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Gen Next Taps Power of Private Sector Brain Trust to Tackle Public Sector Problems

July 28th, 2011 - 1:20pm
Filed under Think About It....

Posted by Bryan Myrick, NW Daily Marker:

Though some political and cultural commentators bemoan what they see as reluctance within Generations X and Y to pick up the leadership chain that is each age's responsibility, there is a group working diligently to accelerate the process of recruiting individuals to affect real change on crucial issues facing future generations.

Gen Next - with operations in Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, and Arizona and roughly 150 members nationwide - is an invitation-only nonpartisan organization started in 2008. By focusing on the widescreen issues of education, economics, and global security, Gen Next serves a vital function for a select group of entrepreneurs who are compelled to understand, engage and get involved in the process of finding solutions to big picture problems.

In an interview last week in Seattle, Gen Next CEO Michael Davidson described to me his organization's role as that of both an educator and a facilitator for its members.

"The busiest people are the people that you need engaged in these types of issues," Davidson said. "They need to have an intellectual framework for their own success, whether it be how they're going to raise their kids, how they influence their networks, how they run their companies... the way they lead."

One way Gen Next helps provide that intellectual foundation is by creating exclusive programs with first-tier resources and information. (Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, CBS news correspondent Bob Schieffer, and former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld are among those who have presented to Gen Next members.)

"We did 100 programs last year and we expose the members to these ideas, people, and decision-makers in a way that expands their mind, their access and their view of how they can be influential," Davidson said.

Maximizing the impact Gen Next can have requires finding a select type of individual, according to Davidson, one who has achieved a high measure of personal success (the $10,000 annual membership ante is its own evidence of that qualification), has an intellectually curious and forward-thinking nature, has a passionate spirit, and has a capacity to have fun (in Gen Next, the hard work put in toward big picture goals requires an esprit de corps).

A Gen Next member is one who, in the opinion of Davidson, will use the tools knowledge and understanding to forge pathways with their influence and create new solutions.

"You can't just be an intellectual and sit on the sidelines," Davidson said.

Gen Next regional director Chris Reigelsperger echoed the sentiment. "When you identify and take a remarkable person, give them the tools, the information and the network... they're going to do some pretty incredible things," Reigelsperger said.

Based on output from recent work of members globally and in Washington State, the Gen Next model for high-impact activism is functioning as intended.

Gen Next members were instrumental in the effort to reeducate Washington State voters about last year's state income tax proposal and the negative effect such a tax would have on the state economy. The Defeat 1098 campaign drew heavily upon the talent pool represented within Gen Next's Seattle membership.

Last month, Gen Next was involved in the Summit Against Violent Extremism in Dublin, Ireland, an event organized by Gen Next member and Google Ideas director Jared Cohen to begin solving the puzzle of how to unring the bell that is calling so many youth around the world to a life of violence. From The Washington Post:

Technology giant Google, having conquered the Internet and the world around it, is taking on a new challenge: violent extremism.

The company, through its eight-month-old think tank, Google Ideas, is paying for 80 former Muslim extremists, neo-Nazis, U.S. gang members and other former radicals to gather in Dublin this weekend to explore how technology can play a role in de-radicalization efforts around the globe.

The "formers," as they have been dubbed by Google, will be surrounded by 120 thinkers, activists, philanthropists and business leaders. The goal is to dissect the question of what draws some people, especially young people, to extremist movements and why some of them leave.

At least in terms of binding ex-extremists to a common cause, the effort appears to have produced results. In the wake of the horrific attacks in Oslo, Norway that left 93 dead, "The Formers" issued a joint statement condemning the acts regardless of the ideological or political motivation of the assailant.

Gen Next is also following through to finance a project conceived at the Dublin summit, part of a broader effort with Home Box Office and Tribeca Films to produce a series of public services announcements weaving together the stories of former extremists. Gen Next members are also being enlisted in the digital strategy to complement the effort.

In Washington State's near future, Gen Next is eyeing education as an area in which ambitious leadership is needed. Taking action to improve the situation for future generations is a consistent motivation for Gen Nexters.

Smartsheet.com founder Brent Frei, a Seattle member for the past year and a half, sees involvement in Gen Next as a way to fight for his childrens' future in a way that maximizes leverage of his scarce spare time.

"I have four small children now," Frei said in a telephone interview. "I desperately want them to grow up in a better world. It's a pretty good world, but I want it to be better. To do that I need to be very proactive about making a positive difference."

With so many options available for becoming engaged in solutions, Frei chose to accept the invitation to join Gen Next. "It was clear to me that Gen Next has a structure, but more importantly it has the right kind of people to amplify my influence," Frei said.

Gen Next looks to add as many as 30 new individuals to it Seattle membership, and also has goals to grow in San Diego and Arizona before expanding into the rest of the United States.

 

 

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Google Ideas de-radicalization departs from Dublin: GNF Gives Award at Summit

June 30th, 2011 - 5:37pm
Filed under International Security

By: Allen McDuffee

After more than a dozen panels and testimonials and many hours of working groups at the Google Ideas Summit Against Violent Extremism, several former extremists and survivors will attempt to recap the four days in a presentation Thursday to a couple hundred Google employees at their Dublin offices. The presentation is meant to summarize the events of the conference, what they've learned, what their ideas are and what action they are taking going forward

That's a tall order, after bringing together 80 former extremists and survivors and another 120 representatives from the academic, non-profit, business and government worlds.

"I'm still trying to digest what happened on the first day," said Google Ideas director Jared Cohen.

In what may have been the most tearful segment, former State Department Director of Policy Planning Anne-Marie Slaughter led a "mother-to-mother" talk with Aicha el-Wafa, whose son, Zacarias Moussaoui, is the "20th hijacker" of the 9/11 attacks.

El-Wafa, who was forced to marry at 14 and withstood her own share of hardships, saying, "Sadly I was born in a country where a woman is a woman, a second-class citizen." It was a condition that transferred even when the family moved to France.

Eventually, el-Wafa found housing, left her abusive husband and worked as a seamstress, doing the best she could to support herself and the four children, while not realizing her son was becoming radicalized.

"I never really looked further. I wish I had," el-Wafa told the audience. "I'm cross with myself. I didn't know."

Gill Hicks, who lost her legs below the knee in the London July 7, 2005 bombings, moderated a panel with a former neo-Nazi, a former gangster and a former Muslim extremist.

Former Irish extremists sat on a panel with IRA survivors. And former President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe Valez, led a panel that included a former member of FARC.

At one point during the conference, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt showed his frustration at questions about why the company and its think tank were taking on de-radicalization, a topic usually left to governments and non-profits.

Schmidt told a reporter he was becoming impatient with the questions, and said the company and Google Ideas were acting "simply as a convener."

Cohen had been assured that this kind of gathering was impossible, and that if he could bring such a group together, the outcome would not be fruitful.

But Cohen said that all of his expectations were met. "I honestly can't think of a single thing that I wanted out of this conference that didn't happen," said Cohen, adding, "In fact, there are things that happened here I didn't even know I was looking for."

More tangibly is a YouTube channel for former extremists and a website that will act as curation points for organizations and individuals in the de-radicalization field. Until now, there was very little coordination. Officials from some organizations located in the same city had never met until the Dublin summit.

One outcome is certain: Google Ideas is not getting in the grant-giving business. "From the beginning, we've consistently stood firm on not wanting to be in funding projects," said Cohen.

Cohen said that they were not willing to risk the relationships they worked hard to build by having them compete for funding under Google's auspices. But that doesn't mean Google Ideas won't be pitching other foundations and companies to fill that void.

In breakout sessions, teams of 10 or 12 formers, survivors and other stakeholders developed tangible ideas, including films, a WikiKoran and speaking tours. At the end of the conference, participants voted on the ideas and the top three were awarded financial awards from Edelman public relations, e Boost and Gen Next.

The Edelman 'Catalyst' Award provides for up to $25,000 of pro bono services; the Boost Positive Activism Award provides for up to $20,000 of digital consulting services and the Gen Next 'Innovation & Impact' Award provides $15,000 for the implementation of the winning idea.

Jane Rosenthal of the Tribeca Film Festival, a partner in the conference, said she's working with HBO to create a documentary on de-radicalization. "I'm walking away with more compelling and courageous stories than I ever could have imagined," said Rosenthal.

The conference was also a defining moment for Google Ideas. The conference, which was the think tank's first endeavor, is helping the organization refine its mission and structure.

"We didn't come into this with a perfectly defined organizational structure and defined roles for each position," said Cohen. And it's not something that is likely to change at Google Ideas.

