Never Waste A Crisis

The world seems to be coming round to the opinion that Obama is in a job too far. There appears a pretty much universal view that his response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is both inappropriate and ineffective.

One such talking head I saw referred to the mantra of Obama’s close colleague, Rahm Emanuel, as delivered to a pow-wow of business leaders,

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste”

I was struck by how similar his idea is to that so disparaged by what is surely a political bedfellow in Naomi Klein throughout her over lengthy Shock Doctrine tome. He continues in tones remarkably reminiscent of shock and awe neocon hawks,

“[a] crisis provides the opportunity for us to do things that you could not do before”

For the solution seller, spotting or uncovering a crisis prospect-side is a surefire way to improve the odds of a sale. The credit crunch precipitated all sorts of potential crises. How can you help do more with less?

Shock and awe proponents go farther, by seeking to exploit the disarray which engulf those in the maelstrom of crisis through quick, decisive and irreversible action.

Whichever your political leaning, the inference is clear. Both sides recommend, to adapt an ill-used topical phrase, going for the throat.