TWIF+Chapter+9

Analysis of Chapter 9 - “This Is Not A Test”, is our warning, that the flat world is the future. That if we do not prepare ourselves now, the future will not be bright. What we are doing today as Americans, other countries are doing tomorrow. So it is up to us, to be creative and come up with new innovative ideas for our future, and if we do not do it ourselves, another country will. So we need to take this warning seriously and determine our own fate. I couldn’t agree more with the valid points Friedman makes in this chapter.

Friedman states his position of “compassionate flatism,” in which the government and current employers must equip Americans with more tools and skills to deal with the changes that will occur. "The job of government and politicians in such a flattening world is more important than ever."(Friedman, 283) The government must provide resources to people to make them more employable. That we are going to need a government that does not instill fear but knowledge and that enables us to do better. Friedman makes a point to mention that a US president has never gone to Bangalore and face the flattening world and that instead some politicians are claiming that there will always be “American jobs” which will never be outsourced. America cannot be arrogant and assume will continue to succeed in the economic world like we have. We cannot ignore the sense of urgency and the problem. We must take personal responsibility for our future. I found this idea really interesting and agree with Friedman that we should be worried for our country and hope that our government prepares us. Friedman points out that success will not be based on economic stability like it has in the past and I feel this is one point that government may be failing to acknowledge.

Friedman states that we cannot survive on being average any more and that we need to become extraordinary. He is right, we have to be ready and work hard in the upcoming era to make sure we don’t just give up and let globalization take over us. Friedman stated that we have to get Americas excited about the race for the future. This is a very difficult task, especially if we are failing to recognize that there is a problem. If we fail to recognize the problems that Americans are going to face in the flat world then America will fall behind. That even if we develop a strategy, build awareness and train our employees better we will never be fully prepared.

Friedman makes a few points that will affect us as educators because we will need to educate students not based on what the world is now, but what it will be in the future and how to thrive in it. Our students are going to need to be aware of the changes taking place and realize that the competition that they will be facing is going to be fierce. Students will have to dig deep and find that inner drive and will need to stay motivated even when encountering discouraging times in the future.

In the last part of the chapter, Friedman makes a very interesting point about parenting. As an educator, I agree with him. He explains that parents are going to have to put their foot down about the excessive time spent playing video games or listening to their I-pods because if I student is not going to work, then they are not going to have a future. Friedmad states " "In short, we need a new generation of parents ready to administer tough love: There comes a time when you’ve got to put away the Game Boys, turn off the television, shut off the iPod, and get your kids down to work."( Friedman, 295) We are going to have to retrain our youths’ mentality that they are not always going to be winners. A hard work ethic, motivation and creativity are going to play a large role in what is to come for them. As educators, we are going to need to give parents this wake up call so that they can set a good example and pass on to their children that a strong education is going to be what they need to thrive in the flat world. Students are not going to be able to live in the future they want unless they invent the future themselves.

Erin Devor

More on Chapter 9, from Christina

The edition that I used is the 2005 and first edition of the book, so the page numbers may not match your own in my citations. However, from Erin's analysis it seems that the main ideas of the two editions in regards to "This is Not a Test" are the same.

Friedman proposes a way for America to prosper in the new, flat world. He states, "I offer compassionate flatism, which is a policy blend built around five broad categories of action for the age of flat: leadership, muscle building, cushioning, social activism, and parenting (Friedman 280)."

Leadership--Friedman makes an interesting point here. He explains that in America, most politicians are lawyers by trade and thus really have no idea or experience with the flat world and what is happening in the global markets. He sees this as part of the problem: too many politicians believe that there will always be jobs in America, as Erin explains above.

Muscle building--Friedman asserts that "compassionate flatism seeks to focus its energy on how government and business can enhance every worker's lifetime employability (Friedman 284)." Rather than employees expecting to be employed by the same company for their entire career, employees should expect their company to give them tools and abilities to enhance their position and move on to other jobs as their positions are outsourced, replaced, or unnecessary. Friedman believes that portable benefits that allow a worker to be more mobile and adaptable are a key to America remaining competitive in the flat world. Employees often remain where they are for their pensions, health care, and other benefits when they could be more flexible in their employment if these were not factors in changing jobs. He also asserts that government and business have an obligation to ensure lifelong learning opportunities to the workforce.

Cushioning--This section focuses on government programs that keep America's wheels spinning in the competitive world market. Friedman describes the problems with unemployment benefits, mainly that paying people not to work does not motivate anyone to go find a job. He describes a new system in which people receive some unemployment benefits, but they are paid better if they return to work...wage insurance that would pay the difference between your old job and new when you start the new job.

Social Activism--"In the flat world, with lengthy global supply chains, the balance of power between global companies and the individual communities in which they operate is tilting more and more in favor of the companies, many of them American...Social and environment activists and progressive companies can now collaborate in ways that can make both the companies more profitable and the flat earth more livable (Friedman 297)."

Parenting--Erin described this section above. Essentially, Friedman describes the importance of parents helping their children learn the skills that they need to live in a flat world. he describes the dangers of entitlement and sheltering. He talks about how many children do not experience delayed gratification nor do they understand the concept of working hard now for a benefit later on. Friedman says that it is up to parents to raise their children to appreciate hard work and education.