"We just might be the ones to break the mold on the way think tanks think of themselves," he said. By Allen McDuffee

After more than a dozen panels and testimonials and many hours of working groups at the Google Ideas Summit Against Violent Extremism, several former extremists and survivors will attempt to recap the four days in a presentation Thursday to a couple hundred Google employees at their Dublin offices. The presentation is meant to summarize the events of the conference, what they've learned, what their ideas are and what action they are taking going forward.

That's a tall order, after bringing together 80 former extremists and survivors and another 120 representatives from the academic, non-profit, business and government worlds.

"I'm still trying to digest what happened on the first day," said Google Ideas director Jared Cohen.

In what may have been the most tearful segment, former State Department Director of Policy Planning Anne-Marie Slaughter led a "mother-to-mother" talk with Aicha el-Wafa, whose son, Zacarias Moussaoui, is the "20th hijacker" of the 9/11 attacks.

El-Wafa, who was forced to marry at 14 and withstood her own share of hardships, saying, "Sadly I was born in a country where a woman is a woman, a second-class citizen." It was a condition that transferred even when the family moved to France.

Eventually, el-Wafa found housing, left her abusive husband and worked as a seamstress, doing the best she could to support herself and the four children, while not realizing her son was becoming radicalized.

"I never really looked further. I wish I had," el-Wafa told the audience. "I'm cross with myself. I didn't know."

Gill Hicks, who lost her legs below the knee in the London July 7, 2005 bombings, moderated a panel with a former neo-Nazi, a former gangster and a former Muslim extremist.

Former Irish extremists sat on a panel with IRA survivors. And former President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe Valez, led a panel that included a former member of FARC.

At one point during the conference, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt showed his frustration at questions about why the company and its think tank were taking on de-radicalization, a topic usually left to governments and non-profits.

Schmidt told a reporter he was becoming impatient with the questions, and said the company and Google Ideas were acting "simply as a convener."

Cohen had been assured that this kind of gathering was impossible, and that if he could bring such a group together, the outcome would not be fruitful.

But Cohen said that all of his expectations were met. "I honestly can't think of a single thing that I wanted out of this conference that didn't happen," said Cohen, adding, "In fact, there are things that happened here I didn't even know I was looking for."

More tangibly is a YouTube channel for former extremists and a website that will act as curation points for organizations and individuals in the de-radicalization field. Until now, there was very little coordination. Officials from some organizations located in the same city had never met until the Dublin summit.

One outcome is certain: Google Ideas is not getting in the grant-giving business. "From the beginning, we've consistently stood firm on not wanting to be in funding projects," said Cohen.

Cohen said that they were not willing to risk the relationships they worked hard to build by having them compete for funding under Google's auspices. But that doesn't mean Google Ideas won't be pitching other foundations and companies to fill that void.

In breakout sessions, teams of 10 or 12 formers, survivors and other stakeholders developed tangible ideas, including films, a WikiKoran and speaking tours. At the end of the conference, participants voted on the ideas and the top three were awarded financial awards from Edelman public relations, e Boost and Gen Next.

The Edelman 'Catalyst' Award provides for up to $25,000 of pro bono services; the Boost Positive Activism Award provides for up to $20,000 of digital consulting services and the Gen Next 'Innovation & Impact' Award provides $15,000 for the implementation of the winning idea.

Jane Rosenthal of the Tribeca Film Festival, a partner in the conference, said she's working with HBO to create a documentary on de-radicalization. "I'm walking away with more compelling and courageous stories than I ever could have imagined," said Rosenthal.

The conference was also a defining moment for Google Ideas. The conference, which was the think tank's first endeavor, is helping the organization refine its mission and structure.

"We didn't come into this with a perfectly defined organizational structure and defined roles for each position," said Cohen. And it's not something that is likely to change at Google Ideas.

"We just might be the ones to break the mold on the way think tanks think of themselves," he said.

- Taken from the Washington Post. View article.

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Gen Next Members Participate in Google's Summit Against Violent Extremism in Dublin, Ireland

June 28th, 2011 - 9:49am
Filed under International Security

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BASIS Tucson “Tops” Another National Ranking

June 21st, 2011 - 2:28pm

TUCSON, AZ, June 20, 2011 - BASIS School, Inc. is proud to announce that BASIS Tucson has been named among America's Best High Schools by yet another national ranking.  Newsweek magazine, which published a new ranking this year, named the school 3rd out of over 1,000 public high schools across the country. Moreover, BASIS Tucson was the top ranked open-enrollment school according to the Newsweek ranking; the #1 and #2 ranked schools are both magnet schools with selective admissions.
 
BASIS Tucson has been a fixture on the Newsweek rankings, earning a top ten spot every year since 2006. But this year's Newsweek ranking is different. The old Newsweek ranking relied on the "Challenge Index," which measured the rigor of schools' academic programs by calculating the number of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests taken at the school in relation to the number of graduating seniors. That ranking migrated to The Washington Post this year and named BASIS Tucson 4th among all public high schools. 
 
The new Newsweek ranking relies on different methodology which was "designed to highlight public schools that excel at fostering a positive and effective learning environment, as well as preparing students for college," according to Newsweek. The methodology for calculating each school's 2011 Newsweek score "is comprised of six components: graduation rate (25%), college matriculation rate (25%), AP tests taken per graduate (25%), average SAT/ACT scores (10%), average AP/IB/AICE scores (10%), and AP courses offered (5%)" according to Newsweek.
 
"BASIS Tucson students and teachers should take great pride in this accomplishment," says Julia Toews, Head of School for BASIS Tucson. "Our students don't just take difficult tests and courses, they excel at them.  In 2010, more than 80% of our students, grades 9-12 passed an AP exam, and they did so because they and their teachers worked really hard all year.  This ranking is really a reflection of the hard work of both groups, and a clear sign of the great potential that exists in Arizona."
 
BASIS Schools operates six schools in Arizona, BASIS Tucson, BASIS Scottsdale, and BASIS Oro Valley, as well as BASIS Chandler, BASIS Flagstaff, and BASIS Peoria which will open this August.  BASIS Tucson, BASIS Schools' flagship campus, was the only BASIS School eligible for inclusion in this year's Newsweek ranking.  BASIS Scottsdale will first be eligible for inclusion in the ranking next year.
 
"BASIS Tucson's academic model has proven to be highly successful, having earned the school top rankings in Newsweek, US News & World Report and The Washington Post.  Our goal is to make this same high quality education available to more students throughout the state and nation in the coming years," says Nick Fleege, New School Development Director for BASIS Schools.
 
To learn more about BASIS Schools, please visit www.basisschools.org.

Press release taken from BASIS Schools.

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GN Featured in OCBJ: Big Picture

May 31st, 2011 - 9:21am

By Sherri Cruz

Jared Cohen, director of Google Ideas-a global issues think tank for Mountain View-based Google Inc.-got hooked on Gen Next after speaking to the Newport Beach-based issues group in 2008.

Now he's one member of a group of young, well-to-do executives-some part of prominent families in the county-who pay $10,000 a year to be members of Gen Next.

Gen Next is a hands-on group with a national and global bent. It works on and funds projects in education, security and economics.

Google's Cohen and two other Gen Next members even founded an offshoot, New York-based Movements.org. The nonprofit helps support young online activists across the globe.

"We are looking to be a catalyst for change," said Paul Makarechian, chief executive of Newport Beach-based Makar Properties LLC and founder of Gen Next.

The group looks to seed ideas or generate national attention for projects or causes Makarechian said.

Gen Next gives "members the opportunity to be consequential," said Dan McClory, managing director of Irvine-based Hunter Wise Financial Group LLC, an investment bank focused on midsize companies. "The common bond of the network is that, like me, these are extremely busy people who want to leverage the talent they have."

Gen Next has five chapters, including ones in Seattle and Los Angeles.

The founding Orange County chapter is the largest with more than 60 members.

Gen Next has about 150 members in all.

The nonprofit is made up of business owners and executives mostly in their 30s and 40s. There are older members, including Paul's father, Hadi Makarechian, a homebuilder and developer.

"We call it a psychographic-not a demographic," said Michael Davidson, chief executive of Gen Next. "We try to find high energy people who want to shape the world."

Some local members: Alex Bathal, co-president of Tustin's Raj Manufacturing LLC; Bill Lyon, chief operating officer of Newport Beach-based William Lyon Homes Inc.; Shawn Baldwin, partner in Newport Beach's Sunrise Co.; and Autumn Strier, president and cofounder of Irvine-based nonprofit Miracles for Kids.

Invitation Only

Membership is by invitation only.

Two members have to nominate a prospective member, according to Davidson. Then the majority must agree on the member.

