What Comes Next?
The 1976 film Network had its funny moments. You may recall Howard Beale, played by Peter Finch, had people opening their windows and screaming, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” The movie had more prescience than I appreciated those many years ago. (Though I have been thinking that our recent experience has been actually building for a decades long time.)
You’ll remember Ross Perot’s run for President. (I worked at the time for an industrialist who thought Perot might win. We’re all influenced by the context in which we operate during our work days.) Perot had a folksy metaphor with wide appeal. He talked about the societal/cultural problems we faced as if one were fixing something wrong with a car. You had to, he said, “open up the hood and fiddle with it.” Yes, there are days I wish it were that easy.
There are a few hopeful signs. I notice that overt election deniers didn’t do so well this past week in their attempt to get into the mechanics of the election process going forward. Most regular folks like me would like to see democracy continue with the understanding that some things sometimes will not go as we’d prefer. That’s life in a society that purports to value freedom.
It appears we may be (albeit slowly) moving on from our mass electoral temper tantrum. Years ago an employer of mine had us read the Art of War by Sun Tzu. It’s a quick read and I do recommend it. One of the take-a-ways is that one doesn’t accomplish anything worthwhile when one is enraged. If you’re really lathered up and spitting fire (or throwing dishes and ketchup,) you’ve given your cunning adversary a tremendous advantage. (I see this problem in my office most days.) Get yourself cooled down so you can strategize intelligently.
Here’s to a pleasant holiday weekend.