Re: Systems thinking in politics and government
I have read several opinions on this list referencing politics and
government. Rick's admonition that we limit the discussion to "systemic
issues in the larger picture" is appropriate and will help keep the
discussion here from becoming partisan or campaing rhetoric.
I am becoming so cynical about politics in this country (USA) that I am
almost constrained to say that the general trend of policy making in America
is antithetical to systems thinking.
For example, systems perspectives on this issue must begin with an
understanding of the sytem--in Deming's words, with a profound knowledge of
the system. That requires, in my mind, an understanding of the historical
basis and reasoning that serve as the foundation of the political system in
the USA. Certainly The Federalist Papers are part of this profound
knowledge. What is the nature of the system? Why was it set up the way it
was set up? Such questions as these give us an understanding of how the
system was intended to perform. In some instances, that may explain events
that initially appear incongruous. It may offers some explanations.
The point is not whether we agree with the system as set up; the point is we
first must understand the whats and the whys before we can evaluate its
performance and before we can decide whether we want to change it.
The reason I made reference to politics and systemic thinking as being
antithetical is because the policy-making process and the politcal rhetoric
which is too often its life blood are, I believe, simply too superficial to
render any useful analysis of the system which could be regarded as systems
thinking.
I think any discussion of a system ought to begin with an examination of the
purpose of the (or a) system. Correct me if I am wrong, but systems
thinking has a great deal to do with taking the longer view, and politics
(not necessarily political science) has a great deal to do with the shorter
view. Intellectually honest political science is great systems thinking.
Intellectually honest political rhetoric may well be an oxymoron.
What genuine systems thinking can do for us in government and politics, I
think, is to help us understand what it is we have so that we can make
informed decisions as to whether and how we might want to change it. Until
this kind of thinking is applied to politics and government, i.e.,
policy-making, we will continue to be disappointed in the system.
How far off base am I?
Chip Brown
brownc@sccoast.net
***************************************************************************
CHIP BROWN
HOME: WORK:
brownc@sccoast.net Conway High School
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803-248-5153 cbrown@ch2.sccoast.net
--brownc@sccoast.net (CHIP BROWN)
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