Investment banker McClory is a newer member.

He had been eyeing the group but said he was reluctant to join, thinking it might be just another time zapper.

"As I look at it now, it helps me leverage my time," he said. "It can help act as a filter for all kinds of content, education material, charitable causes and extracurricular involvements."

Gen Next's Davidson said the group is designed to lure and accommodate busy people.

"We needed to create a model that was attractive, to give people the type of leverage they want, to get them off of the sideline," he said.

Gen Next seeks to educate members through speakers, global fieldtrips and other means.

"You take any remarkable person, you give them more information, more tools, and a network and they will do great things," Davidson said.

Last year, Gen Next put on more than 100 events, hosting a number of speakers.

Past speakers include: Bob Schieffer, chief Washington correspondent for CBS Corp.; John Connors, former chief financial officer for Microsoft Corp.; John Ashcroft, former U.S. attorney general; Craig Barrett, former chairman of Intel Corp.; Rep. John Boehner; and Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State.

Gen Next doesn't pay its speakers.

Many members are part of the Young Presidents' Organization, a global group that helps executives be better at business.

"YPO is wonderful for issues surrounding personal growth, family and business," said Kevin Maloney, president of Santa Ana-based QuantumSphere Inc., which makes catalysts that have applications such as lengthening the life of electric car batteries.

Gen Next goes beyond business, he said.

"It's motivated me to get more involved," Maloney said. "It's made guys like me feel like I can make a difference."

The group goes on annual educational trips.

This year, members are going to Russia.

In October, members traveled to Brazil, where they met with leaders in government and business.

They also toured the stock exchange in São Paulo.

Brazil has a parallel stock exchange for charitable projects, the Environmental and Social Investment Exchange.

It was at the Brazilian stock exchange where McClory connected a few dots.

"A light went off in my head," he said.

McClory said he figured Brazil's social stock exchange might be a great way for Gen Next to help fund schools that some members already had planned to build in poor neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro.

"It's a project that really excites me," he said. "It's something that I would've never been exposed to had I never been a part of Gen Next."

If all goes well, McClory hopes to bend the ear of his friend, Robert Greifeld, chief executive of Nasdaq Stock Market Inc.

"I'll say 'Bob, why did we have to go to Brazil to list one of these things? Why aren't we doing it on Nasdaq?' I've already let him know it's coming," he said.

Political Roots

Gen Next is nonpartisan but has some roots in politics.

In the early 2000s, members started Generation Next, a political action committee.

They found that many of their peers weren't that interested in politics. Members wanted a broader appeal, so they evolved into an issues group, Gen Next.

For members who like politics, there is an offshoot, the Gen Equity political action committee. About 20% of Gen Next members participate in Gen Equity, which vets and endorses candidates.

"Politics is an important tool," Davidson said. "But it's one tool of many."

Another arm is the Gen Next Foundation for funding nonprofits.

Google's Cohen said he was surprised at the passion of the members.

"I've never thought of myself as much of a joiner," Cohen said. "I met these incredible young people from a diverse set of fields who had a passion about topics I care about. I went from someone who doesn't join things to someone who's incredibly passionate about this network."

He said he regularly taps Gen Next members.

In the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Cohen called on Gen Next members to help track down satellite radios as part of his work for the State Department at the time.

Gen Next is set to be part of a Google Ideas Summit Against Violent Extremism to be held in Ireland in June.

Finding ways to counter extremism is the thrust of Gen Next's security focus.

"There's no single profile of a violent extremist other than the fact that they're young," Cohen said.

Gen Next also works with London's Quilliam Foundation, a think tank that tackles extremism.

New Gen Next chapters are planned for Nevada, New York, San Francisco, Dallas, Denver and Chicago.

"If it were up to me, we'd have a chapter in every major metro," Makarechian said.

Now living in Nevada, Makarechian is working on getting a chapter started there.

"My goal is try to get this organization to several thousand members," he said. "I'd love to break 1,000 under my leadership."

Makarechian said he started the group because he felt compelled, given his good fortune.

"My dad fled a revolution-his country imploded," Makarachian said of his father, who fled Iran with his family during the Iranian Revolution. "We take for granted the fact that we have a free democratic system." --- OCBJ

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Gen Next National Board Member Yuri Vanetik Appointed to American Enterprise Institute's National Council

May 28th, 2011 - 9:26am

NEWPORT BEACH - Gen Next National Board Member, Yuri Vanetik, has been appointed to the American Enterprise Institute's (AEI) National Council. National Council members are leaders of the business and nonprofit community who are committed to the values and success of free enterprise and entrepreneurialism espoused by AEI.  Based in Washington, DC, AEI is one of the most long standing and influential free market think tanks.  

Other notable AEI National Council Members include Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co Managing Director and Gen Next Advisory Council Member Ken B. Mehlman and Former CFO of Microsoft John Connors.

 "I am honored to join AEI's National Council," said Yuri Vanetik.  "AEI's work continues tomake a lasting impact on the course of American history, and the core values that undergird a free enterprise world-wide."  

An accomplished business leader, Yuri Vanetik does not take free enterprise for granted.  "My family left the Soviet Union in the late 1970s to escape a totalitarian regime that criminalized personal choice and economic enterprise.  Economic freedom is the guarantor of opportunities for personal development, and for me AEI is one of the most forward looking think tanks, supporting economic freedom in the 21st century," he explains.

Most recently, AEI was the location selected by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan to unveil his plan to cut $6.2 trillion from the national debt over the next six years. AEI's research and work also led to welfare reform in the 1990's.

A number of former guests of Gen Next, former Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, are Senior fellows at AEI.

Yuri Vanetik is a financier and philanthropist. He is the principal of Vanetik International, LLC. Presently, Yuri Vanetik advises several financial firms and invests in private equity transactions, both domestically and overseas.  Yuri Vanetik supports and serves on the boards of charitable and civic organizations.  These include the American Red Cross, University of California Center for Unconventional Security Affairs, Miracles for Kids, Kennedy Center, Yuri Vanetik Foundation, and the Gen Next Foundation. Mr. Vanetik is a Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute in California and is on the Board of Advisors to the Pacific Research Institute.  He is also a proud supporter of the Ayn Rand Institute.

 

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OC Philanthropist Donates . . . Books?

May 16th, 2011 - 7:54pm
Filed under Economy

IRVINE, Calif--Orange County business leader and philanthropist Yuri Vanetik's contribution to the Ayn Rand Institute's (ARI) Free Books to Teachers Program is estimated to provide more than 2,000 Ayn Rand novels to high schools in Orange County, California. In the last nine years, ARI, a nonprofit educational organization, has distributed more than 1.9 million copies of "Atlas Shrugged," "The Fountainhead," "Anthem" and "We the Living" to schools across the country.

Ayn Rand's novels have been popular among English and literature teachers for decades. "They portray events of profound, timeless significance, and are inspiring and exciting stories with heroic characters fighting for their ideals," says Yaron Brook, president of the Ayn Rand Institute. "They challenge readers to decide not just what will happen to particular characters, but what their own lives and the world should be like."

"I know firsthand the importance of reading Ayn Rand," says Vanetik. "Learning about her ideas on collectivism and individualism will challenge students to think about the impact that government, business and they themselves have on our future, and I am proud to be a part of this program."

Funding for the Free Books to Teachers program comes from private donations. Yuri Vanetik is a private investor and philanthropist. He is the principal of Vanetik International, LLC, a consulting firm, and a National Board Member of Gen Next, an organization of business leaders dedicated to learning about, and becoming engaged with, the most pressing challenges facing future generations. 

More.

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Analysis: Bin Laden Killed, Now What? Analysis by GN Member Juan Zarate

May 2nd, 2011 - 4:33pm
Filed under International Security

"CBS News' team, Justice Department correspondent Bob Orr, chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan, Washington bureau chief Christopher Isham and senior national security analyst Juan Zarate, discussed the killing of Osama bin Laden, what it means for the war on terror and U.S. relations with Pahttp://www.gen-next.org/index.php/dashboard/blog/kistan and the Middle East region." See video.

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Al Qaeda Stirs Again

April 19th, 2011 - 9:19am
Filed under International Security

By: GN Member Juan Zarate

MANY in the West had taken comfort in Al Qaeda's silence in the wake of the uprisings in the Muslim world this year, as secular, nonviolent protests, led by educated youth focused on redressing longstanding local grievances, showcased democracy's promise and seemed to leave Al Qaeda behind.

