I agree, and want to just emphasize the point.
<< 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. >>
I've been cynical, too, but I don't like staying with it. I feel it's a
defense against a sense of powerlessness. I hope that systems thinking is
what will help us get out of our political mess.
<< 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..... >>
Yes, and the framers of the constitution were pretty good systems thinkers,
even without the concepts we have now. Think about the "balance of powers"
from a systems point of view. You mention the Federalist Papers - definitely
a good place to start.
<< 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 don't quite agree. I think that most politicians are probably pretty good
systems thinkers - they've gotten quite good at working within the system to
get elected. And that's part of the problem: the political (getting elected)
has come to dominate the policy-making.
<< ...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. >>
I'm not quite so cynical. I think that politics as we currently know it is
mostly about the shorter view, but I'm not so sure that it has to be this
way. Again, my hope is that with systems thinking we can adjust the
political system so it reinforces longer-term thinking on policy issues,
rather than undercutting long-term thinking, as it does at present.
-Jeff (BrooksJeff@AOL.com)
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