U.S. Refusal to Join the League of Nations (1919): After World War I, President Woodrow Wilson negotiated the Treaty of Versailles, which included the League of Nations. However, the U.S. Senate refused to ratify the treaty, and the United States never joined the League, demonstrating a reluctance to commit to binding international agreements that could limit national autonomy.
Paris Climate Agreement
Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement (2017): Although not in the search results, this modern example fits the pattern: the U.S. entered the Paris Agreement on climate change but later withdrew, asserting the right to exit when national interests were perceived to be at stake.
Ted and Joanna
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979). The custody battle between Ted and Joanna Kramer is marked by repeated legal negotiations, court appearances, and check-ins with lawyers and the judge. Each party must follow up on legal filings, court orders, and parental responsibilities, showing how ongoing communication and status updates are essential in high-stakes agreements.
“Follow up on”
To check in or take action after an initial agreement or meeting, ensuring continuity and accountability.
Example: “Let’s follow up on this discussion in our next meeting.”
“On the same page”
To have a shared understanding or agreement, often maintained through regular communication and updates. Example: “Let’s all communicate constantly so we are on the same page.”
Buying a used Tesla
Here’s a good example of the need to do your homework, your due diligence, before making a major purchase.
Robert De Niro sells cars
Vulgar, but humorous.
Business Case Method
Most American business schools base their teaching on case studies, a method which goes back over one hundred years. Business cases are descriptions of actual business situations.
Information is presented about a company: products, markets, competition, financial structure, sales, management, employees, as well as other factors influencing success. The length of business cases ranges from five to fifty pages. Case studies are based on experience.
caveat emptor
The Americans have a Latin term caveat emptor. It means “Let the buyer beware.” When persuading, presenting, convincing, selling Americans present the positive picture: what works. Americans do not feel obligated to present or to reveal what doesn’t work, what is negative. In the U.S. business culture the audience is obligated to expose what doesn’t work by asking critical questions. Persuasive is selling what works, and not what doesn’t work.
caveat emptor
caveat: may he/she beware. emptor: buyer. caveat emptor is Latin for “Let the buyer beware”. Generally, caveat emptor is the contract law principle that controls the sale of real property after the date of closing, but may also apply to sales of other goods.
The phrase caveat emptor and its use as a disclaimer of warranties arises from the fact that buyers typically have less information than the seller about the good or service they are purchasing. This quality of the situation is known as information asymmetry. Defects in the good or service may be hidden from the buyer, and only known to the seller.
caveat emptor is a short form of Caveat emptor, quia ignorare non debuit quod jus alienum emit: “Let a purchaser beware, for he ought not to be ignorant of the nature of the property which he is buying from another party.”
A common way that information asymmetry between seller and buyer has been addressed is through a legally binding warranty, such as a guarantee of satisfaction.