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Millions of 
families put their lives and livelihoods on hold to buy time for those in a position of authority, yet months later are we any closer to solving and scaling testing/tracing/treatment/protection?
What does this mean for our state capacity to solve big problems?
families put their lives and livelihoods on hold to buy time for those in a position of authority, yet months later are we any closer to solving and scaling testing/tracing/treatment/protection? What does this mean for our state capacity to solve big problems?
Few years ago my MI buddies came over and we spent weekend debating in the ponderous way that only Physics grad-school drinking buddies can manage:
"If
showed up at prominent global landmarks for 10 minutes, no contact, and disappeared, how would we as a civilization react"?
"If
showed up at prominent global landmarks for 10 minutes, no contact, and disappeared, how would we as a civilization react"?
Most of us said we'd immediately mobilize society to figuring out how to identify and protect against this generational existential threat
"Even without international political cooperation, global market, social, econ incentives will be aligned" we said
But there was 1 holdout
"Even without international political cooperation, global market, social, econ incentives will be aligned" we said
But there was 1 holdout
Let's call him Harry
Harry the holdout claimed that our institutions were so sclerotic, our livelyhoods so locked-in and path dependent, that we lack the institutional capacity to respond effectively.
Some performative theatre aside, life will go on BAU in nearterm, he claimed
Harry the holdout claimed that our institutions were so sclerotic, our livelyhoods so locked-in and path dependent, that we lack the institutional capacity to respond effectively.
Some performative theatre aside, life will go on BAU in nearterm, he claimed
I'm starting to think Harry was right all along.
We are emerging from a 2 month voluntary lockdowns with the underlying material conditions and modalities no different than when we started this.
And by the voluntary consent between the governed and the governing, we deserve better from our institutions and governments.
And by the voluntary consent between the governed and the governing, we deserve better from our institutions and governments.
I am proud of the voluntary individual, social and community efforts to respond to this crisis & support each other on the hard road to recovery.
But increasingly, I'm starting to believe we lack the institutional capacity to solve big problems. Our institutions are performative
But increasingly, I'm starting to believe we lack the institutional capacity to solve big problems. Our institutions are performative
If we can't get testing and tracing right at a time and place with unprecedented social, political, economic and policy alignment, how will we tackle intractable long-term problems with deeply contested outcomes and competing priorities?
What is your theory of change that cuts a pathway to success through our institutional anemia on - senior care? child care ? decline/alienation of proud places? stable livelihoods for working class? global security? climate change? liveable cities? belonging?
Don't @ me with
"we just need political will", or
"more awareness", or
"start the conversation", or
"viva revolution", or
......
We may see the need for + have the will and appetite for institutional reform, yet be complicit in perpetuating in its decay. Why?
"we just need political will", or
"more awareness", or
"start the conversation", or
"viva revolution", or
......
We may see the need for + have the will and appetite for institutional reform, yet be complicit in perpetuating in its decay. Why?
Because all things considered, life's still feels pretty good for enough/most of us.
We're hooked!
We're hooked!
So what is to be done about it? Very little.
But here's a start, at least for me: build a strong home, cultivate thick social ties, develop pride in place, lead by example, wait for society to catch up and don't hold your breath.
https://granolashotgun.com/2017/07/12/an-open-letter-to-chuck-marohn/
But here's a start, at least for me: build a strong home, cultivate thick social ties, develop pride in place, lead by example, wait for society to catch up and don't hold your breath.
https://granolashotgun.com/2017/07/12/an-open-letter-to-chuck-marohn/
