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Rick Wise is an industrial psychologist and retired management consultant. For 15 years, he was managing director of ValueNet International, Inc.
Before starting ValueNet, Rick was director, corporate training and, later, director, corporate strategy for Travelers Corp., an international insurance and financial services firm. He lost six friends in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Rick was a Vietnam-era Navy Hospital Corpsman.
Rick holds PhD and M.Ed. degrees from Penn State. His BS is from West Chester University. He completed post-doctoral work at Rensselaer, Northwestern, Colorado, and Harvard. A native of Pennsylvania, Rick now lives in New England.
Friday, July 29, 2011 Boehner In A Box (2 comments)
John Boehner has built for himself a box from which he cannot escape. Only Nancy Pelosi holds the key. Should she use it?
Tuesday, March 1, 2011 Scott Walker: Fool or Fraud? (8 comments)
Public sector employees need union protection from the fools and frauds who would sacrifice their careers for political gain. They need protection from people like Wisconsin's Scott Walker.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010 GOP Showed Its True Colors With Tax Deal (1 comments)
In negotiating the tax compromise, the GOP showed that their real interest is in rewarding rich cronies and not in solving budget deficit or national debt problems.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010 FairTax: Too Good To Be True? (8 comments)
Right-wingers have been touting the FairTax, a scheme that would get rid of all federal taxes and the I.R.S. Sound too good to be true? It is. Here's the good, the bad, and the ugly on FairTax.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 McChrystal Must Go
Everyone seems to be treating General Stanley McChrystal's disastrous Rolling Stone article as a bungled media event. It's not. It is a clear case of insubordination, and McChrystal should be fired and replace at once.
Thursday, March 25, 2010 Coburn's Hard Bargain (5 comments)
Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) introduced an amendment to the health care "fixes" bill that would prohibit use of federal funds to purchase erectile dysfunction ("ED") medications for registered sex offenders. The amendment failed, 57-42. If Coburn reintroduces it as a bill, by the time it gets through committee it will probably affect only one person in the whole USA.
Thursday, March 11, 2010 Reconsidering Iraq: What If We Had Been Greeted as Liberators? (7 comments)
The real reason for the Iraq War has never been revealed. We know what the reason was not, but not what the reason was. My theory is that Bush and Cheney's rationale for invading Iraq was much grander, and much more nefarious, than any of the reasons ever publicly given to justify the invasion. The key to understanding it: follow the money.
Thursday, January 21, 2010 "I Don't Want to Pay for Somebody Else's Health Care" (6 comments)
One of the criticisms of the health care bills passed by the House and Senate is that people who already have health insurance may have to pay for coverage provided to the uninsured. Won't they be surprised to learn that they already do that?
Monday, December 7, 2009 Can Cheney's "One Percent Doctrine" Apply to Climate Change? (17 comments)
In this article I suggest we apply Dick Cheney's "One Percent Doctrine" to the subject of climate change. The right endorsed this approach when it applied to terrorism; why should climate change be any different?
Thursday, December 3, 2009 A Conservative's "12 Days of Christmas" (3 comments)
PNC Bank has released its 26th annual Christmas Price Index (CPI), which puts the 2009 price of all the gifts in the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” at $21,465.56. Meanwhile, the Total Cost of Christmas – the cumulative cost of all the gifts after all the repetitions of the song – comes in at $87,402.81. Here are some lessons from Conservatives on how to cut the Total Cost of your Christmas by nearly half. Satire.
Thursday, November 19, 2009 If Health Reform Fails: Insurers' Double-0 “License to Kill”
If health care reform fails, the result will not be a return to the status quo. It will be much worse. The banks and the insurance companies will have won the big prize and they will pay themselves handsomely for their victory. Meanwhile, Democrats in disarray will slink off stage left, blaming everyone but themselves for the outcome.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Women Take Charge: "The Lysistrata Solution" (11 comments)
The Stupak Amendment takes women's reproductive rights back to the 1950s. Women need to fight back, starting now. Here's how.
Thursday, November 5, 2009 GOP Health Reform: “The Insurance Industry Profit Enhancement Act” (2 comments)
At last, House Republicans have presented their version of health care reform. As with many of their proposals, the GOP health plan is nothing more than “old wine in new bottles.” Here is a point-by-point recap of the plan's main provisions along with commentary on what those provisions actually entail.
Sunday, November 1, 2009 Lieberman on Health Reform: Disingenuous or Dishonest? (8 comments)
Joe Lieberman argues in the November 1 Hartford Courant that the country cannot afford a public health care option right now because the national debt is “out of control.” He's tight when he says the debt is out of control. He's wrong when he says health care has contributed “significantly” to it and that a public option would only make things worse. Is he being disingenuous or dishonest?