Indeed, the pristine spirit of the Arab Spring does represent an existential threat to Al Qaeda's extremist ideology. But Al Qaeda's leaders also know that this is a strategic moment. They are banking on the disillusionment that inevitably follows revolutions to reassert their prominence in the region. And now Al Qaeda is silent no more - and is taking the rhetorical offensive.

In recent statements, Ayman al-Zawahri, Osama bin Laden's second-in-command, and Qaeda surrogates have aligned themselves with the protesters in Libya, Egypt and elsewhere, while painting the West as an enemy of the Arab people.

In North Africa, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed that while protesters flooded the streets of Tunis and Cairo, it had been fighting in the mountains against the same enemies. Anwar al-Awlaki, a Yemeni-American cleric affiliated with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, declared that in the wake of the revolutions, "our mujahedeen brothers ... will get a chance to breathe again after three decades of suffocation" and that "the great doors of opportunity would open up for the mujahedeen all over the world."

Mr. Zawahri has denounced democracy, arguing that toppling dictators is insufficient and that "justice, freedom, and independence" can be achieved only through "jihad and resistance until the Islamic regime rises."

The chaos and disappointment that follow revolutions will inevitably provide many opportunities for Al Qaeda to spread its influence. Demographic pressures, economic woes and corruption will continue to bedevil even the best-run governments in the region. Divisions will beset the protest movements, and vestiges of the old regimes may re-emerge.

Al Qaeda and its allies don't need to win the allegiance of every protester to exert their influence; they have a patient view of history.

Although Washington must avoid tainting organic movements or being perceived as a central protagonist, the United States and its Western allies should not be shy about working with reformers and democrats to shape the region's trajectory - and ensuring Al Qaeda's irrelevance in the Sunni Arab world, the heart of its supposed constituency.

In countries where autocrats have been toppled (as in Egypt and Tunisia), we must help shape the new political and social environment; in nondemocratic, allied states (like the region's monarchies), we need to accelerate internal reform; and in repressive states (like Iran, Libya and Syria), we should challenge the legitimacy of autocratic regimes and openly assist dissidents and democrats.

This is not about military intervention or the imposition of American-style democracy. It is about using American power and influence to support organic reform movements.

The United States Agency for International Development and advocacy organizations can help civil society groups grow; human rights groups can organize and assist networks of dissidents; and Western women's groups and trade unions could support their counterparts throughout the Middle East. Wealthy philanthropists and entrepreneurs who are part of the Middle Eastern diaspora could make investments and provide economic opportunities for the region's youth, while technology companies interested in new markets could partner with anticorruption groups to aid political mobilization and increase government accountability and transparency. Hollywood and Bollywood writers and producers should lionize the democratic heroes who took to the streets to challenge the orthodoxy of fear.

A focused campaign to shape the course of reform would align our values and interests with the aspirations of the protesters. More important, it would answer the challenge from Al Qaeda to define what happens next and reframe the tired narratives of the past.

In 2005, Mr. Zawahri anticipated this battle for reform and noted that "demonstrations and speaking out in the streets" would not be sufficient to achieve freedom in the Muslim world. If we help the protesters succeed, it will not only serve long-term national security interests but also mark the beginning of the end of Al Qaeda.

Juan C. Zarate, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, was the deputy national security adviser for combating terrorism from 2005 to 2009. This article was taken from the New York Times.

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CFR and Google Team Up to Battle Violent Extremism: Article Features Member Jared Cohen

March 22nd, 2011 - 3:03pm
Filed under International Security

By: Josh Rogin

The world's leading Internet giant and a leading foreign policy think tank are convening a major conference this summer in Ireland that will bring together former violent extremists to discuss how to prevent homegrown terrorism.

Google Ideas, the new "think/do tank" led by former State Department official Jared Cohen, is organizing a 3-day event in Dublin in late June in conjunction with the Council on Foreign Relations, where Cohen is also a fellow. The event will bring together about 50 former extremists who used to be members of inner city street gangs, white power groups, Muslim fundamentalist groups, and other violent youth organizations. Over 200 experts from academia, civil society groups, tech companies, victims' groups, and private corporations will also join.

Homeland Security chairman Peter King's (R-NY) controversial congressional hearings last week were criticized for their focus on Muslim extremism. The CFR/Google conference seeks to reframe the debate over homegrown extremism as a problem that cuts across political, geographic, and religious lines. 

"We've seen anecdotal evidence of similarities across different types of violent organizations, from gangs to right wing extremists to religious extremists," Cohen told The Cable in an interview. "We know they target young people, we know they are comprised largely of young people, and we know they use similar tactics. But there's a lot of exploring left to be done."
This new project, Cohen's first major endeavor as head of Google Ideas, will focus on "formers" -- troubled youth who have not only left their violent organizations but also speak out against them publicly. The idea is to link them up with professionals, victims' advocates, and even technology firms to help them coordinate their efforts.

The conference will feature "formers" from urban African American gangs, rural white power gangs, neo Nazis gangs, Latin American gangs, Asian gangs, and former nationalist extremists from Ireland, Europe, and Asia, as well as Islamist extremists from the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia.

"We have a hypothesis that we are exploring," said Cohen. "When you remove the masks of religion or ideology or anything else, what are the root causes? If we accept that nobody is born wanting to be a terrorist, then what happens between the time when they're young and the time when they join these groups?"

This is the first major conference for Google Ideas, and their first major collaboration with CFR. Cohen said the project fits well into Google's efforts to look at the way technology and information can be used to push forward constructive solutions to global problems.

"Counter radicalization is a big challenge for American foreign policy. It's imperative for us to acknowledge the problem and then to ask the question, how do you move against it," said CFR Vice President James Lindsay in an interview.

CFR has been steadily ramping up its activity on this front. The think tank recently brought on Ed Husain, the founding director of the Quilliam Foundation, a British counter-extremism think tank, as a senior fellow in their Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy Initiative. It also started a cooperative program on examining violent extremism with Georgetown University.
So is the Google/CFR project meant to make the point that religion is not a driver of radicalization?

"What we're trying to do is create space for cross-context discussions that haven't taken place before," said Cohen. "Maybe religion doesn't feature at all into the conversations, maybe it features a fair amount. We don't know yet."

For those who can't make it to Dublin but want a taste of the discussion, CFR and Google Ideas are holding a panel discussion April 29 in New York on the topic in conjunction with the Tribeca Film Festival, where six of the "formers" will speak.  - Foreign Policy

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Time Has Come to Take Responsibility

March 18th, 2011 - 4:07pm
Filed under P Jacob Yadegar, LABJ

A Los Angeles Businss Journal Op-Ed, Written by GN Member P. Jacob Yadegar

Every year for the past decade, we have been providing a snapshot of what we think the economy has in store for Angelenos. The good news is that the crisis is over and things appear to be stabilizing. We have a new governor who many believe is the cause of some of the most significant problems we face as a result of his policies implemented from his initial term as governor more than 25 years ago. Others think he may be the only one who can fix the very difficult issues we face in California, especially in Los Angeles.

Unemployment rates will continue to stay stubbornly high as our current business climate deteriorates and we become less and less friendly to businesses. Increased taxes, unnecessary rules and regulations, and a tax-and-spend agenda will continue to be business as usual.

Seeking change

As long as we continue to elect leaders who have these values, we can't expect any real change to take place. Tax revenue to the city and state continues to decline as businesses leave, property prices continue to drop and productivity remains weak. Far fewer new businesses and industries are opening in our great state, causing an extended period of slow economic growth and continued high unemployment.

At some point we will be forced to realize that our current method of continued deficits will run our city and state into the ground. Both Gov. Jerry Brown and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will have tremendous difficulty attracting the much needed funds unless they go against what's popular and make the difficult decisions to cut back on the social services and entitlements that are draining our state.

The current budget deficit is a direct result of our inability to control spending. Spending cuts are difficult and very unpopular, but they are effective in controlling our spiraling deficit, which may eventually bankrupt the city and the state.

Simply put, if we continue to spend more than we make, our credit will run dry. When that day comes, we will end up paying a far greater price than fixing the current problem.

For the last 20 years, we have seen incredible growth and prosperity. Most of the residents have seen a much better quality of living. We must start thinking about our future and the future of our children. It's time for all of us to tighten our belts and stop this irrational behavior of kicking our problems down the road. Responsible government will not happen without responsible citizens.

P. Jacob Yadegar is founder and chief executive of Empyrean Funding, an L.A.-based mortgage company specializing in commercial and residential mortgages. View article.

 

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National Group, ‘Gen Next,’ Looks to Expand Membership Locally

March 17th, 2011 - 10:37am
Filed under Think About It....

