Audrey Hinchcliffe, Contributor

Hinchcliffe

We seem to live by the creed 'flogging a dead horse'. When we are presented with an issue, usually via the media or some obscure source, the rate at which we weigh-in, often in the absence of additional information by which to determine if it is a matter worthy of pursuit, suggests that we are easily led. We then join the chatter on the matter until another comes along, oblivious of all else happening around us, and never seem able to stop what was started, even if there is no merit to it.

The 'flogging a dead horse' syndrome is nourished by fertile minds who are unwittingly 'ploughing headlong into foolishness', often without any form of meaningful outcome to anyone or to the situation which was the centre of the chatter in the first place. In the meantime, important issues are either missed or bypassed. The results are missed opportunities, depression, suspicion and progressive disconnect from the real life issues such as nourishing our souls, minding our business, caring for our families and doing something for someone who cannot do it for themselves.

These are interesting, historic and changing times in which we are living. Whether it is economics or politics (or politrics), let us get sober, not senseless when situations get turbulent. Our appetite for 'fluff', not facts, seems insatiable. Sensationalism rules our days. Our hands designed for work now hold multiple newspapers and multiple remote controls. The operative word 'control' is more like 'out of control' with information overload, too much to make sense out of. We are doing this to ourselves because we do not stop to think about how the information at hand could be used to our benefit individually and collectively to better our lives, improve and sustain our businesses, and help individuals or communities in need.

I am by no means saying that we should not be engaged in the chatter, reading newspapers, watching television or listening to the radio. What I am saying is let us place the issues in perspective, analyse and measure them, see where they are leading us, and determine that there can be an outcome which will influence change or something good for us as individuals or the nation. Let us get sober, not senseless.

Audrey Hinchcliffe is CEO of Manpower and Maintenance Services Ltd. and president of the Jamaica Employers' Federation.