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SomeonehascalculatedthatbythetimeanAmericanreachestheageof40heorshehasbeenexposedtoonemillionads.Anotherestimateisthatwehaveencounteredmorethan600000adsbythetimewereachtheageofonly18.Nowofcoursewedon’trememberwhatexactlytheysaidorevenwhattheproductwasbutacompositemessagegetsthrough:thatyoudeservethebestthatyoushouldhaveitnowandthatit’sokaytoindulgeyourselfbecauseyoudeservethecomplimentssexappealoradventureyouaregoingtogetasaresultofbuyingthiscarorthosecigarettes.Ourconsumer-basedeconomymakestwoabsolutelyreciprocalpsychologicaldemandsonitsmembers.Ontheonehandyouneedthedisciplinevaluestoensurethatpeoplewillbegoodworkersandleadorderlylaw-abidinglives.Ontheotherhandyouneedtheenjoyyourselfmessagestogetpeopletobegoodconsumers.Oneauthorwasdisturbedabouttheenjoyyourselfsidebutacknowledgedthatwithoutameansofstimulatingmassconsumptiontheverystructureofourbusinessenterprisewouldcollapse.Theinterestingquestionhastodowiththepsychologicalconsequencesofthediscrepancybetweenthedualmessages.Thedisciplineortraditionalvaluesthemedemandsthatonecompartmentofthepersonalityhaveawillstrongenoughtokeeptheindividualdoingunpleasantworkatlowwagesortostayinanunhappymarriageandingeneraltodothingsforthegoodofthecommonwealth.Theenjoyyourselfmessageontheotherhandtendstoencourageaverydifferentkindofpersonality-onethatisself-centeredbasedonimpulseandisunwillingtodelayrewards.AsanillustrationIcan’t.resistrecitingoneofmyfavoriteadsofalltimeanadfromapsychologymagazine:Iloveme.I’mjustagoodfriendtomyself.AndIliketodowhatmakesmefeelgood.Iusedtositaroundputtingthingsofftilltomorrow.TomorrowI’lldrinkchampagneandbuyasetofpearlsandpickupthatnewstereo.ButnowIlivemydreamstodaynottomorrow.SowhathappenstousaswetakeintheseopposingmessagesasweareinfacttornbetweentheoppositepersonalitytypesthatoursocietyseemstorequireofusTileresultisanxietyfearandamysteriousdread.Thefearofbeingsuckedinanddraggeddownbyourconsumercultureisreal:thecreditcardcompanyisnotfriendlywhenyoudefaultonyourbills.Andweallknowthatthepathofpleasure-seekingandblindacquisitionisarecipeforfinancialruin-formostofusanyway-andthatinAmericansocietythereisn’tmuchofasafetynettocatchyouifyoufall.Fromthelastparagraphwemayinferthat______.
AsPhiladelphiagrewfromasmalltownintoacityinthefirsthalfoftheeighteenthcenturyitbecameanincreasinglyimportantmarketingcenterforavastagriculturalhinterland.Marketdays1thecrowdedcityevenmorecrowdedasfarmersfromwithina2of24ormorekilometersbroughttheirsheepvegetablesciderandotherproductsfordirectsaletothe3.TheHighStreetMarketwascontinuously4throughouttheperioduntil17365it6fromFrontStreettoThird.By1745NewMarketwasopenedonSecondStreet.ThenextyeartheCallowHillMarketbegan7. Alongwithmarketdaysthe8oftwice-yearlyfairspersistedinPhiladelphia9aftersimilartradingdayshadbeendiscontinuedinothercolonialcities.The10providedameansofbringinghandmadegoodsfrom11placestowould-bebuyersinthecity.LinensandstockingsfromGermantown12werepopularitems.Auctionswereanotherpopular13 oftrade.Becauseofthecompetitionretail14opposedtheseaswellasthefairs.15governmentalattemptstoeradicatefairsandauctionswerelessthansuccessfultheordinary16ofeconomicdevelopmentwasonthemerchants’sideasincreasingbusinessspecializationbecamethe17oftheday.Exportmerchantsbecamedifferentiatedfromtheirimportingcounterpartsandspecialtyshopsbegantoappear18generalstoressellingavarietyofgoods. OneofthereasonsPhiladelphia’smerchantsprosperedwasbecausethesurroundingareawasundergoingtremendouseconomicanddemographicgrowth.Theydidtheirbusiness19inthecapitalcityoftheprovince20tonotonlythegovernorandhiscirclebutcitizensfromalloverthecolony. 17
AsPhiladelphiagrewfromasmalltownintoacityinthefirsthalfoftheeighteenthcenturyitbecameanincreasinglyimportantmarketingcenterforavastagriculturalhinterland.Marketdays1thecrowdedcityevenmorecrowdedasfarmersfromwithina2of24ormorekilometersbroughttheirsheepvegetablesciderandotherproductsfordirectsaletothe3.TheHighStreetMarketwascontinuously4throughouttheperioduntil17365it6fromFrontStreettoThird.By1745NewMarketwasopenedonSecondStreet.ThenextyeartheCallowHillMarketbegan7. Alongwithmarketdaysthe8oftwice-yearlyfairspersistedinPhiladelphia9aftersimilartradingdayshadbeendiscontinuedinothercolonialcities.The10providedameansofbringinghandmadegoodsfrom11placestowould-bebuyersinthecity.LinensandstockingsfromGermantown12werepopularitems.Auctionswereanotherpopular13 oftrade.Becauseofthecompetitionretail14opposedtheseaswellasthefairs.15governmentalattemptstoeradicatefairsandauctionswerelessthansuccessfultheordinary16ofeconomicdevelopmentwasonthemerchants’sideasincreasingbusinessspecializationbecamethe17oftheday.Exportmerchantsbecamedifferentiatedfromtheirimportingcounterpartsandspecialtyshopsbegantoappear18generalstoressellingavarietyofgoods. OneofthereasonsPhiladelphia’smerchantsprosperedwasbecausethesurroundingareawasundergoingtremendouseconomicanddemographicgrowth.Theydidtheirbusiness19inthecapitalcityoftheprovince20tonotonlythegovernorandhiscirclebutcitizensfromalloverthecolony. 9
Lastyear’seconomyshouldhavewontheOscarforbestpicture.Growthingrossdomesticproductwas4.1percent;profitssoared;exportsflourished;andinflationstayedaround3percentforthethirdyear.41.________________________________.Jobsinsecuritywasrampant.Evenastheyannouncedhighersalesandprofitscorporationsactedasiftheywereinatailspincutting516069jobsin2003alonealmostasmanyasintherecessionyearof1991.Yesunemploymentwentdown.Butoveronemillionworkersweresodiscouragedtheyleftthelaborforce.Morethan6millionwhowantedfull-timeworkwereonlypartiallyemployed;andanotherlargegroupwaseitheroverqualifiedorshelteredbehindtheeuphemismofself-employment.Welostamilliongoodmanufacturingjobsbetween1998and2002continuingthetrendthathasreducedtheblue-collarworkforcefromabout30percentinthe1950stoabouthalfofthattoday.42.________________________________.AllthishappenedinacountrywherepeoplemeetforthefirsttimesayingWhatdoyoudoThenthereisthematterofremuneration.TheLaborDepartmentrecentlyreportedthatrealwagesfell2.3percentinthe12-monthperiodendingthisMarch.Since1973wagesadjustedforinflationhavedeclinedbyaboutaquarterforhighschooldropoutsbyasixthforhighschoolgraduatesandbyabout7percentforthosewithsomecollegeeducation.Onlythewagesofcollegegraduatesareupby5percentandrecentlystartingsalariesevenforthisgrouphavenotkeptupwithinflation.Whilethetop5percentofthepopulationwassettingnewincomerecordsalmosteveryyearpovertyratesrosefrom11percentto15percent.43.________________________________.Inpreviousbusinesscyclescompanieswithrisingproductivityraisedwagestokeeplabor.Isthehistoricallinkbetweenproductivityimprovementsandincomegrowthserved44.________________________________.Justthinkthatin197678percentofautoworkersandsteel-workersingoodmassproductionjobswerehighschooldropouts.Butthesejobsaredisappearingfast.Educationandjobtrainingarewhatcount.Thesedayscollegegraduatescanexpecttoearn1.9timesthelikelyearningsofhighschoolgraduatesupfrom1.45timesinthe1970s.45.________________________________.Americanmalesnowtoilaboutaweekandahalflongerthantheydidin1973thefirsttimeworkinghourshaveincreasedoveranextendedperiodoftime.Womenparticularlyinpoorerfamiliesareworkinghardertoo.Two-workerfamiliesrosebymorethan20percentinthe1990s.Sevenmillionworkersholdatleasttwojobsthehighestproportioninhalfacentury.Americaissimplynotgrowingfastenoughtotightenthelabormarketandpushuprealwages.[A]Otherwiseanangrydisillusionedandfrustratedpopulation--whoseragetodayisfocusedonbiggovernmentexcesstaxesimmigrationwelfareandaffirmativeaction--maysomedaybebroughttogetherbyitssenseofdiminishedhopes.Thenwewillallbeinforaverydifficulttime.[B]NowonderthisisbeginningtobecalledtheSilentDepression.Whatisgoingonhere[C]Thedangeroftheinformationageisthatwhileintheshortrunitmaybecheapertoreplaceworkerswithtechnologyinthelongrunitispotentiallyself-destructivebecausetherewillnotbeenoughpurchasingpowertogrowtheeconomy.[D]SowhydidsomanyAmericansgivethepicturealousyBratingTheanswerisjobs.Themacroeconomicsituationwasgoodbutthemicroeconomicnumberswerenot.Yes3millionnewjobsweretherebutnotenoughofthemwerepermanentgoodjobspayingenoughtosup-portafamily.[E]Theearningsqueezeonmiddle-classandworking-classpeopleandthescarcityofgoodhigh-payingjobswillbethebigpoliticalissue.Americanshavesofarrespondedtotheirfallingfortunesbyworkingharder.[F]White-collarworkersfoundouttheywerenolongerimmune.Forthefisttimetheywereletgoinnumbersvirtuallyequaltothoseforblue-collarworkers.Manyresortedtotemporarywork-withlowerpayfewerbenefitsandlessstatus.[G]Ofallthereasonsgivenforthewagesqueeze--internationalcompetitiontechnologyderegulationthedeclineofunionsanddefensecuts--technologyisprobablethemostcrucial.Ithasfavoredtheeducatedandskilled.
