Ken Burns’ 6-part documentary on the American Revolution is sparking renewed interest in our nation’s origin story. Democracy, it turns out, was the outcome, not the purpose of the Revolution. The rebellion’s leaders needed to offer a new form of government to non-landowners to keep them in the fight against British forces. It succeeded. But how is our democracy faring today, nearly 250 years since its founding? In this blog, I’ll explain why you should be concerned about the weakening of our democracy as Presidential power increases. But first, let’s look at the data. US democracy circa 2025 Many indicators show that democratic rule in the US has suffered in the past decade. In 2016, there was Russian interference in the election. In Trump’s first term, he refused to comply with some Congressional requests and cast doubt on the security of our elections….
Business thrives under democracy and capitalism
Strategists trying to understand and influence the future of an organization will study the “containing system” surrounding it. That is, factors that affect the environment in which the organization operates. Social forces, regulatory changes, competitor actions, and global economic trends are examples. But rarely do strategists consider the notion of whether our nation remains a democracy or operates under capitalism as a component of that containing system. It may be time that we do so. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley‘s comments at his farewell ceremony moved me deeply. Appointed by Trump, he is voluntarily retiring. You might remember that when Trump refused to concede the election, Milley reached out to his counterparts in China. He said the US would not attack China during Trump’s increasingly erratic last days in office. For this act, Trump has accused Milley of…