|
At ChainLink Research, we, like the rest
of you, were deeply shocked and sadden by the sudden disaster
of the Tsunami,
the continued violence in Darfur, as well as the turbulent weather
in the US. But obviously there is no comparison, though
each loss of life and the creation of new orphans is truly a disaster
for
each human on our planet. In spite of the challenges in the US,
we are still a truly wealthy nation. We must not forget those most
desperately in need, or which organizations live to serve the neediest.
Not just now, but ongoing.
The challenge for us here is how
to help.
Aidmatrix is another organization that will pass all the funds
onto the needed victims. In addition, it is heart warming to
see former Presidents Clinton and Bush unite in helping to support
the efforts—which will continue beyond whatever press coverage
will be dedicated on an ongoing basis—or not.
So, we decided, since we have a huge distribution
list, we would dedicate part of this issue to support the Tsunami
and
Darfur
victims. Supply Chain people know better than anyone about
the challenges associated
with getting people and supplies into devastated areas.
The Economy Again?
Last month I wrote a feature
on the economy (A
Midwinter’s
Nightmare), for which
I received some very ardent emails.
Since publishing Parallax View, I have been accused of being ultra
right wing, ultra left and some other categories. We must be getting
to some hearts and minds, since we get many letters on Supply Chain;
and in the time we have begun (just shy of two years), we have
reached about eighty thousand subscribers. Let us hear from you!
Although one letter accused
us of faulty thinking, I can’t
let this topic go, since I keep seeing these headlines in so many
prestigious business journals:
Trade Gap Balloons to $60.29
Billion[1] …from
the Wall Street Journal WASHINGTON -- The U.S. trade deficit
roared to yet another record, hitting $60.29 billion in November
amid strong demand for imported
petroleum and consumer goods. The news pushed the dollar down sharply
on foreign-exchange markets, with the U.S. currency slipping a
cent versus the euro, and falling to its lowest level versus the
Japanese yen in more than a month.
Today's release ... continues to confound the 'experts' who have
constantly predicted that a weaker dollar would be the cure for
America's exploding trade imbalance," said Peter Schiff, president
of Euro Pacific Capital Inc. in Newport Beach, Calif. "If
anything, the statistical record is showing an inverse relationship
between the dollar and the deficit: The more the dollar falls,
the higher the deficit goes."
The ballooning trade gap underscored an underlying phenomenon in
the U.S. economy, as Americans continued to consume more than they
were able to produce.”
Again, paying down the debt might be a good idea vs. buying cheap
consumer goods! Our government is merely a reflection of our own
approach to money!
 Included in the spending
habits of Americans is our over dependencies (and therefore huge
expenditures) of
energy. The Rocky Mountain
Institute has published a significant study on how we can Win
at the Oil Endgame. We are missing out here
in the policy game, with energy policy being so critical to national
security, economics and environmental sustainment.
Moving on from here, we
have some great articles this month. This New Year we are thinking
forward and backward,
as well as about supply chain strategies and successes – in
particular, the past (remember APS) and the future (third paradigm)
of planning systems. There is still so much for companies to do
in their supply chains!
We also continue to reach a bit outward beyond
our borders, this time to Peru.
We will continue to literally explore the world, as we at ChainLink
Research spread our wings
on a global basis, with first hand accounts of the way the rest
of the world lives…
Welcome to 2005! My sincerest hopes for a prosperous year for all!
|
