The mission of this book is to act as a catalyst to develop a national mission statement based on freedom, opportunities, and a free-market system. To compete in the global arena, America requires a self-sustainable nation built on equality, environmental integrity, entrepreneurship, advanced technologies, a first class education system, leading edge health care system, and moral human principles. We must build a powerful economy, a strong military, and return to the rule of law. Some Americans proclaim that as a nation, our prosperous days are history, and the future will provide fewer opportunities for our children and grandchildren. The simplest reply references a smelly substance defining an untruth. American citizens must wrap our arms around the desperate young people trapped in joblessness, the intercity, and the newly arrived, providing positive futures for every American citizen. It is in our hands. Freedom and Opportunity is a compilation of our Focused Fire Newsletters, each addressing issues related to freedoms, downsizing, redistribution, opportunities, and dangers to liberty. A new summary titled The Zone of Opportunity, ties the essays together. The current greatest barriers to growth are the policies of the Federal government, quickly followed by the forgotten or unlearned lessons of history. We are all part of the problem, and building a viable America demands positive actions. If we fail to rekindle the America dream, it is our fault - yours and mine and every citizen of America. Coupled with Canada by geography, demographics, and economy, North America can become the opportunity capital of the world. It will take positive leadership, courage, and a government that enables entrepreneurs and business instead of imposing penalties, redistributing wealth and power, and downsizing America.
About the Author: Wayne L Staley An Army veteran and military Operating Room Technician, Wayne was the NCOIC for his surgical unit. While attending college, he worked as an ER and X-Ray Technician. Educated in computer technology, business, and manufacturing systems, he has managed Corporate Information Technology, Materials, Logistics, and manufacturing. He was Manager of Shop Operations for a complex fabrication facility, including a foundry, machine shop, metal punching and forming, annealing, aluminum die-casting/injection, metal forming, and welding. Wayne worked on integrated supply chain programs with China based suppliers, and collaboration programs with Dow Chemical and other customers, developing processes and new products. He performed numerous studies on energy, products, and doing business in Mexico. He is NAFTA certified. He served for eleven years on the City/County information processing commission, the last year as Chairperson. He has managed numerous Business Strategy, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and process improvement projects (VMP) in manufacturing, government, distribution, and convention management. He developed training materials for ERP, Supply-Chain Management, Strategy, and Process Improvement. He created Phase Four Graphics LLC, a graphic arts company, phasefourgraphics.com, and CompetitiveAmerica.us, advocating for American industry. A frequent speaker at APICS and AITP meetings, conferences and seminars, he is the author of six books. Pathway to Adaptability - 2008 Crunch Time for Health care - 2011 ERP Information at the Speed of Reality - 2013 Productivity Prescriptions for Health Care - 2014 ERP Lessons Learned - Structured Process - 2014 Freedom and Opportunity - 2015