Friday, October 16, 2009 Nobel Notes: CAN OBAMA ACCEPT THE PRIZE? (3 comments)
In an editorial in the October 16, 2009 Washington Post, Ronald D. Rotunda and J. Peter Pham argue that President Obama may be barred by the Constitution from accepting the Nobel Peace Prize. Could they be right?
Monday, October 12, 2009 NOBEL NOTE TO THE RIGHT: DO IT YOURSELF! (5 comments)
The Nobel Institute's decision to award the 2009 Peace Prize to Barack Obama leaves the wingnut right with just one time-honored option: If you don't like it, do it yourself.
Friday, September 18, 2009 Ohio Botches Another One (5 comments)
The State of Ohio botched a lethal injection for the third time in three years. Governor Strickland now must decide what to do. I think he should return Romell Broom to a cell in general population, to live and die in prison.
Sunday, September 6, 2009 WILL GOP REBUT OBAMA'S EDUCATION SPEECH? (2 comments)
Instead of feigning outrage at the prospect of President Obama addressing school children at the start of the school year, Republicans could simply demand equal time for a rebuttal. Here's how I imagine GOP Chairman Michael Steele might respond to President Obama's opening-day remarks. Parody.
Monday, April 27, 2009 Bob Fenn: An Appreciation (2 comments)
I depart from my usual topics to remember here my colleague, mentor, and friend Bob Fenn. Bob died on April 24, 2009.
Bob Fenn was a man of perspective, proportion, passion, possibility, and persistence. He was one of the most progressive and visionary thinkers I have ever known. I shall miss him.
Friday, March 27, 2009 BOEHNER'S BOGUS BUDGET
Responding to President Obama's challenge on Tuesday evening, Republicans on Thursday unveiled their version of the FY 2010 federal budget. They should have stayed home. If they were looking for a way to tell the American people that Republicans think "We the People" are gullible and stupid, they found it.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 EFCA: "Third Way?" No Way! (2 comments)
The debate over the Employee Free Choice Act heats up as Costco, Starbucks, and Whole Foods, fronted by Washington veteran Lanny Davis, join forces to stop it. But the "Third Way" they propose is not the middle ground in the debate; it's more like the middle finger to workers and customers.
Friday, March 20, 2009 Duplicate Payments to AIG Counterparties?
Could some banks be paid twice for the same troubled assets - once from the TARP fund and once again as an AIG counterparty? It's possible. Here's a draft of a letter to send you can send to your elected representatives.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 EFCA: WILL THE SKY REALLY FALL? (7 comments)
Will the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) drive up unemployment? Research sponsored by the "Alliance to Save Main Street Jobs" says YES it will drive up unemployment and a whole lot more. A closer look at the research-for-hire discounts that research and shows that the business group is using statistics the way a drunk uses a lamppost: for support, not for illumination.
Friday, March 13, 2009 Stop the 'Vilification'? We've Only Just Begun. (5 comments)
Jamie Dimon thinks the banking system can recover by year end if US officials stop the "constant vilification of corporate America" and work with the financial sector to end the crisis. He thinks all the criticism is hurting the country. We will not erect operational impediments to economic recovery, but we have every intention of finding out what went wrong, turning things around, and holding people accountable.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 HOW TO AVOID THE UNION (3 comments)
The Employee Free Choice Act has Republicans fulminating and managers running for cover. This article is for managers everywhere: the single best way to avoid having your people unionize is to treat them well enough in the first place that they see little benefit to joining the union now. If you think it's too late to start, read on ...
Friday, February 6, 2009 Shameful? Yes. Surprising? No. (3 comments)
President Barack Obama, referring to recent bonus payments at Wall Street firms, said, "That is the height of irresponsibility. It is shameful."
Shameful? Yes. Surprising? Not in the least. Here are five lessons I learned during 33 years in and around some of the country's largest financial services firms.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009 A Nation of Deadbeats? (10 comments)
GOP chairman Michael Steele needs to rethink what it means to create a job and to hold one. Or he should look for a new one for himself.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 WHAT OUR FIRM WOULD DO WITH A TAX CUT (4 comments)
Republicans continue to see tax cuts as the cure for all our economic woes. Here is what our firm would do with a tax windfall, and it's not what John Boehner thinks.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 OBAMA WON IN THE "RACE CHASM"
The Race Chasm Effect threatened to derail Obama's candidacy in 2008. It's not the same as the Bradley Effect but it could have led to the same result.
Friday, October 31, 2008 ONLY A MAVERICK (1 comments)
John McCain would like us to think he is a true contrarian. He isn't; he is only a maverick.
