Unless people have the courage to let go of their
attachments and the will to collaborate toward seeking a greater and deeper
understanding of both the individual and collective (i.e. both cultural and
policy/process) causes then the solution coming forth will be just re-action
and compromise. Systems thinking,
collaboration and deeper understanding, not compromise, will lead to
understanding that can inform changes in policy to positively affect life in
society.
As
discussed in Hey
Einstein Solve This recurring problems such as gun violence, mental illness and
poverty are not structured and well-defined problems. If they were we'd
quickly dissolve them and they wouldn't recur! These problems require
soft systems methods whereby we identify and challenge the underlying
assumptions, beliefs and the sought after objectives that have guided current
policy and action.
We should be asking: what is it about our system of orientation--not the values we espouse but the beliefs and values-in-practice and the ends supported and sought--and correspondingly the way we structure life and define success that is giving rise to these symptoms? What is the complex of causes--not the one cause or the one that various special interest coalitions are willing to compromise on--that is most likely at the root of what we are experiencing. Until this is done, all we will get are re-actions that pacify the masses and keep things essentially as they are.
The cultural change that is required won't be easy and because of that it won't happen without heroic leadership. However, the history of major change happening in America (e.g. women's suffrage, civil rights, environmental protection, gay rights) shows that heroic leadership won't emerge unless there is a critical mass of people that put their foot down making it very clear that we the people won't accept anything less. This could take awhile, especially if few of us become part of the critical mass.
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