AsPhiladelphiagrewfromasmalltownintoacityinthefirsthalfoftheeighteenthcenturyitbecameanincreasinglyimportantmarketingcenterforavastagriculturalhinterland.Marketdays1thecrowdedcityevenmorecrowdedasfarmersfromwithina2of24ormorekilometersbroughttheirsheepvegetablesciderandotherproductsfordirectsaletothe3.TheHighStreetMarketwascontinuously4throughouttheperioduntil17365it6fromFrontStreettoThird.By1745NewMarketwasopenedonSecondStreet.ThenextyeartheCallowHillMarketbegan7. Alongwithmarketdaysthe8oftwice-yearlyfairspersistedinPhiladelphia9aftersimilartradingdayshadbeendiscontinuedinothercolonialcities.The10providedameansofbringinghandmadegoodsfrom11placestowould-bebuyersinthecity.LinensandstockingsfromGermantown12werepopularitems.Auctionswereanotherpopular13 oftrade.Becauseofthecompetitionretail14opposedtheseaswellasthefairs.15governmentalattemptstoeradicatefairsandauctionswerelessthansuccessfultheordinary16ofeconomicdevelopmentwasonthemerchants’sideasincreasingbusinessspecializationbecamethe17oftheday.Exportmerchantsbecamedifferentiatedfromtheirimportingcounterpartsandspecialtyshopsbegantoappear18generalstoressellingavarietyofgoods. OneofthereasonsPhiladelphia’smerchantsprosperedwasbecausethesurroundingareawasundergoingtremendouseconomicanddemographicgrowth.Theydidtheirbusiness19inthecapitalcityoftheprovince20tonotonlythegovernorandhiscirclebutcitizensfromalloverthecolony. 1
Lastyear’seconomyshouldhavewontheOscarforbestpicture.Growthingrossdomesticproductwas4.1percent;profitssoared;exportsflourished;andinflationstayedaround3percentforthethirdyear.41.________________________________.Jobsinsecuritywasrampant.Evenastheyannouncedhighersalesandprofitscorporationsactedasiftheywereinatailspincutting516069jobsin2003alonealmostasmanyasintherecessionyearof1991.Yesunemploymentwentdown.Butoveronemillionworkersweresodiscouragedtheyleftthelaborforce.Morethan6millionwhowantedfull-timeworkwereonlypartiallyemployed;andanotherlargegroupwaseitheroverqualifiedorshelteredbehindtheeuphemismofself-employment.Welostamilliongoodmanufacturingjobsbetween1998and2002continuingthetrendthathasreducedtheblue-collarworkforcefromabout30percentinthe1950stoabouthalfofthattoday.42.________________________________.AllthishappenedinacountrywherepeoplemeetforthefirsttimesayingWhatdoyoudoThenthereisthematterofremuneration.TheLaborDepartmentrecentlyreportedthatrealwagesfell2.3percentinthe12-monthperiodendingthisMarch.Since1973wagesadjustedforinflationhavedeclinedbyaboutaquarterforhighschooldropoutsbyasixthforhighschoolgraduatesandbyabout7percentforthosewithsomecollegeeducation.Onlythewagesofcollegegraduatesareupby5percentandrecentlystartingsalariesevenforthisgrouphavenotkeptupwithinflation.Whilethetop5percentofthepopulationwassettingnewincomerecordsalmosteveryyearpovertyratesrosefrom11percentto15percent.43.________________________________.Inpreviousbusinesscyclescompanieswithrisingproductivityraisedwagestokeeplabor.Isthehistoricallinkbetweenproductivityimprovementsandincomegrowthserved44.________________________________.Justthinkthatin197678percentofautoworkersandsteel-workersingoodmassproductionjobswerehighschooldropouts.Butthesejobsaredisappearingfast.Educationandjobtrainingarewhatcount.Thesedayscollegegraduatescanexpecttoearn1.9timesthelikelyearningsofhighschoolgraduatesupfrom1.45timesinthe1970s.45.________________________________.Americanmalesnowtoilaboutaweekandahalflongerthantheydidin1973thefirsttimeworkinghourshaveincreasedoveranextendedperiodoftime.Womenparticularlyinpoorerfamiliesareworkinghardertoo.Two-workerfamiliesrosebymorethan20percentinthe1990s.Sevenmillionworkersholdatleasttwojobsthehighestproportioninhalfacentury.Americaissimplynotgrowingfastenoughtotightenthelabormarketandpushuprealwages.[A]Otherwiseanangrydisillusionedandfrustratedpopulation--whoseragetodayisfocusedonbiggovernmentexcesstaxesimmigrationwelfareandaffirmativeaction--maysomedaybebroughttogetherbyitssenseofdiminishedhopes.Thenwewillallbeinforaverydifficulttime.[B]NowonderthisisbeginningtobecalledtheSilentDepression.Whatisgoingonhere[C]Thedangeroftheinformationageisthatwhileintheshortrunitmaybecheapertoreplaceworkerswithtechnologyinthelongrunitispotentiallyself-destructivebecausetherewillnotbeenoughpurchasingpowertogrowtheeconomy.[D]SowhydidsomanyAmericansgivethepicturealousyBratingTheanswerisjobs.Themacroeconomicsituationwasgoodbutthemicroeconomicnumberswerenot.Yes3millionnewjobsweretherebutnotenoughofthemwerepermanentgoodjobspayingenoughtosup-portafamily.[E]Theearningsqueezeonmiddle-classandworking-classpeopleandthescarcityofgoodhigh-payingjobswillbethebigpoliticalissue.Americanshavesofarrespondedtotheirfallingfortunesbyworkingharder.[F]White-collarworkersfoundouttheywerenolongerimmune.Forthefisttimetheywereletgoinnumbersvirtuallyequaltothoseforblue-collarworkers.Manyresortedtotemporarywork-withlowerpayfewerbenefitsandlessstatus.[G]Ofallthereasonsgivenforthewagesqueeze--internationalcompetitiontechnologyderegulationthedeclineofunionsanddefensecuts--technologyisprobablethemostcrucial.Ithasfavoredtheeducatedandskilled.
Directions:Writealettertoyourcousinwhoisgoingtotakethecollegeentranceexaminationandfeelsstressedgivinghersomesuggestions.Writeyourletterwithnolessthan100words.Donotsignyournameattheendoftheletter.Use“LiMing”instead.Donotwritetheaddress.