March 3, 2011 - Section A13 - Published Weekly

By Marlena Chavira-Medford

What is the common thread connecting a celebrity chef, a luminary for Google Ideas, and a former US ambassador dealing with war crime and genocide?

They are all members of Gen Next, an exclusive organization that educates and engages its members on some of the biggest challenges facing future generations in the areas of economic growth, education, and international security. Though it's varied a bunch, there is an overarching theme among members.

"These are people bound by a big, big vision for the future," said Gen Next CEO Michael Davidson. "These are all people who are highly successful, intellectually curious, forward thinking and have an animating factor that sets them above most. They are extraordinary people."

The group, which is five years old, has members across the country and is aiming to add about 20 in the San Diego area this year. By joining the group, which is done by invitation only and requires a $10,000 annual contribution, members gain access to a wealth of information. There's year-round programming that allows them to pick the brains of some major movers and shakers at the local, national and international level, including business innovators and government officials. For example, a quick search on the group's website, gen-next.org, revealed an upcoming talk by former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Members also get access to internal memos, member-only exchanges, and opportunities for national and international trips.

Because Gen Next's mission includes economic growth, education, and international security, members tackle some pretty big issues, like how to achieve oil independence, and what to do about the public education crisis. Gen Next serves as a vehicle for change in these areas by helping to bring about legislative changes, elevate other organizations working toward the same goals, and by helping to launch new organizations. Case in point: Movements.org, a nonprofit that helps grassroots activists by pairing them with resources and mentors in the technology, media, private and public sectors, is the collaboration of Gen Next members and Gen Next sponsored their first conference in New York City.

"This is a perfect illustration of what happens when Gen Next puts together the right people and right ideas with the platform and resources to make extraordinary things happen," he said.

The ultimate hope is that by educating its members, Gen Next can help them to see issues in a bigger picture, and inspire long-term solutions. Taking that step outside one's comfort zone isn't always easy, Davidson said, but the payout is becoming part of something bigger, something relevant, something that brings about change.

"I always like to use a line from Mad Men's Don Draper: 'If you don't like what's being said, change the conversation."

For more information about Gen Next, visit gen-next.org or call 877-770-GNXT. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a member, send an email to become_a_member@gen-next.org.

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Justice in Georgia: First Jury Trials Come to Growing Nation

March 2nd, 2011 - 4:50pm
Filed under International Security

By: GN Member Sam Chapin

Sometime soon, somewhere in Tbilisi, Georgia, someone will be the victim of a historic murder. Although it will be no less tragic than any other death, the victim will be the first in Georgian history on whose behalf justice will be delivered by jury verdict. Either that, or the alleged killer will be the first wrongfully accused defendant to be acquitted by jury after being afforded a presumption of innocence and a higher government burden that resembles our "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard. Or, perhaps, Georgia will experience its first hung jury. Regardless, history is about to be made in Tbilisi - although, sadly, the loss of a life will have initiated the process. 

As many may know, Georgia recently and radically changed its criminal justice system, and the changes are just now being implemented. This past summer, I traveled to Georgia to teach Georgian prosecutors how to conduct jury trials with a specific concentration on murder cases. As a former criminal prosecutor and current trial advocacy professor, the experience was fascinating on every level.

Georgia and Georgians

Most Americans think of Georgia as being a little country that was essentially Russian until very recently. Georgia, however, is so much more. Often described as being situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Georgia is beautiful. It is bordered by the Caucasus Mountains to the north; Turkey, Armenia, and Iran to the south; Azerbaijan to the east; and the Black Sea along the west. The people speak Georgian and are proud of gaining their independence from Russia in 1991.

Georgia's government is progressive, proactive, and pro-Western. But it has been a struggle. Joseph Stalin was Georgian, and there are still old monuments to him littered throughout the country. After emancipating itself from Russia in 1991 and officially voting out the Communist government, the Georgian government, led by former Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze (a Georgian), devolved into a Mafia-controlled corrupt bureaucracy. In 2003, however, 36-year-old Mikheil Saakashvili led a peaceful revolution (called the Rose Revolution) and forced President Shevardnadze to step down. The people immediately elected Saakashvili with 96 percent of the vote in 2004. Interestingly, Saakashvili attended Georgetown University and Columbia Law School and still enjoys the strong support not only of his people but of the United States and many European nations as well. Most recently, after a short but bloody war in August 2008, Russia took back two regions in Georgia (Abkhazia and South Ossetia), and Russian troops are now stationed approximately 20 miles from Georgia's capital city of Tbilisi.

Geographically, the country is the size of South Carolina, with a population of 4.4 million. The greatest concentration of people live in Tbilisi (population 1 million). A mostly Christian nation, Georgia's commitment to religious freedom and tolerance is unique in that part of the world. In Tbilisi, for example, one can find a synagogue, mosque, Georgian basilica, Armenian Church, and Zoroastrian temple all within walking distance of each other. Tbilisi is a quaint city, currently and actively improving its infrastructure. Despite its size and location on the cusp of Asia, it has a very European feel. There are many cobblestone streets lined with shops and cafés, bars and boutiques. The Mtkvari River wends through the city, cleaving the cliffs picturesquely (though one might wish to ignore the color of the water).

The Georgian people are warm, inviting, and appreciative of the foreign aid and partnership with the United States. Indeed, the United States has invested heavily in Georgia to transform it into a successful democracy and stable economy. In 2008, for example, the United States government pledged $1 billion in aid and support. The cultural differences between Americans and Georgians, generally speaking, are impossible to miss. Unlike most Americans, many Georgians tend to stay up very late, sleep in late, and smoke all day. And although they religiously enjoy their Georgian wine, Georgian moonshine (called chacha) is a popular method of ensuring the worst hangover imaginable. From what I hear, you understand.

Traffic and driving in Georgia are challenging. As a passenger or pedestrian, you are quite simply risking your life anywhere near a street in Georgia. Ordinary Georgians make New York City cab drivers look like proverbial little old ladies. As a visiting pedestrian, crossing the street is not recommended. Georgians, however, seem to have no problem walking right into traffic that is moving between 40 and 80 miles per hour. The big streets in Tbilisi have many under-street tunnels for pedestrian crossing, yet most elect the life-threatening, above-ground challenge. Why? Most likely they're running a little behind schedule.
Far from punctual, Georgians operate under what they jokingly refer to as "GMT" - Georgia Maybe Time. Things don't start early, but they definitely end late. There is an apropos myth about how the Georgians originally received their land from God. When God was distributing land to the peoples of the Earth, so the story goes, the Georgians arrived late because they were having a party and had been drinking too much. When God informed them that all the land had been distributed, they explained to God that they were late because they were raising their glasses in praise of him. God was so pleased that he gave them the land he had saved for himself - Georgia.

Georgia's New Justice System

As mentioned earlier, history is about to be made in Georgia because, for three months now, and only in Tbilisi, Georgian courts can begin the process of hearing their first jury trials in murder cases. Last year, with the assistance of the United States and other nations, Georgia enacted its new Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). The CPC went into effect last October and for the first time in the region's 1,500-year history. The new CPC institutes an adversarial system complete with the right to trial by jury.

The CPC is nowhere near comprehensive. In places, it will raise the eyebrows of American prosecutors and defense attorneys alike. But it replaces the often corrupt, Soviet-styled inquisitorial system (with one judge) where prosecutors worked with the court to secure convictions and, not surprisingly, enjoyed a 100 percent conviction rate. It is unquestionably a much fairer system than Georgian criminal defendants have had before. Indeed, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while in Georgia last July, described the new CPC as a "landmark law for positive change in Georgia." U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, also in Tbilisi in July, similarly praised the new law.

Although the CPC is just 116 single-spaced pages, divided into 333 articles, it is the entire body of law controlling Georgia's new adversarial system. It was the result of much debate and consideration. It is not annotated, and there is no case law to provide further definition or limitation. To American trial lawyers, it is shocking in its brevity and, in places, its breadth.

For example, regarding the prosecutor's burden of proof, the new law provides that "[a]ny doubt arising while evaluating evidence that cannot be resolved under the procedure established by law shall be settled in favor of the defendant." (CPC, Article 5). This essentially makes the burden of proof beyond "any" doubt as opposed to beyond a reasonable doubt. And unlike our burden of proof, it does not limit the doubt only to the elements of the crime charged. I can hear Georgian defense attorneys licking their chops in anticipation.

