One of the realities of 21st century life is that we have become a society of short-term thinkers.
The impact of new technology, the deterioration of our political system and the distorting influence of money all contribute to a “want-it-now” mentality that often precludes our getting it at all. The lottery is an easy example, but the best is an election process that forces already vision-challenged elected officials to forgo responsible, sustainable policies for the common good for two-year, quick-fix, pay-for-it-later re-election schemes. Thinking 20, 10, even five years out is now simply too much of a stretch.
Dave Baskerville thinks we’d all be a lot better off, happier, healthier and more successful if we would stretch a little. He’s got some ideas on how to do that, and he’s inviting you to sign on to them. Baskerville is an advocate of “Stretch Targets,” which are strategies he developed over a 40-year business career and almost another 25 years as a consultant utilizing, to a large degree, the experience, knowledge and deep ties he developed from working and living in Japan. “I’m not an activist, I’m not a Democrat or a Republican, not an economist or an educator,” Baskerville says. What he is, though, is passionate about Wisconsin, its citizens—especially its kids—and about making this a better place for all.
The 80-year-old Madison native is also a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan, and it pains him to see Wisconsin fall so far behind Minnesota by various economic measures. And, having visited more than 110 countries as a result of work, volunteer and church activities, he is dismayed that the U.S. is outperformed so badly in educating our kids. He wants to do something about both.