DespitethedoubtsanddespitecomplaintsfromshopownersLondon’scongestioncharge--introducedinFebruary2003--hasmanagedtoeasethegridlockinthecitycentre.Trafficisdownby18%jamsby30%.Thescheme’sbiggestweaknessisthatitiscrude:driverspay￡8$14toenterthezonebetween7amand6:30pmregardlessofhowcongestedtheroadsareorhowlongtheystay.Soroad-pricingfansarewatchingtrialsbyTransportforLondonTfLofanewdetectionsystemcalledtag-and-beaconwithinterest.UndersuchaschemeusedinSingaporeandonsomeEuropeanroadscarsarefittedwithelectronictagsthatarereadbyroadsidemasts.IfthetrialissuccessfulTfLsaysthatthecitycouldswitchtothesystemoncethecontracttorunthecongestionchargeisre-letin2009.Currentlycamerasareusedtoreadlicenseplatesandtrackmotorists.Theyarenotalwaysreliable:anindividualcameraidentifiesonlyaround70%ofcars.Mostdrivengetphotographedmorethanoncewhichbooststhesystem’seffectivenesstoover95%butthatstillleavesseveralthousandvehiclesperdaywhosedetailsmustbelaboriouslycheckedbyhand.Tag-and-beacontechnologyismuchmoreaccuratewithanidentificationrateofover99%.TfLsaysthetrialispartlydesignedtoseewhetherthenewsystemcouldallowdriverstopaychargesbydirectdebit.Thatwouldbepopularwithmotoristswhocomplainthatthecurrentpaymentsystemisunfriendly:thetollforaday’stravelmustbepaidmanually--onlinebyphoneorinashop--bymidnightwithsteepfinesleviedonforgetfuldrivers.Moreprecisedetectionalsoallowsformoreprecisioninpolicyandroad-pricingenthusiastsseeradicalpossibilitiesahead.TfLsaysitisconsideringusingthenewtechnologytochargedriverseachtimetheycrossthezoneboundaryuptoadailymaximuminsteadofpayingonceforanentireday’stravel.Thatwouldbecheaperfordriverswhomakefewtripsintothezonealthoughdriverswhospendalongtimetrundlingaroundwithoutleavingtherebycausingthemostcongestionwouldgetofflightlytoo.Furtherrefinementsmaybepossible.Thecurrentsystemhascuttrafficmostdrasticallyinthemiddleofthedaywhencongestionisatitslowest.Demandforroadspacewouldbettermatchsupplyifchargeswerevariable--highatthebusiesttimesofdayandlowinquietperiods.Suchatime-sensitivevariable-chargingschemeusingatag-and-beaconsystemwasendorsedlastyearbyBobKileytheTfL’sbosswhoalsosaidthathewantedtoextendthecongestionchargetootherpartsofLondon.ThatwouldbecontroversialandMr.Kiley’sunderlingswerequicktoinsistthathismusingswerenotofficialpolicy.ButtheoriginalschemewascontroversialtooyetKenLivingstoneLondon’smayoranditsbiggestbackerwasre-electedafterintroducingit.Itwouldbeashameiftimiditytookholdnow.Thetag-and-beaconsystem
DespitethedoubtsanddespitecomplaintsfromshopownersLondon’scongestioncharge--introducedinFebruary2003--hasmanagedtoeasethegridlockinthecitycentre.Trafficisdownby18%jamsby30%.Thescheme’sbiggestweaknessisthatitiscrude:driverspay￡8$14toenterthezonebetween7amand6:30pmregardlessofhowcongestedtheroadsareorhowlongtheystay.Soroad-pricingfansarewatchingtrialsbyTransportforLondonTfLofanewdetectionsystemcalledtag-and-beaconwithinterest.UndersuchaschemeusedinSingaporeandonsomeEuropeanroadscarsarefittedwithelectronictagsthatarereadbyroadsidemasts.IfthetrialissuccessfulTfLsaysthatthecitycouldswitchtothesystemoncethecontracttorunthecongestionchargeisre-letin2009.Currentlycamerasareusedtoreadlicenseplatesandtrackmotorists.Theyarenotalwaysreliable:anindividualcameraidentifiesonlyaround70%ofcars.Mostdrivengetphotographedmorethanoncewhichbooststhesystem’seffectivenesstoover95%butthatstillleavesseveralthousandvehiclesperdaywhosedetailsmustbelaboriouslycheckedbyhand.Tag-and-beacontechnologyismuchmoreaccuratewithanidentificationrateofover99%.TfLsaysthetrialispartlydesignedtoseewhetherthenewsystemcouldallowdriverstopaychargesbydirectdebit.Thatwouldbepopularwithmotoristswhocomplainthatthecurrentpaymentsystemisunfriendly:thetollforaday’stravelmustbepaidmanually--onlinebyphoneorinashop--bymidnightwithsteepfinesleviedonforgetfuldrivers.Moreprecisedetectionalsoallowsformoreprecisioninpolicyandroad-pricingenthusiastsseeradicalpossibilitiesahead.TfLsaysitisconsideringusingthenewtechnologytochargedriverseachtimetheycrossthezoneboundaryuptoadailymaximuminsteadofpayingonceforanentireday’stravel.Thatwouldbecheaperfordriverswhomakefewtripsintothezonealthoughdriverswhospendalongtimetrundlingaroundwithoutleavingtherebycausingthemostcongestionwouldgetofflightlytoo.Furtherrefinementsmaybepossible.Thecurrentsystemhascuttrafficmostdrasticallyinthemiddleofthedaywhencongestionisatitslowest.Demandforroadspacewouldbettermatchsupplyifchargeswerevariable--highatthebusiesttimesofdayandlowinquietperiods.Suchatime-sensitivevariable-chargingschemeusingatag-and-beaconsystemwasendorsedlastyearbyBobKileytheTfL’sbosswhoalsosaidthathewantedtoextendthecongestionchargetootherpartsofLondon.ThatwouldbecontroversialandMr.Kiley’sunderlingswerequicktoinsistthathismusingswerenotofficialpolicy.ButtheoriginalschemewascontroversialtooyetKenLivingstoneLondon’smayoranditsbiggestbackerwasre-electedafterintroducingit.Itwouldbeashameiftimiditytookholdnow.WhichofthefollowingstatementsistrueaboutTfL
Soonafterhisappointmentassecretary-generaloftheUnitedNationsin1997KofiAnnanlamentedthathewasbeingaccusedoffailingtoreformtheworldbodyinsixweeks.ButwhatareyoucomplainingaboutaskedtheRussianambassador:You’vehadmoretimethanGod.AhMr.AnnanquippedbackbutGodhadonebigadvantage.HeworkedalonewithoutaGeneralAssemblyaSecurityCounciland[all]thecommittees.RecountingthatanecdotetojournalistsinNewYorkthisweekMr.AnnansoughttoexplainwhyadraftdeclarationonUNreformandtacklingworldpovertyduetobeendorsedbysome150headsofstateandgovernmentataworldsummitinthecityonSeptember14th-16thhadturnedintosuchapaleshadowoftheproposalsthathehimselfhadputforwardinMarch.With191memberstateshesighedit’snoteasytogetanagreement.MostcountriesputtheblameontheUnitedStatesintheformofitsabrasivenewambassadorJohnBoltonforinsistingattheendofAugustonhundredsoflastminuteamendmentsandaline-by-linerenegotiationofatextmostothershadthoughtwasalmostsettled.Butagroupofmiddle-incomedevelopingnationsincludingPakistanCubaIranEgyptSyriaandVenezuelaalsocameupwithplentyoflast-minutechangesoftheirown.Theriskofhavingnodocumentatallandthusnothingfortheworld’sleaderstocometoNewYorkforwasavertedonlybymarathonall-nightandall-weekendtalks.The35-pagefinaldocumentisnotwhollydevoidofsubstance.ItcallsforthecreationofaPeacebuildingCommissiontosupervisethereconstructionofcountriesafterwars;thereplacementofthediscreditedUNCommissiononHumanRightsbyasupposedlytougherHumanRightsCouncil;therecognitionofanewresponsibilitytoprotectpeoplesfromgenocideandotheratrocitieswhennationalauthoritiesfailtotakeactionincludingifnecessarybyforce;andanearlyreformoftheSecurityCouncil.Althoughmuchpareddownalltheseproposalshaveatleastsurvived.Othershavenot.Eithertheyprovodsocontentiousthattheywereomittedaltogethersuchasthesectionsondisarmamentandnon-proliferationandtheInternationalCriminalCourtortheywerewatereddowntolittlemorethanemptyplatitudes.Theimportantsectiononcollectivesecurityandtheuseofforcenolongerevenmentionsthevexedissueofpre-emptivestrikes;meanwhilethesectiononterrorismcondemnsitinallitsformsandmanifestationscommittedbywhomeverwhereverandforwhateverpurposesbutfailstoprovidethecleardefinitiontheAmericanswanted.BothMr.AnnanandmoresurprisinglyGeorgeBushhaveneverthelesssoughttoputagoodfaceonthingswithMr.AnnandescribingthesummitdocumentasanimportantstepforwardandMr.BushsayingtheUNhadtakenthefirststepstowardsreform.Mr.AnnanandMr.Boltonaredeterminedtogoalotfurther.ItisnowuptotheGeneralAssemblytofleshoutthedocument’sskeletonproposalsandproposenewones.Butitschancesofsuccessappearslim.Whohaverecentlylistenedtothestoryinthefirstparagraphofthetext