Saturday, October 11, 2008 "WE THE (FRINGE) PEOPLE ..." (8 comments)
In 2005 - 2006, Maryland State Police infiltrated at least 32 progressive activist groups and added the names of 53 people and groups to terrorist watch lists. The governor's special investigator says the police "overreached" and police have offered to remove the names from those watch lists. This is not good enough.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 EASIER TO ASK FORGIVENESS THAN PERMISSION
Paulson and Bernanke only mistake was asking for permission in the first place. They didn't get it so they spent the money anyway.
Saturday, September 13, 2008 BUSH IN DRAG (1 comments)
In selecting Sarah Palin, John McCain picked as his running mate a veritable clone of George W. Bush himself. He has brought "McBush" to life.
Thursday, August 28, 2008 PARTY UNITY CUTS BOTH WAYS
Party leaders ask us to unite to win the November election. I am willing to do that, but Senate Democrats have to be willing to unite in the confirmation (or rejection) of future Supreme Court nominees. Their track record since the 1980s is not good.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008 JUSTICE OR BLOOD LUST: TOMMY ARTHUR'S CLOSE CALL (6 comments)
The Alabama Supreme Court stayed Thomas Arthur's execution after another man confessed to the murder. The prosecutor was disappointed with the Court. Alabamians should be more than disappointed with the prosecutor.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 NEVER TOO LATE FOR AN EXECUTION
On Monday, lame-duck president George W. Bush approved the execution of Army Private Ronald Gray. Gray has been on death row for 20 years. It will probably be Bush's last execution and, as usual, he got it wrong.
Sunday, July 27, 2008 MARYLAND STATE POLICE TARGETED ACTIVISTS (1 comments)
Maryland State Police infiltrated peace and anti-death penalty activist groups in 2005 - 2006. The State's response so far has been completely inadequate.
Saturday, July 19, 2008 Cold Comfort in Cold Beer
After eight disastrous years under George W. Bush, the US is effectively insolvent. One result: iconic American assets, like Anheuser-Busch, are now susceptible to foreign takeover. The next president must take five steps at once to keep American businesses in American hands.
Sunday, April 6, 2008 DO SENATORS MAKE GOOD PRESIDENTS? (13 comments)
Margaret Bassett asked, "Do Senators Make Good Presidents?" Not necessarily. Presidents tend to be viewed more favorably if they have not served in the US Senate.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 MEMO TO WILMER: Give Sliter A Chance (1 comments)
Brian Sliter, a registered sex offender, is running for mayor of Wilmer, Texas. Voters should take his candidacy seriously.
Thursday, March 6, 2008 SUPERDELEGATES: Think Beyond 'Delegates,' Think 'Electoral Votes' (3 comments)
Neither Clinton nor Obama will have enough delegates after primary season to secure the nomination. The nomination will belong to the superdelegates, who must think beyond 'delegates' to 'electoral votes.'
Monday, November 5, 2007 WHERE IS THE PUNISHMENT IN CAPITAL PUNISHMENT? (1 comments)
If being dead is not a punishment and the execution process is not punishing, where is the punishment? It's in the incarceration. We should not truncate that punishment.
Friday, May 5, 2006 "IT DON'T WORK!"
This week featured another botched execution, this time in Ohio.
Monday, May 1, 2006 IMMIGRATION, 2: WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?
The size and scope of the undocumented immigrant problem narrows the range of possible solutions. Here is an approach that might work.
Monday, May 1, 2006 IMMIGRATION, 1: WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
The size and scope of the undocumented immigrant problem narrows the range of possible solutions. Part 1 of 2 parts.
Friday, February 10, 2006 Carter and Lowery Spoke Truth to Power (1 comments)
Critics have charged that remarks made at Coretta Scott Kings funeral by former President Jimmy Carter and the Reverend Joseph Lowery were outrageous, inappropriate, and out of line. Were they?
Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Democrats Elevate Alito to Supreme Court
Fifteen Democratic senators are responsible for Samuel Alitos confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice. A little party unity from now on wont kill us and we may even win some elections.
Saturday, January 28, 2006 The 2006 Elections: Let's Give Credit Where It's Due
It's an election year and Republicans will again run on 9/11, the war on terror, and liberals' lack of patriotism. Let's not let them get away with it.
Monday, January 9, 2006 Stop Clarence Ray Allen's Execution (1 comments)
If he's executed on January 17, Ray Allen will become, at 76, the oldest man executed in the US in more than 50 years. It's not too late to stop it.
Sunday, December 18, 2005 The Wartime President
A semi-serious review of the wars of George W. Bush.