On the other hand, consider the CPC rule limiting the use of a defendant's prior convictions and, arguably in the last line, use of prior bad acts against defendants:

The Jury shall not be informed about previous criminal prosecution or administrative proceedings against the defendant or his/her prior conviction (unless such information is submitted by the prosecution as one of the qualifying elements of the crime, or/and [sic] is intended to verify reliability of the defendant's statements) before announcement of the verdict; neither shall they be informed about any evidence, which is not related to proving defendant's guilt. (CPC, Article 238)

Georgian judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys read this rule as basically prohibiting the use of prior convictions. But because the CPC contains no rule like our own ER 404(b), there is no further limitation on what "evidence related to proving a defendant's guilt" means. A prosecutor could have a field day with the last sentence of Article 238.
Hearsay will be a problem for both sides in Georgia. In American courtrooms, the rules about hearsay testimony are perhaps the most complicated, least understood, and most often violated of all rules. The Georgian CPC has made it very simple:

The testimony of a witness based on information provided by another person shall be an indirect testimony. An indirect testimony shall be admissible only if the information source is identified. During the substantial consideration of a case by the court, hearsay shall be admissible evidence if supported by the body of other evidence. (CPC, Article 76)

Translation? If you can provide a name (or maybe even just a face), hearsay is admissible.

Perhaps the most significant difference between our system and theirs, however, is the way the CPC addresses closing arguments and unanimous verdicts. Closing arguments will be conducted more like the European model, where the defendant (or defense attorney) always gets the last word. This obviously favors the defendant and is unlike our system, where the prosecutor gives the last rebuttal argument because the prosecutor has the burden of proof and the requirement of unanimity to obtain a conviction.

Georgia's CPC, however, hedges the unanimity requirement in this way: in cases not carrying a life sentence, the verdict must be unanimous if it is reached within the first three hours of deliberation. Once three hours has expired, though, the jury can convict by a vote of eight out of twelve. (CPC, Article 261). In other words, the jury can sit around drinking coffee and chatting for three hours before needing only eight out of twelve to convict. Translation? A Georgian criminal prosecution just became easier to prove than an American civil trial.

My sources inform me that the U.S. Department of Justice urged the Georgians to keep the jury verdict unanimous under the new CPC. The Georgian response was that Georgians are not a "consensus" people and that Georgian citizens would not be able to arrive at a group consensus in unanimous terms. Thus, the previous compromise was settled upon. The new CPC may be amended in the future to include a completely unanimous requirement. The U.S. Department of Justice and the American Bar Association continue to jointly lobby for such an amendment.

Even with the new law's idiosyncrasies, the introduction of the jury trial into Georgian culture is a critical step toward advancing justice and due process. Once the citizenry adapts to this new criminal justice phenomenon, the government intends to phase in jury trials throughout the country and for all types of cases. The story of how Georgians adapt to jury trials remains to be written and will no doubt be fascinating to observe.

Department of Justice Trial Skills Program

Like Secretary Clinton and Vice President Biden, I was also in Georgia last July. And although we stayed in the same hotel, my trip was covered slightly less in the international papers. As a former King County deputy prosecutor and present UW adjunct law professor, I was excited to be asked to come teach and honored to participate in such a major change in Georgia's criminal justice system. I taught two three-day training sessions to groups of 25 prosecutors whose range of experience varied from one to 30 years. The training sessions were the result of a concentrated effort of manpower and resources by the U.S. Department of Justice.

In addition to me, several American federal prosecutors conducted the prosecutorial training sessions throughout the summer. In addition, American federal judges were there training Georgian judges, and defense attorneys trained defense attorneys with the help of the American Bar Association.

Teaching through an interpreter is exhausting. At the King County Prosecutor's Office, I had worked with interpreters frequently in hearings and at trial, but teaching through an interpreter was another experience entirely. My constant concern was that the translation was losing the instructive message, since the subject of jury trial advocacy is completely foreign to the prosecutors who attended the training sessions. Well, that is not entirely true - a few had seen "Twelve Angry Men" and some had watched "Law and Order."

I was able to gauge whether my lectures were sticking by monitoring the content of the prosecutors' questions. They picked up the technical concepts quickly, but the cultural differences became evident in the depth of their skepticism about whether Georgians would be fair or effective jurors.

Their system provides for voir dire to be conducted three days before the beginning of trial, and in that time the prosecutors wanted to know how much "investigating" into the jurors' backgrounds could be accomplished. When I explained that we do not do that in America, they were shocked to learn that U.S. prosecutors simply accept the jurors' answers on the juror questionnaire forms as true. They wanted to send "their people" out to "look into" the veracity of the prospective jurors' answers. Like the saying about the girl and Texas, you can take the Russians out of Georgia, but you can't take the Russian out of the Georgians.

My favorite question of the entire trip was asked during a discussion about jury selection. We were talking about peremptory challenges and the CPC's incredibly broad rule in this regard (Article 223 prohibits strikes based on "race, skin color, language, sex, belief, religion, political views, membership in any association, ethnic, cultural or social belonging, origin, family, financial and official status, place of residence, health condition, life style, place of birth, age, or any other ground"). One prosecutor from a small town asked: "Would you excuse a coffin-maker from the jury?" The confused look on my face probably prompted him to explain that because a coffin-maker would see death as necessary for his work and not as a tragedy, the coffin-maker may not make a good juror for the prosecution's side of the case. Given that there is probably a coffin-maker in every Georgian town, it wasn't such a crazy question. My answer, incidentally, was basically, "If you're in doubt, keep them out." I was hoping those words also rhymed in Georgian and betting the prosecutors would not notice the obvious theft of Johnny Cochran phraseology.

My second-favorite question was one that illustrated the depth of the change on the way. One prosecutor asked the question that the room's head-nodding told me was on everyone's mind: "Do prosecutors get fired in the United States when they lose a case?" Naturally, I explained that this does not happen and that prosecutors often lose cases under our system. My audience was baffled to learn that, to the contrary, if you lose a big enough case in America, you write a book and become famous.

The Beginning

Georgia's new system officially began in October and though there have been murders, as of press time there had been no aggravated murder in Tbilisi.  Thus, someone is going about his business in Tbilisi, unaware that the sudden, violent end to his life will mark an historic change for his country, a sad and tragic beginning for a fairer criminal justice system. 

Sam Chapin is a lawyer and an adjunct professor in the Trial Advocacy Department at UW School of Law.

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Union Fails Pension Math: Part Time-Teacher Set to Earn More in Retirement than She Did While Employed

February 22nd, 2011 - 6:39pm
Filed under Education

By: GN Member Ben Everard

Shortly after the Green Bay Packers turned the nation's attention to the Midwestern state, Wisconsin once again has garnered the nation's attention.   At stake this time is not a trophy, but a prized retirement package promised to public employees.  Throngs of protesters have taken to Madison, Wisconsin to either show their support or disdain for Governor Scott Walker's plan to require public employees to pay 5.8 percent (the national average is roughly 12 percent) of their salary as a contribution to their pension.

The looming issue of funding public pensions is not unique to Wisconsin.  Governor Walker's stand, however, has focused the nation's attention largely because he is the first Republican leader to propose legitimate legislation designed to address the problem head on.  The debate in Wisconsin is a precursor to one that will be seen New York, California, Illinois, and dozens of other states.  Unfunded liabilities stemming from decades of generous retirement packages for public employees has finally reached the breaking point.  Without reform, state fiscal collapse is inevitable.  Often lost in the debate is a simple explanation of what exactly the problem is with the system today.  Fortunately, a pertinent example helps shed light on the financial precariousness of the situation in Wisconsin, and more importantly, the nation at large.

My mother worked as a public employee when she was a teacher's aide in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.  She was employed by the state for five years, from 1981-1986.  However, she worked only part-time, so was never credited for a full year of employment by the state for each year she worked.  Instead, she received only partial credit each year.  Fortunately for her, Wisconsin and two other states (Minnesota and South Dakota) allow for full vesting for public teachers after only three years of employment.  Using a deduction for her part-time status, Wisconsin determined her creditable service amounted to 3.07 years.  Had she worked three weeks less during her last year, she would be entitled to nothing.  As luck would have it, she fully vested, and is entitled to receive a monthly check from the state of Wisconsin for the rest of her life.

Like millions of fellow baby boomers, she turns 55 this year.  And in Wisconsin, one can elect to draw benefits at age 55.  If she retires this year and elects to take her pension, she would receive a check, once a month, for $230.   She receives this check for the rest of her life, and, if she predeceases my father, he is entitled to cash the check for the rest of his life.

A meager $230 a month may not sound like much-until you consider the salary she earned when she was employed, and how long she will likely draw her pension.   The average life expectancy for women in the United States is roughly 78 years.  Assuming my mother has an average life span, she will collect 276 separate checks from the state of Wisconsin for her five years of part-time service.  These checks, without adjusting for inflation, amount to $63,480.  Of course, in reality, the checks are adjusted upward annually for inflation, so her accumulated payout will be well north of $63,480.

