I have a suggestion. I recognize this is complex, but in addition to being complex, it is also simple. If we're not making sure we're going in the right direction, we're simply going in the wrong direction.
America is the largest, most diverse, most complex nation in history because of the extent to which Americans have adhered the princi…
I have a suggestion. I recognize this is complex, but in addition to being complex, it is also simple. If we're not making sure we're going in the right direction, we're simply going in the wrong direction.
America is the largest, most diverse, most complex nation in history because of the extent to which Americans have adhered the principle of treating others the way we would have others treat us. Adherence to that principle is the only source of real power. A system works because all its parts work together, and they work together because human beings see themselves as an integral part of that larger system.
As W. Edwards Deming put it, "It would be better if everyone worked together as a system, with the aim for everybody to win."
You're correct in saying national arrogance is another level of dialogue. I do honestly know how that gets started, and by whom. A person in a position of power has a large circle of influence that inevitably extends beyond their circle of concern, and then their actions are based on ignorance. At that point, one of two things happen. Either their ignorance is constrained by wisdom, meaning their circle of concern expands, or their ignorance is left unconstrained, and then they have no concern for the significant negative influence they are having on the lives of other human beings.
My conclusion? We need to keep reminding ourselves that we, along with roughly eight billion other human beings, are tied for first place as the most important human being on Earth. When all the people living in the world agree, that will be the answer.
I know some people will never agree, but then we need to make sure they're in Nowhere Land making their nowhere plans for nobody.
Very insightful. Thanks a lot, James. I still believe in American exceptionalism but not based on genetics, commercial might, soil, or military power. It is based upon the fact that this country, flawed as it is, was founded on an idea. The challenge is to maintain the humility to criticise ourselves so we do not go where we have been going: might makes right or winning is the only thing.
For me, the problems are that we are no longer king of the mountain and we find it challenging to adjust to a post American Century world as well as many of us are forgetting that ideology breeds idiocy.
I have a suggestion. I recognize this is complex, but in addition to being complex, it is also simple. If we're not making sure we're going in the right direction, we're simply going in the wrong direction.
America is the largest, most diverse, most complex nation in history because of the extent to which Americans have adhered the principle of treating others the way we would have others treat us. Adherence to that principle is the only source of real power. A system works because all its parts work together, and they work together because human beings see themselves as an integral part of that larger system.
As W. Edwards Deming put it, "It would be better if everyone worked together as a system, with the aim for everybody to win."
You're correct in saying national arrogance is another level of dialogue. I do honestly know how that gets started, and by whom. A person in a position of power has a large circle of influence that inevitably extends beyond their circle of concern, and then their actions are based on ignorance. At that point, one of two things happen. Either their ignorance is constrained by wisdom, meaning their circle of concern expands, or their ignorance is left unconstrained, and then they have no concern for the significant negative influence they are having on the lives of other human beings.
My conclusion? We need to keep reminding ourselves that we, along with roughly eight billion other human beings, are tied for first place as the most important human being on Earth. When all the people living in the world agree, that will be the answer.
I know some people will never agree, but then we need to make sure they're in Nowhere Land making their nowhere plans for nobody.
Yes, Citizen Donald, that means you.
Very insightful. Thanks a lot, James. I still believe in American exceptionalism but not based on genetics, commercial might, soil, or military power. It is based upon the fact that this country, flawed as it is, was founded on an idea. The challenge is to maintain the humility to criticise ourselves so we do not go where we have been going: might makes right or winning is the only thing.
For me, the problems are that we are no longer king of the mountain and we find it challenging to adjust to a post American Century world as well as many of us are forgetting that ideology breeds idiocy.