AsPhiladelphiagrewfromasmalltownintoacityinthefirsthalfoftheeighteenthcenturyitbecameanincreasinglyimportantmarketingcenterforavastagriculturalhinterland.Marketdays1thecrowdedcityevenmorecrowdedasfarmersfromwithina2of24ormorekilometersbroughttheirsheepvegetablesciderandotherproductsfordirectsaletothe3.TheHighStreetMarketwascontinuously4throughouttheperioduntil17365it6fromFrontStreettoThird.By1745NewMarketwasopenedonSecondStreet.ThenextyeartheCallowHillMarketbegan7. Alongwithmarketdaysthe8oftwice-yearlyfairspersistedinPhiladelphia9aftersimilartradingdayshadbeendiscontinuedinothercolonialcities.The10providedameansofbringinghandmadegoodsfrom11placestowould-bebuyersinthecity.LinensandstockingsfromGermantown12werepopularitems.Auctionswereanotherpopular13 oftrade.Becauseofthecompetitionretail14opposedtheseaswellasthefairs.15governmentalattemptstoeradicatefairsandauctionswerelessthansuccessfultheordinary16ofeconomicdevelopmentwasonthemerchants’sideasincreasingbusinessspecializationbecamethe17oftheday.Exportmerchantsbecamedifferentiatedfromtheirimportingcounterpartsandspecialtyshopsbegantoappear18generalstoressellingavarietyofgoods. OneofthereasonsPhiladelphia’smerchantsprosperedwasbecausethesurroundingareawasundergoingtremendouseconomicanddemographicgrowth.Theydidtheirbusiness19inthecapitalcityoftheprovince20tonotonlythegovernorandhiscirclebutcitizensfromalloverthecolony. 3
AsPhiladelphiagrewfromasmalltownintoacityinthefirsthalfoftheeighteenthcenturyitbecameanincreasinglyimportantmarketingcenterforavastagriculturalhinterland.Marketdays1thecrowdedcityevenmorecrowdedasfarmersfromwithina2of24ormorekilometersbroughttheirsheepvegetablesciderandotherproductsfordirectsaletothe3.TheHighStreetMarketwascontinuously4throughouttheperioduntil17365it6fromFrontStreettoThird.By1745NewMarketwasopenedonSecondStreet.ThenextyeartheCallowHillMarketbegan7. Alongwithmarketdaysthe8oftwice-yearlyfairspersistedinPhiladelphia9aftersimilartradingdayshadbeendiscontinuedinothercolonialcities.The10providedameansofbringinghandmadegoodsfrom11placestowould-bebuyersinthecity.LinensandstockingsfromGermantown12werepopularitems.Auctionswereanotherpopular13 oftrade.Becauseofthecompetitionretail14opposedtheseaswellasthefairs.15governmentalattemptstoeradicatefairsandauctionswerelessthansuccessfultheordinary16ofeconomicdevelopmentwasonthemerchants’sideasincreasingbusinessspecializationbecamethe17oftheday.Exportmerchantsbecamedifferentiatedfromtheirimportingcounterpartsandspecialtyshopsbegantoappear18generalstoressellingavarietyofgoods. OneofthereasonsPhiladelphia’smerchantsprosperedwasbecausethesurroundingareawasundergoingtremendouseconomicanddemographicgrowth.Theydidtheirbusiness19inthecapitalcityoftheprovince20tonotonlythegovernorandhiscirclebutcitizensfromalloverthecolony. 19
Soonafterhisappointmentassecretary-generaloftheUnitedNationsin1997KofiAnnanlamentedthathewasbeingaccusedoffailingtoreformtheworldbodyinsixweeks.ButwhatareyoucomplainingaboutaskedtheRussianambassador:You’vehadmoretimethanGod.AhMr.AnnanquippedbackbutGodhadonebigadvantage.HeworkedalonewithoutaGeneralAssemblyaSecurityCounciland[all]thecommittees.RecountingthatanecdotetojournalistsinNewYorkthisweekMr.AnnansoughttoexplainwhyadraftdeclarationonUNreformandtacklingworldpovertyduetobeendorsedbysome150headsofstateandgovernmentataworldsummitinthecityonSeptember14th-16thhadturnedintosuchapaleshadowoftheproposalsthathehimselfhadputforwardinMarch.With191memberstateshesighedit’snoteasytogetanagreement.MostcountriesputtheblameontheUnitedStatesintheformofitsabrasivenewambassadorJohnBoltonforinsistingattheendofAugustonhundredsoflastminuteamendmentsandaline-by-linerenegotiationofatextmostothershadthoughtwasalmostsettled.Butagroupofmiddle-incomedevelopingnationsincludingPakistanCubaIranEgyptSyriaandVenezuelaalsocameupwithplentyoflast-minutechangesoftheirown.Theriskofhavingnodocumentatallandthusnothingfortheworld’sleaderstocometoNewYorkforwasavertedonlybymarathonall-nightandall-weekendtalks.The35-pagefinaldocumentisnotwhollydevoidofsubstance.ItcallsforthecreationofaPeacebuildingCommissiontosupervisethereconstructionofcountriesafterwars;thereplacementofthediscreditedUNCommissiononHumanRightsbyasupposedlytougherHumanRightsCouncil;therecognitionofanewresponsibilitytoprotectpeoplesfromgenocideandotheratrocitieswhennationalauthoritiesfailtotakeactionincludingifnecessarybyforce;andanearlyreformoftheSecurityCouncil.Althoughmuchpareddownalltheseproposalshaveatleastsurvived.Othershavenot.Eithertheyprovodsocontentiousthattheywereomittedaltogethersuchasthesectionsondisarmamentandnon-proliferationandtheInternationalCriminalCourtortheywerewatereddowntolittlemorethanemptyplatitudes.Theimportantsectiononcollectivesecurityandtheuseofforcenolongerevenmentionsthevexedissueofpre-emptivestrikes;meanwhilethesectiononterrorismcondemnsitinallitsformsandmanifestationscommittedbywhomeverwhereverandforwhateverpurposesbutfailstoprovidethecleardefinitiontheAmericanswanted.BothMr.AnnanandmoresurprisinglyGeorgeBushhaveneverthelesssoughttoputagoodfaceonthingswithMr.AnnandescribingthesummitdocumentasanimportantstepforwardandMr.BushsayingtheUNhadtakenthefirststepstowardsreform.Mr.AnnanandMr.Boltonaredeterminedtogoalotfurther.ItisnowuptotheGeneralAssemblytofleshoutthedocument’sskeletonproposalsandproposenewones.Butitschancesofsuccessappearslim.AccordingtothelastparagraphtheGeneralAssembly______.
SomeonehascalculatedthatbythetimeanAmericanreachestheageof40heorshehasbeenexposedtoonemillionads.Anotherestimateisthatwehaveencounteredmorethan600000adsbythetimewereachtheageofonly18.Nowofcoursewedon’trememberwhatexactlytheysaidorevenwhattheproductwasbutacompositemessagegetsthrough:thatyoudeservethebestthatyoushouldhaveitnowandthatit’sokaytoindulgeyourselfbecauseyoudeservethecomplimentssexappealoradventureyouaregoingtogetasaresultofbuyingthiscarorthosecigarettes. Ourconsumer-basedeconomymakestwoabsolutelyreciprocalpsychologicaldemandsonitsmembers.Ontheonehandyouneedthe"discipline"valuestoensurethatpeoplewillbegoodworkersandleadorderlylaw-abidinglives.Ontheotherhandyouneedthe"enjoyyourself"messagestogetpeopletobegoodconsumers.Oneauthorwasdisturbedaboutthe"enjoyyourself"sidebutacknowledgedthat"withoutameansofstimulatingmassconsumptiontheverystructureofourbusinessenterprisewouldcollapse." Theinterestingquestionhastodowiththepsychologicalconsequencesofthediscrepancybetweenthedualmessages.The"discipline"or"traditionalvalues"themedemandsthatonecompartmentofthepersonalityhaveawillstrongenoughtokeeptheindividualdoingunpleasantworkatlowwagesortostayinanunhappymarriageandingeneraltodothingsforthegoodofthecommonwealth. The"enjoyyourself"messageontheotherhandtendstoencourageaverydifferentkindofpersonality-onethatisself-centeredbasedonimpulseandisunwillingtodelayrewards.AsanillustrationIcan’t.resistrecitingoneofmyfavoriteadsofalltimeanadfromapsychologymagazine:"Iloveme.I’mjustagoodfriendtomyself.AndIliketodowhatmakesmefeelgood.Iusedtositaroundputtingthingsofftilltomorrow.TomorrowI’lldrinkchampagneandbuyasetofpearlsandpickupthatnewstereo.ButnowIlivemydreamstodaynottomorrow." SowhathappenstousaswetakeintheseopposingmessagesasweareinfacttornbetweentheoppositepersonalitytypesthatoursocietyseemstorequireofusTileresultisanxietyfearandamysteriousdread.Thefearofbeingsuckedinanddraggeddownbyourconsumercultureisreal:thecreditcardcompanyisnotfriendlywhenyoudefaultonyourbills.Andweallknowthatthepathofpleasure-seekingandblindacquisitionisarecipeforfinancialruin-formostofusanyway-andthatinAmericansocietythereisn’tmuchofasafetynettocatchyouifyoufall. FromthefirstparagraphweknowthatadsinAmericaarevery
AsPhiladelphiagrewfromasmalltownintoacityinthefirsthalfoftheeighteenthcenturyitbecameanincreasinglyimportantmarketingcenterforavastagriculturalhinterland.Marketdays1thecrowdedcityevenmorecrowdedasfarmersfromwithina2of24ormorekilometersbroughttheirsheepvegetablesciderandotherproductsfordirectsaletothe3.TheHighStreetMarketwascontinuously4throughouttheperioduntil17365it6fromFrontStreettoThird.By1745NewMarketwasopenedonSecondStreet.ThenextyeartheCallowHillMarketbegan7. Alongwithmarketdaysthe8oftwice-yearlyfairspersistedinPhiladelphia9aftersimilartradingdayshadbeendiscontinuedinothercolonialcities.The10providedameansofbringinghandmadegoodsfrom11placestowould-bebuyersinthecity.LinensandstockingsfromGermantown12werepopularitems.Auctionswereanotherpopular13 oftrade.Becauseofthecompetitionretail14opposedtheseaswellasthefairs.15governmentalattemptstoeradicatefairsandauctionswerelessthansuccessfultheordinary16ofeconomicdevelopmentwasonthemerchants’sideasincreasingbusinessspecializationbecamethe17oftheday.Exportmerchantsbecamedifferentiatedfromtheirimportingcounterpartsandspecialtyshopsbegantoappear18generalstoressellingavarietyofgoods. OneofthereasonsPhiladelphia’smerchantsprosperedwasbecausethesurroundingareawasundergoingtremendouseconomicanddemographicgrowth.Theydidtheirbusiness19inthecapitalcityoftheprovince20tonotonlythegovernorandhiscirclebutcitizensfromalloverthecolony. 5