To put things into perspective, consider the salary she drew when she was actually employed.  In her final year, she made $7,650.  Wisconsin's pension formula averages the highest three years' salary, which for her amounted to $7,072 and $6,191.  Over the course of her career as a salaried part-time teacher's aide, she made approximately $35,000.

Thus, for five years of part time service in which she was paid a cumulative total of less than $35,000, she will collect nearly twice that if she has an average life span.  She will be paid more money to be retired than she was ever paid by the state of Wisconsin when she was actually employed.

Let us not forget the other tiny detail-she has not lived in Wisconsin for over a quarter century, meaning she has not paid a dime to Wisconsin's tax system in over 25 years.  Yet, she is entitled to tens of thousands of dollars in pension benefits for her five years of part-time employment as a teacher's aide.

Her scenario is just the beginning.  It represents a tiny sliver of the enormity of the looming financial disaster.  Substitute my mother's modest salary with a superintendent of a school district, for example, who was paid over $100,000 per year, and the gravity of the situation is put into proper perspective.

Ultimately, this means the taxpayers of Wisconsin will be paying, not for services, but for retirees.  If the state has not woken up to this reality yet, it will.  When a 911 call goes unanswered due to lack of emergency personnel on the streets, there will be calls for reform.  When public schools cram 40 students into each classroom for a below-average education in an underfunded school district, there will be calls for reform.  When checks are no longer issued, there will be calls for reform.

Fortunately, there already are calls for reform.  They come from Governor Scott Walker in Madison, Wisconsin.  He will not change existing benefits for present retirees.  But he is attempting to tackle a ticking time bomb before it explodes.  Let us, in the words of our free-spending President, hope, that the Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate, who have fled the state to avoid voting on the measure, eventually get the message.  They are paid to cast votes.   It is time they earn their paycheck.  From what I hear, the pay can be quite generous in Wisconsin.

View article.

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The Post-Islamist Future

February 21st, 2011 - 4:13pm
Filed under International Security

A recent op-ed written by friend of Gen Next Maajid Nawaz

Recent events in Egypt indicate the beginning of the end for the Middle East's fascination with Islamist opposition politics. Egypt's revolution is no deathblow to Islamism-it is not even a debilitating injury. But when thinking in terms of decades-long trends, it is the start of a new intellectual era for the region.

The 1950s and '60s witnessed the rise of pan-Arab socialism. Autocratic strongmen brought in by military coups were the order of the day in Egypt, Syria and beyond. By the 1980s and '90s, there was a fierce explosion in angry Islamism, as seen in the jihadist insurrection in Egypt and the rise of both Hamas and Hezbollah.

But with failed Islamist experiments in Iran, Sudan and Afghanistan, the new millennium saw a creeping transition. As I did, the region's young, tech-savvy youth developed new ambitions, away from Islamism and toward secular democratic politics. Democratic activism is the new political fashion.

Naturally, the potential for democracy in Egypt has raised fears that Islamists will take over, establishing a popular yet anti-Western and anti-Israel leadership. Being the most organized opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood is the focus of these fears.

Mohammed BadieAlarmists would have us believe that we are on the brink of another Iran-style Islamist takeover, with the destruction of Israel as its obsession. The complacent, meanwhile, dangerously understate the threat. Interestingly, they are the very same voices who argued as recently as a month ago that the Brotherhood represents the only credible opposition in Egypt. Somewhere in the middle stand reasonable voices calling for critical engagement.

The Brotherhood is still formally committed to some of the more worrying Islamist principles of Hassan al-Banna, who founded the organization in 1928. Its popular rallying cry is "Allah is our objective; the Prophet is our leader; the Quran is our constitution; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations." And it insists that Islam must be the only source of legislation, and that non-Muslims and women cannot become heads of state.

The group's official line, therefore, inspires little confidence, especially as its current leader is the conservative Muhammad Badie (who was a cellmate of mine in 2002, when I was held as a political prisoner in Cairo's Mazra Tora prison). However, with a reformist middle-aged faction-led by another former cellmate of mine, Abdul Monim Aboul Fatouh-and a disillusioned youth, the Brotherhood is certainly no monolith.

United by the popular imperative to remove Hosni Mubarak, the group rarely allowed dissent. Despite this, in 1996 a group of prominent but frustrated younger members broke off, founding Hizb al-Wasat (the Center Party), which included among its founders Christians, unveiled women and non-Islamists. The Brotherhood's old guard reacted dismissively, but it seems that the founders of the Center Party were years ahead of the curve.

Last year, the Brotherhood had heated internal elections and middle-aged reformists were expected to do well. But under shady circumstances, and to the dismay of many frustrated younger members, they lost their seats at the leadership council. Things have never quite been the same.

Many younger Brotherhood activists, including friends of mine who had been jailed and tortured for their affiliation, froze their membership and joined the ranks of Egypt's increasingly bold secular youth activists. The groups included the Egyptian Movement for Change and the April 6th Youth. The effect was that the Brotherhood had to play catch-up when these secular democratic forces led the way in the January 25 uprising. The simple fact is that Egypt's most organized opposition group did not organize Egypt's only people's revolt. In addition, it is clear that the Brotherhood has no Khomeini-like figure capable of hijacking this revolution.

A recent poll by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy found that Muslim Brotherhood leaders received barely 1% of Egyptians' support for the presidency. Only 7% of respondents believed that "the [Mubarak] regime is not Islamic enough." This suggests that the Brotherhood is likely to win some seats in parliament but unlikely to produce the next president or prime minister of Egypt.

How, then, should policy makers think of the Brotherhood?

In a recent hearing of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper asserted that the Brotherhood is a "largely secular" group. Such blunders are grossly counterproductive, as they hinder the clarity of understanding needed to plan for various contingencies, like Islamist ascendancy.

On the other hand, the alarmist approach-taken by many in Israel, for example-would seem to trade long-term regional security for short-term stability. As the former George W. Bush administration official Elliott Abrams remarked, "the Israelis apparently do not see the irony that they are mourning the departure of the man who created the very situation they now fear." (Returning to the recent Washington Institute poll, more Egyptians supported peace with Israel than rejected it, and only 18% approved of either Hamas or Iran.)

British Prime Minister David Cameron and former Prime Minister Tony Blair have taken a more cautious and reasonable approach. In his groundbreaking speech in Munich, Mr. Cameron declared, "I simply don't accept that there's a dead-end choice between a security state and Islamist resistance." And concerning the risk of a Brotherhood takeover, Mr. Blair said that "The truth is I don't know and neither does anybody else. And therefore what I am really saying is, don't be hysterical about it but don't be complacent about it either.

As long as we engage all peaceful opposition forces with our eyes open, Egypt can become a beacon for Arab democracy. Like Turkey's, Egypt's largely secular army is wary of an Islamist takeover. If we can help Egyptians build a democratic society for the first time in their history, we may see the dawn of a new post-Islamist age that transforms political dynamics world-wide. View article.

Mr. Nawaz, a former prisoner of conscience in Egypt, is executive director of Quilliam, a counterextremism think tank in England.

 

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GN Partner Movements.org On Fox News

February 9th, 2011 - 5:15pm
Filed under International Security

Gen Next Member Jason Liebman, Co-Founder of Movements.org provides commentary on the impact of social media in Egypt.

Watch video:

 

 

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The Loss of Self-Esteem is the Greatest Penalty of Unemployment

February 7th, 2011 - 4:13pm
Filed under Economy

By: Gen Next Member John Ridings Lee

One of the unspoken victims of the current unemployment situation is the effect that being unemployed has on the self-esteem of the worker without a job.

Regardless of the actions of the Federal and State government to extend unemployment benefits and to appear to be sympathetic to unemployed workers, there appears to be no concern over the psyche of the workers.  One way this negatively impacts the worker is in the loss of their self-esteem.

Robert Roach, who recently lost his job as Principal of the Heartland Christian Academy in Bemidji, Minnesota, says that the lack of real attention to the issue of unemployment by government makes him - and 15 million other Americans like him - similarly unemployed, feel helpless.

His recent interview for a post as student services coordinator at a technical college found his competition to be 160 other applicants.  Even though he holds a degree in chemistry and has no debts other than his home and car, he found out very quickly that he was "over-qualified."  He maintains that it isn't just about the economy, it's about self-esteem.  For those out of work, it is very easy to feel isolated and alone.

