Cohesion or Division

Over the years my career was focused on finding problems and fixing them. That wasn’t in any of the job descriptions but at the core of each job, that’s what all of them were about. Finding and fixing. Identifying what works, what doesn’t, who is affected, how badly, and what options exist to mend the problem.

Almost always I did not have the tools or resources to fix the problem on my own. I had to find other people, their departments, and pool resources to address the issues. All it took was someone to break the ice and seek collaboration. Almost always I found people willing to work together and share their resources – ideas, knowledge, manpower, facilities, policy and procedure, even money. Often the latter was lacking, but then that was another part of the problem in need of solution.

I was good at finding the money. It started with asking for it.

My career record demonstrates the success of this approach. Most people were very willing to engage in the process. They seemed relieved that someone was finally working on solutions.

Perhaps my current frustration and stress relates to recognizing problems and having no direct way of solving them. Meanwhile, no one – or at least, not very many people – step forward to do the work. Problems remain, fester and grow. They connect with other problems to make unsolved issues mightier and more complex.

I thought entrepreneurs were the sort of people who found these problems as opportunities to do something and make money doing it. I also thought government’s role was to recognize threats to the common good of its people and address those. Apparently, I have been wrong. All these years wrong about government, entrepreneurs and the press.

When problems exist, why not discuss them, explore them, figure out what can be done about them, then sort through the options and implement the fix? That is what an inventive, resourceful society does. Or am I wrong?

Rather than constantly divide the public by exposing unresolved threats, why aren’t we fixing these matters? They are not unsolvable.

Could it be that more money and power is derived by building divisions among the public rather than building agreement and resolutions?

Please tell me I am wrong. The thought of constant bickering and manipulation may drive me to the loony bin sooner than later.

Needed: brave, inventive public servants and entrepreneurs to take on the big problems. Where are you? Will opposing forces keep you from saving our world? Gates, Musk and Steve Jobs have done their work. What about the rest of you?

April 21, 2022

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