AsPhiladelphiagrewfromasmalltownintoacityinthefirsthalfoftheeighteenthcenturyitbecameanincreasinglyimportantmarketingcenterforavastagriculturalhinterland.Marketdays1thecrowdedcityevenmorecrowdedasfarmersfromwithina2of24ormorekilometersbroughttheirsheepvegetablesciderandotherproductsfordirectsaletothe3.TheHighStreetMarketwascontinuously4throughouttheperioduntil17365it6fromFrontStreettoThird.By1745NewMarketwasopenedonSecondStreet.ThenextyeartheCallowHillMarketbegan7. Alongwithmarketdaysthe8oftwice-yearlyfairspersistedinPhiladelphia9aftersimilartradingdayshadbeendiscontinuedinothercolonialcities.The10providedameansofbringinghandmadegoodsfrom11placestowould-bebuyersinthecity.LinensandstockingsfromGermantown12werepopularitems.Auctionswereanotherpopular13 oftrade.Becauseofthecompetitionretail14opposedtheseaswellasthefairs.15governmentalattemptstoeradicatefairsandauctionswerelessthansuccessfultheordinary16ofeconomicdevelopmentwasonthemerchants’sideasincreasingbusinessspecializationbecamethe17oftheday.Exportmerchantsbecamedifferentiatedfromtheirimportingcounterpartsandspecialtyshopsbegantoappear18generalstoressellingavarietyofgoods. OneofthereasonsPhiladelphia’smerchantsprosperedwasbecausethesurroundingareawasundergoingtremendouseconomicanddemographicgrowth.Theydidtheirbusiness19inthecapitalcityoftheprovince20tonotonlythegovernorandhiscirclebutcitizensfromalloverthecolony. 7
LastweekUtahfederalJudgePaulG.Cassellhandeda22-yearsentencetoamanwhobeatanelderlywomantodeathwithalog.AfewhourslaterJudgeCassellsentenceda25-year-oldfirst-timedrugoffenderto55years. IfyouthinkJudgeCasselllikedsentencingasmall-changedrugdealertomoretimethanaviolentkillerguessagain.Thejudgehadnochoice.FederallawdemandedthesentencedespiteJudgeCassell’spointedquestioningiftherewasa"rationalbasis"forsentencingWeldonH.Angelosthefatheroftwoyoungchildrentomoretimethanhecouldsentenceahijackermurderorrapist. Blamefederalmandatoryminimumsentencingrules.AjuryfoundAngelosguiltyonthreeseparatechargesofpossessingafirearmwhilehesoldahalf-poundofmarijuanafor＄350.Thefirstchargeofpossessingagunduringadrugtransactionbroughtafive-yearsentence--thesecondtwochargesbrought25yearseach.Thataddsupto55yearssoevenifAngeloswerefoundguiltyofselling＄1050ofdrugsJudgeCassellhadtofollowtherulesandsentencehimto55yearsontheguncharges.Thejudgedidusearecentfederalrulinginreducingthesentenceforthedrug-sellingcrimestooneday. JudgeCassellwasrighttoimposethedraconiansentence.Ifheignoredfederallawhewouldplacehimselfaboveit. InsteadJudgeCassellsentencedAngelusasthelawdirectedevenasherighteouslyhectoredCongresstorewritefederaldruglawssofirst-timeoffendersdon’tservemoretimethandangerouscareercriminals.ThejudgealsourgedAngelus’attorneyJeromeH.Mooneytoappealthesentenceandifappealsfailseekapresidentialcommutation. Whilecivil-rightsadvocatesacrossAmericaprotestedthesentencetheUtahUSAttorney’sofficedefendedthesystem.ToprosecutorsAngelusisnoBuyScout.Officialsfoundsome26emptyduffelhagswithmarijuanaresidue.LocalfedsbelievedAngeluswasabigdrugdealerAssistantUSAttorneyRobertLundtoldmeandassociatedwithaviolentstreetgang. Letmesaythis:Angelusneverwasagoodposterboyforthemovementtohumanizedraconianfederaldruglaws.Angelusturneddownaplea-bargainsentenceof16years.Heisconsideredafirst-timeoffenderonlybecauseajuvenilegunconvictionwasexpungedfromhisrecord.AndevenifAngelosdidn’twavehisguninpeople’sfaceshenonethelessbroughtagunwithhimduringthetransactions. ButAngeloshasbecomeanationalcausecelebrebecauseofJudgeCassell.Therearemoreegregiousexamplesoffirst-timeoffenderssentencedtodecadesforpettydealingbuttheydidn’tcomebeforeajudgevocallyopposedtotheheavyhandednatureoffederaldrugsentencing. Thatsaiditsimplydoesn’tmakesensethatfederalsentencesoftenaretougheronsmall-timedrugoffendersthanonviolentcriminals.Butithappensallthetime. TheworddraconianLine1Paragraph4mayprobablymean
SomeonehascalculatedthatbythetimeanAmericanreachestheageof40heorshehasbeenexposedtoonemillionads.Anotherestimateisthatwehaveencounteredmorethan600000adsbythetimewereachtheageofonly18.Nowofcoursewedon’trememberwhatexactlytheysaidorevenwhattheproductwasbutacompositemessagegetsthrough:thatyoudeservethebestthatyoushouldhaveitnowandthatit’sokaytoindulgeyourselfbecauseyoudeservethecomplimentssexappealoradventureyouaregoingtogetasaresultofbuyingthiscarorthosecigarettes. Ourconsumer-basedeconomymakestwoabsolutelyreciprocalpsychologicaldemandsonitsmembers.Ontheonehandyouneedthe"discipline"valuestoensurethatpeoplewillbegoodworkersandleadorderlylaw-abidinglives.Ontheotherhandyouneedthe"enjoyyourself"messagestogetpeopletobegoodconsumers.Oneauthorwasdisturbedaboutthe"enjoyyourself"sidebutacknowledgedthat"withoutameansofstimulatingmassconsumptiontheverystructureofourbusinessenterprisewouldcollapse." Theinterestingquestionhastodowiththepsychologicalconsequencesofthediscrepancybetweenthedualmessages.The"discipline"or"traditionalvalues"themedemandsthatonecompartmentofthepersonalityhaveawillstrongenoughtokeeptheindividualdoingunpleasantworkatlowwagesortostayinanunhappymarriageandingeneraltodothingsforthegoodofthecommonwealth. The"enjoyyourself"messageontheotherhandtendstoencourageaverydifferentkindofpersonality-onethatisself-centeredbasedonimpulseandisunwillingtodelayrewards.AsanillustrationIcan’t.resistrecitingoneofmyfavoriteadsofalltimeanadfromapsychologymagazine:"Iloveme.I’mjustagoodfriendtomyself.AndIliketodowhatmakesmefeelgood.Iusedtositaroundputtingthingsofftilltomorrow.TomorrowI’lldrinkchampagneandbuyasetofpearlsandpickupthatnewstereo.ButnowIlivemydreamstodaynottomorrow." SowhathappenstousaswetakeintheseopposingmessagesasweareinfacttornbetweentheoppositepersonalitytypesthatoursocietyseemstorequireofusTileresultisanxietyfearandamysteriousdread.Thefearofbeingsuckedinanddraggeddownbyourconsumercultureisreal:thecreditcardcompanyisnotfriendlywhenyoudefaultonyourbills.Andweallknowthatthepathofpleasure-seekingandblindacquisitionisarecipeforfinancialruin-formostofusanyway-andthatinAmericansocietythereisn’tmuchofasafetynettocatchyouifyoufall. Accordingtothedisciplineortraditionalvaluestheme
Violentcriminalswithsomethingtohidehavemorereasonthanevertobeparanoidaboutatapontheshoulderwhichcouldsendthemtojail.Queenslandpoliceareworkingthroughabacklogofunsolvedmurderswithsomedramaticsuccess.Greatercooperationbetweenthepublicandvariouslawenforcementagenciesisplayingarolebutnewgenetic-testingtechniquesaretherealkeytoprovidingthevitalevidencetomountaprosecution. Evidenceleftbehindatthesceneofanymurderisguaranteedtooutlivethepersonwholeftit.Abloodsalivaortissuesamplethesizeofapinkeptdryandoutofsunlightwilllastseveralthousandyears.Fromitscientificanalysisnowcantellaccuratelythesexofthepersonwholeftit. Whenmatchedagainstasamplefromacrimesuspectitcanindicatewithmillion-to-onecertaintywhetherthesamplescomefromthesamesource.OnlytwinsshareidenticalDNA.Sopreciseisthetechnologyifthebiologicalparentsofasuspectagreetoprovideasampleforensicscientistscanworkouttherestforthemselveswithoutcooperationfromthesuspect. QueenslandforensicscientistshavebeenusingtheDNAtestingtechnologysince1992andlastyeartheywererecognizedinternationallyfortheircompetenceinpositiveindividualidentification.Thatispartofthereason20ofQueensland’smostpuzzlingunsolvedmurdersdatingto1952arebeingactivelyinvestigated.Therealsohavebeenseveralrecentarrestsforunsolvedmurders. ForensicevidencewasinstrumentalinchargesbeinglaidoverthebashingdeathofwaitressTashaDoutyonBramptonIslandin1983.Douty’sblood-splatterednakedbodywasfoundonanudesunbathingbeachatDinghyBayontheisland.Footprintsinthesandindicatedthatthekillerhadgrappledwiththe41-year-oldmotherwhohadfledupthebeachbeforebeingcaughtandbeatentodeath. AccordingtoLeoFreneythesupervisingforensicscientistattheJohnTongeCentreatBrisbane’sGriffithUniversityDNAtestinghasbecomeaninvaluabletoolforpolice.Itsuseisinidentifyingandrejectingsuspects.Infacthesaysiteliminatesmorepeoplethatitconvicts. "Itiseasilyasgoodasfingerprintsforthepurposeofidentification"hesays."Inthecaseofviolentcrimeitisbetterthanfingerprints.Youcan’tinnocentlyexplainthingslikebloodandsemenatacrimescenewhereyoumaybeabletoinnocentlyexplainfingerprints."InQueenslandapersonwhohasbeenarrestedonsuspicionofanoffencecanbetakenbeforeamagistrateandorderedtoprovideasampleofbodyfluidbyforceifnecessary. TheQueenslandpolicehasmadedramaticprogressininvestigatingunresolvedmurdersbecauseof
