A manager’s job entails understanding the changes that have already occurred and responding accordingly, without losing the value of enduring principles that still apply to the operating environment.

In the political sphere the Republicans seem slow to accept and understand the changes that have already happened, but the Democrats do not seem to understand the enduring values that can not be ignored without great risk. That is how they caused the current financial crisis; by ignoring basic economic prudence and responsibility to finance a populist political platform.

At the polls we are offered Palin who has charisma but no intellectual depth, but has been reared on sound principles that she articulates poorly. McCain has more depth just from his years of experience, but still succumbs to populist rhetoric. He seems slow to adjust to a world that is changing faster that his ability.

Obama has an intelligence that is untempered by humility. He is dangerous because he either ignores or is unaware of basic economics. He is of the breed that believes that intelligence can overcome basic economic limitations and realities. His plan for more taxes, more regulation, less free trade, more unions, and greater spending is a recipe for economic disaster.

Our economic meltdown resulted not from a lack of intelligence but from a lack of sound principles. The best and the brightest on Capital Hill and Wall Street engineered this mess by mistaking arrogance for intelligence.

I fear the voters are about to do the same.

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