Polarization, Futility

Polarization

Futility

Perhaps the greatest defect of polarization is its futility: for it expends all its energy fighting between its two extreme views.  Doubtless, if we stop to think, there are truths on both sides: the best solution will embrace both truths in balance.  Certainly, if we pause to consider, there are risks at either hand: the best resolution will seek to avoid all risks as equally as possible.  Part of the problem here is that polarization stops us from listening carefully to the other side; from hearing our adversaries’ points of view; from trying, for a time, to walk in that other person’s shoes.

Oh, now I see what you mean, solves many problems.  If we do this and this we can find a better path, with fewer risks.  If we incorporate this feature, the problem goes away.

Part of the problem is that solving problems is a unique set of skills that all people do not possess.  It’s a talent, a gift from God.

Very few politicians are problem solvers, though many may pride themselves in this gift, which they do not have.  Politicians are movers and shakers: their gift is to debate and force decisions.  For most, that is all they are able to do.  Consider the current polarity, it is stymied by inactivity; politicians, not knowing which decision to make are frozen in their tracks; their ability to move and shake is stuck on pause: for there is no clear solution.

Almost no bureaucrats are problem solvers, either; though conceit still plagues us all.  Bureaucrats are maintainers: their gift is to keep established systems going.  Bureaucrats are good at keeping records, enforcing established laws, obeying set policies and principles.  When confronted with a new kind of problem, they are hopelessly lost about what to do.  The system shuts down again.

Some people are gifted at solving problems, and trained to be better at it: designers, engineers, inventors, mathematicians, mechanics, scientists, technicians — strategists; artists, coaches, cops, firemen, housewives, quarterbacks, soldiers in the field, trouble shooters — tacticians.  The strategist solves problems by thorough planning and experimentally finding breakthroughs: the usual output is a design.  The tactician solves problems in real time: the usual output is instantaneous, decisive action.  Very few problem solvers get tied up in politics or bureaucracy; because problem solvers usually see such things as a worthless waste of time.  Problem solvers often lie to politicians and bureaucrats, just to get them off their backs, so they can go back to real work: this happens because the problem solver perceives that politicians and bureaucrats: a. don’t really care about solving problems: it’s a feigned interest; b. wouldn’t understand the problem or solution, even when explained in the simplest terms: it’s an incapable interest.

As a result, problem solving teams may not be brought into play whenever necessary.  Politicians, bureaucrats, and problem solvers are simply different kinds of people; people that rarely play well together.

Moreover, many problems have no solution.  Our current polarization, perhaps most polarizations, involve death, or at least unbearable quantities of human pain and suffering.  The problem of death has no human solution; "it’s a 100% statistic; we’re all going to make it."  However, death doesn’t shock us so much, except when it involves someone who is a lot younger than we are; or if it involves great masses of people; or both: these we deem to be tragedies.  Also, the sterility of modern life has left us with an illusion of immortality: we don’t have to kill a chicken for dinner with our bare hands, down on the farm; death is something we get out of the freezer.  Thus, we are hit with a devastating one-two punch: the current polarization shocks us with an unsolvable tragedy, death; at the same time that our myopic delusion has left us most vulnerable.  We “can’t handle the truth”, or death.

If we really want better solutions to the current vexing polarization problem, we will have to shove all the politicians and bureaucrats out of the way, off the field, and put a team of problem solvers to work.  It doesn’t make much difference which problem solvers we start with: for problem solvers are very good at identifying the need for new additional skills.  Let problem solvers go to work and they will figure out and build the best problem solving team for the job.

In the meantime, polarization faces the inevitable futility of never finding a solution.  All that polarization does is spin its wheels hopelessly in the mud.  What is needed is to find a tow truck, or drivers that really know what they’re doing….