TheFederalCommunicationsCommissionisnotaloneinworryingabouttelevisionstationsthataircorporateadvertisementsmasqueradingasnewsstories.InfacttheFCCrequiresthatbroadcaststationsdisclosethecorporatebackersofvideonewsreleasesorfaceamaximumfineof$32500foreachviolation.Enoughviolationsandastationcouldloseitslicense.TheFCCsetsoutaclearpolicy:Alloutsidenewsreportingmustbeidentifieddisclosingthesourceofanyvideonewsreleaseairedonanewsprogram.Thereareoccasionaldeclines.AnonprofitconsumerwatchdoggroupreportedtotheFCCthat77stationsbroadcastvideofeaturesaboutproductsfrom49companieswithoutpointingoutthattheywereproducedbypublicrelationsfirmsrepresentingthesecorporations.Publicrelationsfirmshaveonegoal:tomaketheirvideonewsreleaseslookasiftheyarelegitimatenewsreportsnotpropaganda.HoweverPR-producedvideonewsreleasesmerelyarethetipoftheiceberg.Eversincenewspapersbeganspecial-interestgroupshavetriedtoinfluencethequalityandquantityofthenewsprinted.Ofteninexchangeforadvertisingrevenuenewspaperswouldprintglowingstoriesoftheirsponsorsandsuppressanynewsthatmighthurttheirheavyadvertisers.Thosewithouttheabilitytoinformthepresseitherthroughnewsreleasesorcontactsusuallyareignoredunlesstheycommitacrimeoractinattention-gettingways.Formostofthe20thcenturywomenandpeopleofcolorfounditalmostimpossibletobreakthespecial-interestnewsbarriers.Theirstorieswereignoredunlesstherewasasensationaloruniqueelement.Usuallythoughitemsconcerningtheseminoritiesrequiredanenormouswrongdoingsuchasthemurderofsomeoneinthewhitecommunityorsomeattackonthestatusquothatthreatenedthepeaceandquietaswellastheproductivityofaneighborhood.Therehavebeensplendidexceptionsbutnotmany.OnereasontheHispanicnewsmediahasbeensosuccessfulisthatitcaterstoitsaudienceinthesamemannerallmediadoes.Whileitsbiasmayseemdifferentitactuallyisthesamebiasallmediahas:anoverwhelmingconcerntokeepitssupportershappy.SowhilethehueandcryoverPR-createdvideonewsreleasesarewellandgoodtheyreallydonotattacktheproblemofbiasednewsandappealstoaspecificgroupthatsharesthesameprejudicesandconcernsaboutthepresentandfuture.AllofthisisonekeyreasonAmericanssooftenaresurprisedwhenthenewsoutletsareforcedtoreportstoriesthatdonotpleaseadvertisersorconsumers.Bettertocontinuewhenpossibleasteadysupplyofnewsaboutthelatestcelebritybabyoryetanotherpieceaboutsexoffendersorrestauranthealthviolations.Fromthetextwecanconcludethatnewsmediathatreleasebiasednewsreportswouldprobably______
WHAT’SthedifferencebetweenGodandLarryEllisonasksanoldsoftwareindustryjoke.Answer:Goddoesn’tthinkhe’sLarryEllison.ThebossofOracleishardlyaloneamongcorporatechiefsinhavingareputationforbeingratherkeenonhimself.Indeed’untilthebubbleburstandthepublicturnednastyatthestartofthedecadethecultofthecelebritychiefexecutiveseemedtodemandbosslynarcissismasevidencethatafirmwasbeingledbyanall-conqueringhero.Narcissusmetanastyendofcourse.Andinrecentyearsboss-worshiphascometobeseenasbadforbusiness.InhismanagementbestsellerGoodtoGreatJimCollinsarguedthatthetrulysuccessfulbosseswerenottheserf-proclaimedstarswhoadornthecoversofForbesandFortunebutinsteadself-effacingthoughtfulmonkishsortswholeadbyinspiringexample.Astatisticalanswermaybeathand.ForthefirsttimeanewstudyIt’sAllAboutMetobepresentednextweekattheannualgatheringoftheAmericanAcademyofManagementoffersasystematicempiricalanalysisofwhateffectnarcissisticbosseshaveonthefirmstheyrun.TheauthorsArijitChatterjeeandDonaldHambrickofPennsylvaniaStateUniversityexaminednarcissismintheupperlevelsof105firmsinthecomputerandsoftwareindustries.Todothistheybadtosolveapracticalproblem:studiesofnarcissismhavehithertoreliedonsurveyingindividualspersonallysomethingforwhichfewchiefexecutivesarelikelytohavetimeorinclination.Sotheauthorsdevisedanindexofnarcissismusingsixpubliclyavailableindicatorsobtainablewithouttheco-operationoftheboss.Theseare:theprominenceoftheboss’sphotointheannualreport;hisprominenceincompanypressreleases;thelengthofhisWho’sWhoentry;thefrequencyofhisuseofthefirstpersonsingularininterviews;andtheratiosofhiscashandnon-cashcompensationtothoseofthefirm’ssecond-highestpaidexecutive.Narcissismnaturallydrivespeopletoseekpositionsofpowerandinfluenceandbecausegreatself-esteemhelpsyourprofessionaladvancesaytheauthorschiefexecutiveswilltendonaveragetobemorenarcissisticthanthegeneralpopulation.HowdoesthataffectafirmMessrsChatterjeeandHambrickfoundthathighlynarcissisticbossestendedtomakebiggerchangesintheuseofimportantresourcessuchasresearchanddevelopmentorinspendingandleverage;theycarriedoutmoreandbiggermergersandacquisitions;andtheirresultswerebothmoreextrememorebigwinsorbiglossesandmoretransientthanthoseoffirmsrunbytheirhumblerpeers.Forshareholdersthatcouldbegoodorbad.AlthoughoddlytheauthorsarekeepingtheirnarcissismrankingsecrettheyhaverevealedthatMrEllisondidnotcometop.Alasforhimthatmaybebecausethestudylimiteditsefftopeoplewhobecamethebossafter1991--wellafterhetookthehelm.IneveryrespectMrEllisonseemstobetheclassicnarcissisticbossclaimsMrChatterjee.Thereislifeintheoldjokeyet.JimCollinsseemstobelievethattrulysuccessfulmanagers
Timewaswhenthesolarsystemhadtwowateryworlds.46Directlynextdoortothewarm.wetloamyEarthwasthewarmwetloamyMarsbothplanetscoveredwithoceansandrunningwithrivers-andbothpossiblyteemingwithlife.Billionsofyearsagohoweverthelow-gravityMarshadbothitsairandwaterleakawaycausingtheplanettobecomethedeadfreeze-driedplaceitistoday.Thatiswhattheprevailingthinkinghasbeen.Nowitappearsthatthinkingmaybewrong.47RecentlyNASAreleasednewimagesfromtheMarsGlobalSurveyorspacecraftthatsuggestwatermaybeflowingupandstreamingontotheMartiansurface-dramaticallyincreasingthelikelihoodthatatleastpartoftheplanetisbiologicallyalive.IftheseresultsprovetruesaysEdWeilerassociateadministratorofNASA’sOfficeofSpaceScience[theyhave]profoundimplicationsforthepossibilityoflife.FindingliquidwateronMars’surfacehasneverbeeneasy-becauseitsimplycan’texistthere.Themodern-dayMartianatmospherehasbarely1percentthedensityofEarth’sanditsaveragetemperaturehoversaround-67degreesFahrenheit-19degreesCentigrade.Inanenvironmentasharshasthiswaterwouldeithervaporizeintospaceorsimplyflash-freezeinplace.48ScientistsstudyingMartianhistoryhavealwayslookedforcluestheplanet’sancientwaterleftbehind-trackswherevanishedriversonceflowedbasinswherevanishedseasoncestood.49Theapproximately65000imagestheSurveyororbiterhasbeamedhomeinthenearlythreeyearsithasbeencirclingMarsarefullofthiskindofexpectedhydro-scarring.Butsomeofthepicturestookscientistsbysurprise.Theolderaformationisthemorelikelyitistohavebeendistortedovertheeons-smoothedbyperiodicwindstormsorgougedbytheoccasionalincomingmeteor.Howeverafewofthenewlydiscoveredwaterchannelslookfresh.Thatdiscoveryhasleadastonishedresearcherstoconcludethatthesechannelsmayhavebeenrecentlyformed.50planetologistshavelongassumedthatifundergroundwaterwasgoingtobubbleuponMarsitwouldhavetobesomewhereinthebalmyequatorialzones:wheretemperaturesatnooninmidsummermayreach68degreesFahrenheit20degreesCentigrade.Almostallthenewchannelshoweverwerediscoveredattheplanet’srelativeextremes-northof30degreesnorthlatitudeandsouthof30degreessouthlatitude-andallwerecarvedonthecoldshadedsidesofslopes.