Consider the scope of the unemployment problem:
1.     We are still running over 600,000 NEW jobless claims EVERY week.
2.    The government continues to UNDER-REPORT the true problem.
3.    Those who have given up looking for work aren't counted in any index.  At the latest count, their numbers are at 920,000 - almost a million more that should be counted on the unemployment roles.
4.    A vast majority of Americans are under-employed, having to take jobs that pay a fraction of what they formerly earned just to keep food on the table.
5.    Most of the new jobs created are in the public sector, only adding to our debt burden.
6.    The commercial banks are sitting on billions of bail out dollars rather than investing in new equipment or employees.
7.    Uncertainty about future government taxes, health care impacts and other government programs are keeping several employers on the sidelines.
8.    Major corporations are taking advantage of foreign labor costs and off-shoring many jobs formerly held by Americans.  Alan Binder, a Princeton University economist, estimates that 22% to 29% of all current United States jobs will be shipped overseas in the next two decades.
9.    Many companies are taking advantage of the vulnerable employees they have and increasing productivity by insisting on longer hours and working days by those who want to stay employed.
10.The annual summer layoffs are not here yet, and this year they will not have the governmental cover of the census to offset the loss of jobs.
11.Computers and automation are now performing many tasks formerly performed by humans and this trend will only grow over time.
12.Many workers have turned to temporary employment agencies with low pay and no benefits.  Temporary jobs represent an astonishing 80% of private job growth.

According to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) the United States accounted for over half of all job losses among the 31 richest countries from 2007 to the middle of 2010.

Karl Perera, an acknowledged expert in the field of self-esteem, listed several reasons why self-esteem is so important to a person.  You can readily see how they affect the unemployed:

1.     Self-esteem can be the difference between success and failure.  This is especially important in the interviewing process.
2.    Self-esteem affects your thinking, causing your outlook to be positive or negative about all aspects of your daily life, not just your employment situation.

Your potential to achieve what you most desire (and this usually is gainful employment for the unemployed) is directly related to your self-esteem.  You must maintain positive self-esteem to overcome the attitudes of others who tell you that you cannot succeed.

Robert Reasoner, a former school administrator and the developer of a model that is used in schools throughout the United States, says that self-esteem is merely the confidence that one can meet life's challenges and be worthy of happiness.

If this is true, how little the unemployed ask and how easy it would be for our government to provide it.

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Announcing: Gen Next Member Forums

February 3rd, 2011 - 12:10pm
Filed under Think About It....

We're excited to announce Gen Next Forums as an opportunity for Members to benefit from the perspectives, experiences, and wisdom of other Gen Next Members.  Only in Gen Next do successful individuals have regular access to game changing individuals, consequential ideas, and unique life enriching experiences.

Participation in a forum can be one of the most valuable aspects of Membership, offering Members the opportunity to meet monthly with up to ten Members to exchange helpful ideas, get feedback, problem solve, and explore best practices in business. 

Forum discussions operate under strict confidentiality.  Topics are related to industry or Member specific professional challenges; educational reflections from a GN program or experience; or general business issues, such as strategic planning, preparing for acquisition, human capital, or risk mitigation, to name only a few.  

The talent density within Gen Next is unmatched, which provides each Member an incredible resource at working through major professional challenges and ideas.  Members come from many walks of life, but their day-to-day challenges are often similar, lending to an opportunity for Members to benefit from fresh and confidential input.  We hope you'll take advantage of this great opportunity, as the strength of our organization is directly driven by the growth and commitment of our membership. 

If you would like to get involved in a Gen Next Forum, or have any questions, please contact Bailey Cuzner. Forums are open to Members only.

 

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Movements.org Launches Online Hub For Digital Activism

February 2nd, 2011 - 10:08am
Filed under International Security

Movements.org today launched an online hub for digital activism that will allow activists to connect on and offline, to access resources, and to share their stories with each other and supporters all over the world. The site provides how-to guides for new and experienced activists, blog posts covering the role of connection technologies in social change, and case studies for activists to share their stories and learn from their peers. 

Examples of new digital tools and resources on the site include:

• How to Remain Connected if Your Internet Gets Shut Off
• 5 Things You Can Do to Support Egyptians from Anywhere
• How to Boost your Security on Facebook by Enabling HTTPS
• How to Access Blocked Websites
• How Online Media Drove a Campaign to Release Egyptian Blogger Kareem Nabeel Suleiman

The organization was founded by three Gen Next Members - Roman Tsunder, Jason Liebman and Jared Cohen. Cofounder Jason Liebman said "Movements.org is the source for anyone who wants to keep up to date on the use of technology for achieving real social change. We have existed for two years as a support network for grassroots activists using digital tools, and today we come out of alpha launch to make our platform and resources available to everyone."

The Movements.org network of grassroots activists is diverse, representing approximately 27 countries from Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Leaders of the Egyptian Shabab April 6 Movement were represented at our 2008 Summit and are playing an important role in the current protests in Egypt. Other examples of movements include:

• Khudi, Pakistan
• Girifna, Sudan
• One Million Voices Against the FARC, Columbia

Recent events in the Middle East have illustrated the potential of connection technologies to foster civic empowerment and mobilize citizens towards affecting positive change. This potential underlines the importance of Movements.org's mission to identify, connect, and support activists not just during and after protests like those we are witnessing in Egypt, but also beforehand in order to prepare them as much as possible.

 

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The Entire World is Facing a Currency Crisis

January 17th, 2011 - 3:21pm
Filed under Economy

By: Gen Next Member John Ridings Lee

EUROPE:

European Union financial leaders say they are ready to do whatever they have to do to save the euro but they are not willing to add to the already existing bailout fund. Germany has defeated every attempt to expand the rescue mechanism in place for fiscally troubled countries. Other country leaders wonder if the rescue fund would weather a collapse of Portugal and Spain, currently on the closely watched list. In the meantime, Moody's has downgraded Hungary's credit rating putting the Hungarians at odds with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Some circles report that Germany is considering abandoning the euro altogether.

Ireland is attempting to enforce a personal income tax on 2.2 million workers who historically have paid no taxes. This is causing severe political unrest in Ireland. Observers have said that the euro as a currency is a mess and will continue to be throughout 2011.

All of these financial worries come in the midst of an economic slowdown throughout Europe. Unemployment is rising, tax revenues are diminished, all of which is linked to the slowdown. Pressure to cut public spending is building as the government debt grows. Central governments in many European countries are being cut drastically.

UNITED STATES:

The financial woes of the United States are well known and the quantitative easing or bond buying program announced by Ben Bernanke to purchase up to $600 billion of bonds through next summer only makes foreign investors wary of a weaker dollar if that is accomplished.

President Barack Obama says that there is "broad agreement" on global economic policy between the G20 nations but there are other leaders that fear that the conflict between China and the United States may threaten global growth.

While Washington officials maintain that the Chinese currency is held artificially low (which allows Chinese exporters an unfair trade advantage and allows China to accumulate huge amounts of foreign reserves) China argues that it has a commitment to reform its currency values but is waiting for global economic stability before making any significant adjustments.

MIDDLE EAST:

Thomas Erdbrink reported in The Washington Post that new sanctions against Iran implemented by the United Arab Emirates have led to a sharp drop in the value of Iran's currency, the rial. This is causing confusion in Iran's markets and has resulted in a loss in trading value against both the dollar and the euro. The situation has become so tense that no foreign currency is being sold by currency exchanges. Even the gold merchants have closed their doors.

ASIA:

The dollar has fallen to a 15 year low against the Chinese Yuan and a record low against the Swiss franc. Officials in Asia were warning against an expected flood of foreign currencies as America moves ahead with its $600 billion asset purchase plan. Already Asian currencies are enjoying new trading positions. The Thai baht is up 11%, the Korean won is up 6% and the Philippine peso is up 8%. A major oil refiner in the Philippines just issued a bond yielding 7%, and this rate of return compared to the puny near zero rates of United States Treasuries are very attractive to foreign bond buyers.

Inflation fears abound in many countries, especially those who have a negative trade balance and are forced to import most consumer goods, food, and other staples. Experts believe that the extension of the Bush tax cuts by the Obama administration and recently approved by Congress may be positive in the short term but will do nothing to help the poor fiscal situation with budget deficits of about 10% expected in each of the next two years. Even Moody's is warning that it may have to downgrade the United States' AAA credit rating. This scares many of our trading partners.

Meanwhile, gold is enjoying a rapid rise in value as countries keep interest rates low in order to stimulate their economies and central banks are buying gold as a hedge against the unknown.

It is still a world-wide concern. The eight hundred pound gorilla is still the United States. In this currency scenario, the gorilla is walking a very fine tight rope and the fall could be fatal.

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