Each week, Jack and his wife Suzy contribute an opinion column to Business Week. This week, they discuss three current events and the impact of these events to America's competitiveness.

Two of the events concern unions and their increasing influence over our economic policy makers. The third event concerns shareholders and how they can force out senior executives even if the move is detrimental to the company.

Jack and Suzy argue that unions and shareholders can promote obsolete agendas that don't take into consideration global market forces. By failing to consider such forces, decision are being made that put American companies at a disadvantage - at a time when we need to be at our most competitive.

Jack is afraid America is heading down a path of mediocrity. We could be using this turmoil to make tough choices and re-invent our economic future. Instead we are choosing strategies that not only have failed in the past, but are completely inappropriate for these economic times.

For those of you who would like to read the article, I have attached the link below.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_20/b4131072211068.htm