AsPhiladelphiagrewfromasmalltownintoacityinthefirsthalfoftheeighteenthcenturyitbecameanincreasinglyimportantmarketingcenterforavastagriculturalhinterland.Marketdays1thecrowdedcityevenmorecrowdedasfarmersfromwithina2of24ormorekilometersbroughttheirsheepvegetablesciderandotherproductsfordirectsaletothe3.TheHighStreetMarketwascontinuously4throughouttheperioduntil17365it6fromFrontStreettoThird.By1745NewMarketwasopenedonSecondStreet.ThenextyeartheCallowHillMarketbegan7. Alongwithmarketdaysthe8oftwice-yearlyfairspersistedinPhiladelphia9aftersimilartradingdayshadbeendiscontinuedinothercolonialcities.The10providedameansofbringinghandmadegoodsfrom11placestowould-bebuyersinthecity.LinensandstockingsfromGermantown12werepopularitems.Auctionswereanotherpopular13 oftrade.Becauseofthecompetitionretail14opposedtheseaswellasthefairs.15governmentalattemptstoeradicatefairsandauctionswerelessthansuccessfultheordinary16ofeconomicdevelopmentwasonthemerchants’sideasincreasingbusinessspecializationbecamethe17oftheday.Exportmerchantsbecamedifferentiatedfromtheirimportingcounterpartsandspecialtyshopsbegantoappear18generalstoressellingavarietyofgoods. OneofthereasonsPhiladelphia’smerchantsprosperedwasbecausethesurroundingareawasundergoingtremendouseconomicanddemographicgrowth.Theydidtheirbusiness19inthecapitalcityoftheprovince20tonotonlythegovernorandhiscirclebutcitizensfromalloverthecolony. 13
Timewaswhenthesolarsystemhadtwowateryworlds.46Directlynextdoortothewarm.wetloamyEarthwasthewarmwetloamyMarsbothplanetscoveredwithoceansandrunningwithrivers-andbothpossiblyteemingwithlife.Billionsofyearsagohoweverthelow-gravityMarshadbothitsairandwaterleakawaycausingtheplanettobecomethedeadfreeze-driedplaceitistoday.Thatiswhattheprevailingthinkinghasbeen.Nowitappearsthatthinkingmaybewrong.47RecentlyNASAreleasednewimagesfromtheMarsGlobalSurveyorspacecraftthatsuggestwatermaybeflowingupandstreamingontotheMartiansurface-dramaticallyincreasingthelikelihoodthatatleastpartoftheplanetisbiologicallyalive.IftheseresultsprovetruesaysEdWeilerassociateadministratorofNASA’sOfficeofSpaceScience[theyhave]profoundimplicationsforthepossibilityoflife.FindingliquidwateronMars’surfacehasneverbeeneasy-becauseitsimplycan’texistthere.Themodern-dayMartianatmospherehasbarely1percentthedensityofEarth’sanditsaveragetemperaturehoversaround-67degreesFahrenheit-19degreesCentigrade.Inanenvironmentasharshasthiswaterwouldeithervaporizeintospaceorsimplyflash-freezeinplace.48ScientistsstudyingMartianhistoryhavealwayslookedforcluestheplanet’sancientwaterleftbehind-trackswherevanishedriversonceflowedbasinswherevanishedseasoncestood.49Theapproximately65000imagestheSurveyororbiterhasbeamedhomeinthenearlythreeyearsithasbeencirclingMarsarefullofthiskindofexpectedhydro-scarring.Butsomeofthepicturestookscientistsbysurprise.Theolderaformationisthemorelikelyitistohavebeendistortedovertheeons-smoothedbyperiodicwindstormsorgougedbytheoccasionalincomingmeteor.Howeverafewofthenewlydiscoveredwaterchannelslookfresh.Thatdiscoveryhasleadastonishedresearcherstoconcludethatthesechannelsmayhavebeenrecentlyformed.50planetologistshavelongassumedthatifundergroundwaterwasgoingtobubbleuponMarsitwouldhavetobesomewhereinthebalmyequatorialzones:wheretemperaturesatnooninmidsummermayreach68degreesFahrenheit20degreesCentigrade.Almostallthenewchannelshoweverwerediscoveredattheplanet’srelativeextremes-northof30degreesnorthlatitudeandsouthof30degreessouthlatitude-andallwerecarvedonthecoldshadedsidesofslopes.
Violentcriminalswithsomethingtohidehavemorereasonthanevertobeparanoidaboutatapontheshoulderwhichcouldsendthemtojail.Queenslandpoliceareworkingthroughabacklogofunsolvedmurderswithsomedramaticsuccess.Greatercooperationbetweenthepublicandvariouslawenforcementagenciesisplayingarolebutnewgenetic-testingtechniquesaretherealkeytoprovidingthevitalevidencetomountaprosecution. Evidenceleftbehindatthesceneofanymurderisguaranteedtooutlivethepersonwholeftit.Abloodsalivaortissuesamplethesizeofapinkeptdryandoutofsunlightwilllastseveralthousandyears.Fromitscientificanalysisnowcantellaccuratelythesexofthepersonwholeftit. Whenmatchedagainstasamplefromacrimesuspectitcanindicatewithmillion-to-onecertaintywhetherthesamplescomefromthesamesource.OnlytwinsshareidenticalDNA.Sopreciseisthetechnologyifthebiologicalparentsofasuspectagreetoprovideasampleforensicscientistscanworkouttherestforthemselveswithoutcooperationfromthesuspect. QueenslandforensicscientistshavebeenusingtheDNAtestingtechnologysince1992andlastyeartheywererecognizedinternationallyfortheircompetenceinpositiveindividualidentification.Thatispartofthereason20ofQueensland’smostpuzzlingunsolvedmurdersdatingto1952arebeingactivelyinvestigated.Therealsohavebeenseveralrecentarrestsforunsolvedmurders. ForensicevidencewasinstrumentalinchargesbeinglaidoverthebashingdeathofwaitressTashaDoutyonBramptonIslandin1983.Douty’sblood-splatterednakedbodywasfoundonanudesunbathingbeachatDinghyBayontheisland.Footprintsinthesandindicatedthatthekillerhadgrappledwiththe41-year-oldmotherwhohadfledupthebeachbeforebeingcaughtandbeatentodeath. AccordingtoLeoFreneythesupervisingforensicscientistattheJohnTongeCentreatBrisbane’sGriffithUniversityDNAtestinghasbecomeaninvaluabletoolforpolice.Itsuseisinidentifyingandrejectingsuspects.Infacthesaysiteliminatesmorepeoplethatitconvicts. "Itiseasilyasgoodasfingerprintsforthepurposeofidentification"hesays."Inthecaseofviolentcrimeitisbetterthanfingerprints.Youcan’tinnocentlyexplainthingslikebloodandsemenatacrimescenewhereyoumaybeabletoinnocentlyexplainfingerprints."InQueenslandapersonwhohasbeenarrestedonsuspicionofanoffencecanbetakenbeforeamagistrateandorderedtoprovideasampleofbodyfluidbyforceifnecessary. AccordingtoLeoFreneyDNAtestingisavaluabletoolbecause
AsPhiladelphiagrewfromasmalltownintoacityinthefirsthalfoftheeighteenthcenturyitbecameanincreasinglyimportantmarketingcenterforavastagriculturalhinterland.Marketdays1thecrowdedcityevenmorecrowdedasfarmersfromwithina2of24ormorekilometersbroughttheirsheepvegetablesciderandotherproductsfordirectsaletothe3.TheHighStreetMarketwascontinuously4throughouttheperioduntil17365it6fromFrontStreettoThird.By1745NewMarketwasopenedonSecondStreet.ThenextyeartheCallowHillMarketbegan7. Alongwithmarketdaysthe8oftwice-yearlyfairspersistedinPhiladelphia9aftersimilartradingdayshadbeendiscontinuedinothercolonialcities.The10providedameansofbringinghandmadegoodsfrom11placestowould-bebuyersinthecity.LinensandstockingsfromGermantown12werepopularitems.Auctionswereanotherpopular13 oftrade.Becauseofthecompetitionretail14opposedtheseaswellasthefairs.15governmentalattemptstoeradicatefairsandauctionswerelessthansuccessfultheordinary16ofeconomicdevelopmentwasonthemerchants’sideasincreasingbusinessspecializationbecamethe17oftheday.Exportmerchantsbecamedifferentiatedfromtheirimportingcounterpartsandspecialtyshopsbegantoappear18generalstoressellingavarietyofgoods. OneofthereasonsPhiladelphia’smerchantsprosperedwasbecausethesurroundingareawasundergoingtremendouseconomicanddemographicgrowth.Theydidtheirbusiness19inthecapitalcityoftheprovince20tonotonlythegovernorandhiscirclebutcitizensfromalloverthecolony. 15
Soonafterhisappointmentassecretary-generaloftheUnitedNationsin1997KofiAnnanlamentedthathewasbeingaccusedoffailingtoreformtheworldbodyinsixweeks.ButwhatareyoucomplainingaboutaskedtheRussianambassador:You’vehadmoretimethanGod.AhMr.AnnanquippedbackbutGodhadonebigadvantage.HeworkedalonewithoutaGeneralAssemblyaSecurityCounciland[all]thecommittees.RecountingthatanecdotetojournalistsinNewYorkthisweekMr.AnnansoughttoexplainwhyadraftdeclarationonUNreformandtacklingworldpovertyduetobeendorsedbysome150headsofstateandgovernmentataworldsummitinthecityonSeptember14th-16thhadturnedintosuchapaleshadowoftheproposalsthathehimselfhadputforwardinMarch.With191memberstateshesighedit’snoteasytogetanagreement.MostcountriesputtheblameontheUnitedStatesintheformofitsabrasivenewambassadorJohnBoltonforinsistingattheendofAugustonhundredsoflastminuteamendmentsandaline-by-linerenegotiationofatextmostothershadthoughtwasalmostsettled.Butagroupofmiddle-incomedevelopingnationsincludingPakistanCubaIranEgyptSyriaandVenezuelaalsocameupwithplentyoflast-minutechangesoftheirown.Theriskofhavingnodocumentatallandthusnothingfortheworld’sleaderstocometoNewYorkforwasavertedonlybymarathonall-nightandall-weekendtalks.The35-pagefinaldocumentisnotwhollydevoidofsubstance.ItcallsforthecreationofaPeacebuildingCommissiontosupervisethereconstructionofcountriesafterwars;thereplacementofthediscreditedUNCommissiononHumanRightsbyasupposedlytougherHumanRightsCouncil;therecognitionofanewresponsibilitytoprotectpeoplesfromgenocideandotheratrocitieswhennationalauthoritiesfailtotakeactionincludingifnecessarybyforce;andanearlyreformoftheSecurityCouncil.Althoughmuchpareddownalltheseproposalshaveatleastsurvived.Othershavenot.Eithertheyprovodsocontentiousthattheywereomittedaltogethersuchasthesectionsondisarmamentandnon-proliferationandtheInternationalCriminalCourtortheywerewatereddowntolittlemorethanemptyplatitudes.Theimportantsectiononcollectivesecurityandtheuseofforcenolongerevenmentionsthevexedissueofpre-emptivestrikes;meanwhilethesectiononterrorismcondemnsitinallitsformsandmanifestationscommittedbywhomeverwhereverandforwhateverpurposesbutfailstoprovidethecleardefinitiontheAmericanswanted.BothMr.AnnanandmoresurprisinglyGeorgeBushhaveneverthelesssoughttoputagoodfaceonthingswithMr.AnnandescribingthesummitdocumentasanimportantstepforwardandMr.BushsayingtheUNhadtakenthefirststepstowardsreform.Mr.AnnanandMr.Boltonaredeterminedtogoalotfurther.ItisnowuptotheGeneralAssemblytofleshoutthedocument’sskeletonproposalsandproposenewones.Butitschancesofsuccessappearslim.Theauthor’sattitudetowardtheUNfinaldocumentis______.
