turn require a certain skill set. Without a quality comprehensive education system Ja is doomed and running around crying free education is not the answer. Ja has to do a lot before she can move forward: we must stop the attitude that only a certain set or class was born to lead the island. How many bright young leaders on the island are scared to speak or being denied the position of leadership. How would have Uma Clarke fared, had she stayed in Ja? Our mindset and outlook has to change before we can move to do great things on a national level.

[Muadib]

Ben seriously; the truth is way above
the petty politics that we engage in JA. Is it the PNP that causes you to constantly rant that you went to good school and that your school is the only good school in ja? Think about it; how does it benefit the island to have one good school with a few kids and the rest is left in the dark? When most jakans (who did not have the benefit of being taught at a traditional high school) go to the USA, they excel and add value to the US. Something is fundamentally wrong with our education system at the secondary to tertiary level. It makes no sense wasting millions on kindergarten when we know that most kids really don't blossom until primary to secondary school. Why is it that kids at voactional school (not college) in Philipines can write virus codes (this shows an understaning of the architecture of operating systems) to attack the web whilst most of our students seem to have a surface knowledge of computers? (listen to the questions on school challenge: What's a floppy disk or what's an IO device? are you kidding me?) Is it that Ja is going to wait until the info age is in full effect and tehn we are looking at lost opportunities?

This is beyond politics in the sense that what's on the horizon is beyond the control of politicans. We are looking at emerging market forces coupled with new technologies; these in turn require a certain skill set. Without a quality comprehensive education system Ja is doomed and running around crying free education is not the answer. Ja has to do a lot before she can move forward: we must stop the attitude that only a certain set or class was born to lead the island. How many bright young leaders on the island are scared to speak or being denied the position of leadership. How would have Uma Clarke fared, had she stayed in Ja? Our mindset and outlook has to change before we can move to do great things on a national level.

But Portia seh SHE NAH CHANGE COURSE !