Change
Some fear it, some embrace it, all experience it. Success in life and business is often linked with the ability to anticipate, drive, and adapt to change. I’ve seen this first hand at work–the difference between people who resist change and those who embrace it is striking. I would not have a job if my company had resisted change in its 100+ year history.
In politics, change is central to the eternal clash between the two main parties. In the most classical sense, the goal of conservative politics is to seek to avoid change and maintain the status quo. (Note that the current Party of Bush has largely abandoned the classical conservative vision.) A liberal, then, tries to bring about change and move a society forward. (Note also that the current Party of Pelosi doesn’t really have a guiding philosophy at the moment, making comparison difficult)
I trust most readers will agree that we are in a period of significant global change. The last two decades have seen fundamental shifts in global power (goodbye, cold war), economic power (hello, China, India, Russia, Brazil), technology (see: internet), and demographics (the old people are really piling up). Add to this the coming changes in energy resources and global climate change, and you’ve got the recipe for a rather tumultuous future.
Now comes the punch line: we must embrace change. We can’t succeed as a nation if we futilely resist change.
Case in point: energy. Every time I hear a hack-pundit explaining that ethanol, or biodiesel, or hybrid technology is too expensive, I cry a little on the inside. Each of these comparisons rests on the notion that gasoline will eternally be available for a few dollars a gallon. I don’t think I am alone in pointing out that this reasoning is flawed. Likewise, I take quarrel with the notion that we can’t afford to expand our existing (and very limited) public transportation system. The end of affordably driving a personal automobile every day are drawing nigh. Finally, consider the question of global climate change. Similar to the arguments above, we’ve heard that curbing the emissions of green house gases is too expensive or not feasible. I hate to rain on the fairy tale parade, but dealing with the effects of climate change isn’t going to come cheap.
Change is coming, whether we invite it or not. We can make proactive decisions to adapt gracefully, or we can resist change and make it painful when it eventually comes. I tend to believe in the former.
[I found this image on my computer, but I have no idea where I got it. Sorry to post without giving credit to the artist!]
Filed under climate change, culture, energy, politics : Comments (0) : Apr 9th, 2007 by tadfad