AsPhiladelphiagrewfromasmalltownintoacityinthefirsthalfoftheeighteenthcenturyitbecameanincreasinglyimportantmarketingcenterforavastagriculturalhinterland.Marketdays1thecrowdedcityevenmorecrowdedasfarmersfromwithina2of24ormorekilometersbroughttheirsheepvegetablesciderandotherproductsfordirectsaletothe3.TheHighStreetMarketwascontinuously4throughouttheperioduntil17365it6fromFrontStreettoThird.By1745NewMarketwasopenedonSecondStreet.ThenextyeartheCallowHillMarketbegan7. Alongwithmarketdaysthe8oftwice-yearlyfairspersistedinPhiladelphia9aftersimilartradingdayshadbeendiscontinuedinothercolonialcities.The10providedameansofbringinghandmadegoodsfrom11placestowould-bebuyersinthecity.LinensandstockingsfromGermantown12werepopularitems.Auctionswereanotherpopular13 oftrade.Becauseofthecompetitionretail14opposedtheseaswellasthefairs.15governmentalattemptstoeradicatefairsandauctionswerelessthansuccessfultheordinary16ofeconomicdevelopmentwasonthemerchants’sideasincreasingbusinessspecializationbecamethe17oftheday.Exportmerchantsbecamedifferentiatedfromtheirimportingcounterpartsandspecialtyshopsbegantoappear18generalstoressellingavarietyofgoods. OneofthereasonsPhiladelphia’smerchantsprosperedwasbecausethesurroundingareawasundergoingtremendouseconomicanddemographicgrowth.Theydidtheirbusiness19inthecapitalcityoftheprovince20tonotonlythegovernorandhiscirclebutcitizensfromalloverthecolony. 11
Lastyear’seconomyshouldhavewontheOscarforbestpicture.Growthingrossdomesticproductwas4.1percent;profitssoared;exportsflourished;andinflationstayedaround3percentforthethirdyear.41.________________________________.Jobsinsecuritywasrampant.Evenastheyannouncedhighersalesandprofitscorporationsactedasiftheywereinatailspincutting516069jobsin2003alonealmostasmanyasintherecessionyearof1991.Yesunemploymentwentdown.Butoveronemillionworkersweresodiscouragedtheyleftthelaborforce.Morethan6millionwhowantedfull-timeworkwereonlypartiallyemployed;andanotherlargegroupwaseitheroverqualifiedorshelteredbehindtheeuphemismofself-employment.Welostamilliongoodmanufacturingjobsbetween1998and2002continuingthetrendthathasreducedtheblue-collarworkforcefromabout30percentinthe1950stoabouthalfofthattoday.42.________________________________.AllthishappenedinacountrywherepeoplemeetforthefirsttimesayingWhatdoyoudoThenthereisthematterofremuneration.TheLaborDepartmentrecentlyreportedthatrealwagesfell2.3percentinthe12-monthperiodendingthisMarch.Since1973wagesadjustedforinflationhavedeclinedbyaboutaquarterforhighschooldropoutsbyasixthforhighschoolgraduatesandbyabout7percentforthosewithsomecollegeeducation.Onlythewagesofcollegegraduatesareupby5percentandrecentlystartingsalariesevenforthisgrouphavenotkeptupwithinflation.Whilethetop5percentofthepopulationwassettingnewincomerecordsalmosteveryyearpovertyratesrosefrom11percentto15percent.43.________________________________.Inpreviousbusinesscyclescompanieswithrisingproductivityraisedwagestokeeplabor.Isthehistoricallinkbetweenproductivityimprovementsandincomegrowthserved44.________________________________.Justthinkthatin197678percentofautoworkersandsteel-workersingoodmassproductionjobswerehighschooldropouts.Butthesejobsaredisappearingfast.Educationandjobtrainingarewhatcount.Thesedayscollegegraduatescanexpecttoearn1.9timesthelikelyearningsofhighschoolgraduatesupfrom1.45timesinthe1970s.45.________________________________.Americanmalesnowtoilaboutaweekandahalflongerthantheydidin1973thefirsttimeworkinghourshaveincreasedoveranextendedperiodoftime.Womenparticularlyinpoorerfamiliesareworkinghardertoo.Two-workerfamiliesrosebymorethan20percentinthe1990s.Sevenmillionworkersholdatleasttwojobsthehighestproportioninhalfacentury.Americaissimplynotgrowingfastenoughtotightenthelabormarketandpushuprealwages.[A]Otherwiseanangrydisillusionedandfrustratedpopulation--whoseragetodayisfocusedonbiggovernmentexcesstaxesimmigrationwelfareandaffirmativeaction--maysomedaybebroughttogetherbyitssenseofdiminishedhopes.Thenwewillallbeinforaverydifficulttime.[B]NowonderthisisbeginningtobecalledtheSilentDepression.Whatisgoingonhere[C]Thedangeroftheinformationageisthatwhileintheshortrunitmaybecheapertoreplaceworkerswithtechnologyinthelongrunitispotentiallyself-destructivebecausetherewillnotbeenoughpurchasingpowertogrowtheeconomy.[D]SowhydidsomanyAmericansgivethepicturealousyBratingTheanswerisjobs.Themacroeconomicsituationwasgoodbutthemicroeconomicnumberswerenot.Yes3millionnewjobsweretherebutnotenoughofthemwerepermanentgoodjobspayingenoughtosup-portafamily.[E]Theearningsqueezeonmiddle-classandworking-classpeopleandthescarcityofgoodhigh-payingjobswillbethebigpoliticalissue.Americanshavesofarrespondedtotheirfallingfortunesbyworkingharder.[F]White-collarworkersfoundouttheywerenolongerimmune.Forthefisttimetheywereletgoinnumbersvirtuallyequaltothoseforblue-collarworkers.Manyresortedtotemporarywork-withlowerpayfewerbenefitsandlessstatus.[G]Ofallthereasonsgivenforthewagesqueeze--internationalcompetitiontechnologyderegulationthedeclineofunionsanddefensecuts--technologyisprobablethemostcrucial.Ithasfavoredtheeducatedandskilled.
WHAT’SthedifferencebetweenGodandLarryEllisonasksanoldsoftwareindustryjoke.Answer:Goddoesn’tthinkhe’sLarryEllison.ThebossofOracleishardlyaloneamongcorporatechiefsinhavingareputationforbeingratherkeenonhimself.Indeed’untilthebubbleburstandthepublicturnednastyatthestartofthedecadethecultofthecelebritychiefexecutiveseemedtodemandbosslynarcissismasevidencethatafirmwasbeingledbyanall-conqueringhero.Narcissusmetanastyendofcourse.Andinrecentyearsboss-worshiphascometobeseenasbadforbusiness.InhismanagementbestsellerGoodtoGreatJimCollinsarguedthatthetrulysuccessfulbosseswerenottheserf-proclaimedstarswhoadornthecoversofForbesandFortunebutinsteadself-effacingthoughtfulmonkishsortswholeadbyinspiringexample.Astatisticalanswermaybeathand.ForthefirsttimeanewstudyIt’sAllAboutMetobepresentednextweekattheannualgatheringoftheAmericanAcademyofManagementoffersasystematicempiricalanalysisofwhateffectnarcissisticbosseshaveonthefirmstheyrun.TheauthorsArijitChatterjeeandDonaldHambrickofPennsylvaniaStateUniversityexaminednarcissismintheupperlevelsof105firmsinthecomputerandsoftwareindustries.Todothistheybadtosolveapracticalproblem:studiesofnarcissismhavehithertoreliedonsurveyingindividualspersonallysomethingforwhichfewchiefexecutivesarelikelytohavetimeorinclination.Sotheauthorsdevisedanindexofnarcissismusingsixpubliclyavailableindicatorsobtainablewithouttheco-operationoftheboss.Theseare:theprominenceoftheboss’sphotointheannualreport;hisprominenceincompanypressreleases;thelengthofhisWho’sWhoentry;thefrequencyofhisuseofthefirstpersonsingularininterviews;andtheratiosofhiscashandnon-cashcompensationtothoseofthefirm’ssecond-highestpaidexecutive.Narcissismnaturallydrivespeopletoseekpositionsofpowerandinfluenceandbecausegreatself-esteemhelpsyourprofessionaladvancesaytheauthorschiefexecutiveswilltendonaveragetobemorenarcissisticthanthegeneralpopulation.HowdoesthataffectafirmMessrsChatterjeeandHambrickfoundthathighlynarcissisticbossestendedtomakebiggerchangesintheuseofimportantresourcessuchasresearchanddevelopmentorinspendingandleverage;theycarriedoutmoreandbiggermergersandacquisitions;andtheirresultswerebothmoreextrememorebigwinsorbiglossesandmoretransientthanthoseoffirmsrunbytheirhumblerpeers.Forshareholdersthatcouldbegoodorbad.AlthoughoddlytheauthorsarekeepingtheirnarcissismrankingsecrettheyhaverevealedthatMrEllisondidnotcometop.Alasforhimthatmaybebecausethestudylimiteditsefftopeoplewhobecamethebossafter1991--wellafterhetookthehelm.IneveryrespectMrEllisonseemstobetheclassicnarcissisticbossclaimsMrChatterjee.Thereislifeintheoldjokeyet.Accordingtotheresearcherscomparedwithhumblermanagersnarcissisticbossesaremorelikelyto
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