From Mutually Assured Destruction to Mutually Assured Respect
Michelle LaBrosse, PMP, CCPM, PMI-ACP, CAP, RYT
As a veteran of the cold war, it’s time we move on from Mutually Assured Destruction to Mutually Assured Respect.
Being a veteran of the cold war, we were well versed in the military doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction. Until last week though, I had naively thought we had solidly moved into the interconnected, and interdependent realm of Mutually Assured Respect. Being interdependent and trading with each other seemed like one of the best deterrents to war. Yet that is still to be proven – unfortunately.
I sit in wonder how we got here?
We have a guy who believes that an independent Ukraine, aspiring to align with NATO and the EU, is a threat to the sovereignty of an autocracy that relies on state run media to control its masses. He believes it so much so he is willing to destroy the entire world over it by launching nukes at anyone who gets in his way of invading Ukraine (and then who else?).
How do we keep allowing these mentally ill megalomaniacs to get into these positions of power?
Being a teacher, I wonder, what if we had an educational requirement for people who aspired to lead us? Such as a four year program for anyone who wanted to run for public office:
- Run by people from the spectrum of issues faced by our current leaders – business, academia, military, government agencies, diplomats, scientists, medical professionals (including mental health specialists), and various religious leaders.
- Taught all online, if there is any residency requirement it would just be for a couple weeks (run it like the National Guard service). It’s open to anyone. Make sure there is enough server capacity to handle all who register.
- No cost, it’s paid for and run by the United Nations and each country pays a very small percentage of their GDP to fund it. For those who think this comes even close to what this current crisis is costing, they’d also need to take some remedial math classes.
- Once all the coursework is complete, the aspiring leader must pass a certification exam to validate they paid attention and grasped the salient points.
Just like we require doctors, attorneys, accountants, heck even project managers, to pass certification (and licensing exams), why not require those who want to lead us to become certified to do so? Every three years, overhaul the exam with the group that assembles and keep the program up to date. Call the program the “Certified Public Servant.” Or CPS for short. It may make sense too that folks who earn their CPS have to keep it current with a continuing education requirement.
Then, make it part of the interconnected whole. If you want your country to be able to trade with the rest of the world, you open up to a world council that monitors free elections EVERYWHERE (including in the US) and require anyone who runs for public office to be a Certified Public Servant. If it’s found they in anyway cheated in the program, they lose their CPS and ability to run for office. This might also help decrease the accusations (real and false) of corruption in elections.
If we can set up a global certification for Project Managers – why not do this for those who aspire to lead us as well?
Let’s fix the problem at its origin – reduce the possibility that incompetent, and/or mentally ill people can manipulate their way into leadership positions. It’s a long shot, but the future is created by those who dream up ways to survive.
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