Emerging technologies, volatile environmental hazards, uncertain economic conditions and hostile geo-political realities have created the perfect storm for market havoc. In order to meet the challenges of the future we must tap the greatest resource the nation has –its people, for solutions, inspiration and constructive criticism.
We can use constructive criticism to fine-tune our new economy, to remold its flaws, improve its performance, and pave the way for a legacy of environmental sustainability. The challenge we face is to throw off the old ways of exclusion and arrogance.
We may well find the inventors of new technologies in the most unlikely of places. Hence, we must keep our minds open to the possibility that the solutions for energy dependence, global warming or economic stagnation may well lay outside of academia and Wall Street.
The little girl with corn rows dancing to the music in her head, the snaggle-toothed fifth grader in an “under-performing” school, or the angry young man who just got sentenced to five years in prison for robbing a convenience store, may have a technological miracle in his or her head. We don’t know where the future may lead us, but one thing is for certain. We have to be open to the possibility that innovation, inspiration and change come from the most unlikely of places.
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