Systems thinking, politics vs. government LO9285

BrooksJeff@aol.com
Tue, 20 Aug 1996 19:54:19 -0400

Manuel Manga (96-08-15, LO9120) writes:

<< So my question is if we observe and analyze the [R]epublican vision/values
from a systems thinking perspective what do we observe ? what works ? what
does not work ? What works for the nation ? what does not work for the nation
? ....Given that we are electing leaders,and visions to guide our nation, I
thought the visions being proposed deserved a closer observation. >>

<< [Host's Note: OK, but a "political debate" will be out of place here on
LO. Ditto for a debate on capitalism vs. other forms of gov't. But, what
would be fine, I think, would be a discussion of the systemic issues in the
larger picture. I'll justify that as "on-topic" because we'll be practicing
our systems thinking skills. Also on topic is the question of why these
topics are so difficult. ...Rick] >>

(This is a favorite topic of mine (see my intro), so I'll have lots to say if
this develops into a full-fledged thread. I'll be brief here to see if
people are interested in the topic.)

Manuel, I, too, think that systems thinking could (and ought to) be used to
analyze and inform public policies and governmental programs. However, I
think limiting the scope to government dooms such efforts to failure.

Other people have tried to bring management ideas to government (remember Al
Gore's "Reinventing Government"?) and some, but not much, has come from their
efforts. Peter Drucker wrote an article for the Atlantic Monthly several
months ago entitled, "Really Reinventing Government", in which he critiqued
Gore's program and made his own suggestions for improving governmental
programs. He ended on a pessimistic note, saying that he thought it unlikely
that his ideas would be implemented. I think he was right, but I'm not so
pessimistic. I think he just missed some important systems dynamics.

If I were to write an article, I'd call it "Reinventing Politics (or Really,
Really Reinventing Government)". There are systemic forces that push
politicians to act (e.g., vote) in ways that are demonstrably not in the best
interests of the country -- politics (getting elected, gaining and
maintaining power) overshadows governing (passing and administering laws). I
don't think one can eliminate the tension between politics and governing, but
I do think that there are some better ways to arrange the political system
that can decrease its intensity.

So, I'd propose that instead of (or at least in addition to) looking at
policies and programs from a systems perspective, that we first analyze the
political system (including The Press and The Electorate) using a systems
perspective.

(Rick, I know you're wary of a "political debate" - believe me, so am I. I
am very committed to the learning organization concepts, and I see many of
the threads already established here as part and parcel of analyzing our
political system from the LO perspective. I think we could discuss this
without a rancorous debate if we kept it to issues of process.)

-Jeff (BrooksJeff@AOL.com)

-- 

BrooksJeff@aol.com

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>