Hello Friends,

Just wanted to alert you to the subject book by the author of  "The Death of Common Sense", (If you have not yet read I highly recommend it.)

While these books may not be technical, the stories they tell and the implications on our industry and the environment are clear. We have had a lot on "non-nutritious" material put on our collective plates in recent years and have been told by others ( mostly poorly informed bureaucrats) who have no involvement in our industry or any real technical understanding that it is good for us and that we should eat it without asking the reason why. It is something to think about no matter what your position is.

Some information on the subject book follows...

Kind regards to all,
Joe



THE LOST ART OF DRAWING THE LINE
How Fairness Went Too Far
by Philip K. Howard
(Author of the national bestseller THE DEATH OF COMMON SENSE)

"Seesaws are disappearing across America.
Labels warn that coffee is hot.
Good teachers, fed up, quit.
Bad teachers can’t be fired.
You’d have to be a fool to say what you really think.
Why can’t Americans just do what makes sense?"

"According to best-selling author and lawyer, Philip K. Howard, we have the idea of fairness backward. We have worked so hard to protect the rights of the individual, that we have trampled the rights of individuals as members of a society. Legal fear has corroded our freedom. Who knows who may bring a lawsuit, or claim that a workplace or school decision was unfair? Better to play it safe, or do nothing. "

"In 1960, over 75% of Americans had confidence in government. By 1996, that number had plummeted to 24%. Today, Americans don’t trust political leaders to make decisions for the common good. We don’t trust teachers and other public employees to assert values on how to manage schools and government. And we don’t even trust public employees to judge one another. This “perfect mistrust” of authority has led to powerlessness at the top, and unaccountability everywhere."

"With devastating clarity, THE LOST ART OF DRAWING THE LINE shows how politically correct reforms became the enemy of freedom. In the name of individual rights, we took away the authority of judges, principals, teachers and everyone else with responsibility to do what they think is right and reasonable, leaving Americans victim to self-interested individuals and unable to influence our schools and other common institutions. Mincing no words, Howard reveals how we must wrest control away from shortsighted, self-interested groups and give it back to people who are accountable to all of us. Only then can America, once again, be the land of the free."