Much Needed Change ...

It is salutary for organizations to undergo periodic renewal and reset. Pruning away obsolete concepts, shedding contradictory values, and eliminating improper activities help the organizational tree grow healthier and stronger. Organizations that resist change are doomed to live a mediocre existence, and eventually join other relics in the dustpan of time.

The Vietnam War unleashed pent-up demand for reforming our social, economic, and political system. Since then we have made inroads in our search for a more equitable society and a more transparent political modus operandi. But change has been too slow and the job is far from complete. Much remains to be done. And for many, progress, in addition to being too slow, has been uneven.

Organizations, similarly to humans, evolve. Attitudes change and laws are amended to reflect contemporary realities. What worked before may not be appropriate today. Folks have no stomach for repression, unfairness, cruelty, and dogma. They clamor for real change, and they demand it immediately. Reforming the entire system, however, can be a daunting effort.

For the past 50 years, the country has slowly shifted away from the founding vision of “to each according to his/her capabilities” toward a more egalitarian vision of “to each according to his/her needs.” Some argue that nirvana is not in either, but it might be in melding the two. Rather than attacking each other’s vision, we might be better served to examine the benefits of each and construct a new paradigm that benefits all.

The Founding Model

Based on the free enterprise model, America was built on the strength of the rugged individualist. This terrain was perfect for the capitalist model to flourish. Along with its many benefits came major abuses.  Profits became the end rather than the means to success. People soon became suspicious of the capitalists’ motives and offended by what they saw as excesses.

The emphasis prior to 1960 was on integration. Newcomers were encouraged to assimilate, to learn English, and to be self-reliant. They were promised the American Dream. You work hard and you have a chance to advance. There would be minimal economic and social barriers to advancement. It was all based on merit.  Sure, pockets of little Italy, little Poland, little whatever existed, but patriotism was extolled. Racial discrimination however was swept under the rug.

Experience in other countries has shown that it does not have to be that way. In the face of the total collapse of the Marxist/Leninist model, folks realized that there might be a middle ground where the two opposing visions could merge and give rise to a more equitable and compassionate model. Scandinavia was the laboratory where these two competing models have come together to provide a more balanced approach. Is this reconciliation perfect? Possibly not, but it has moved the yardstick forward.

Emphasis has lately shifted to differentiation. Fissures in the meritocratic model exposed racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia and religious intolerance. Whites have been accused of privilege over other races. Women have bumped into artificial ceilings. Unregulated immigration has given rise to a large pool of residents with nowhere to go for refuge except their ethnic barrios. While many espoused the benefits of diversity, in practice, diversity might have hurt those who have not learned to speak English or assimilated. Diversity seems to have morphed into separation.

Changing the System

Changing a large system before we fully understand it is a folly. Yet many so-called proponents have suggested just that; moved by impatience perhaps or urged by political opportunism. Large systems change when they are ready to change.

Examples abound that illustrate this point. The civil rights movement continues its battle 50 years after Doctor King’s death. Its job is not yet complete. Women have been clamoring for equal pay for equal work for decades, yet the issue is not fully resolved. Harassment based on gender is not new. As the gap between rich and poor grows so has anger toward what people perceive an unjust and unfair system.

Change management theory teaches us that there are three main strategies for change; each has its pluses and minuses. Some people advocate the incremental, go-slow method. Contemporarily people clamor for transformational change.  The problem for many is that both methods are way too slow. So what’s left might be a third way … revolutionary, albeit peaceful, change. The downside with the latter is that revolutionary change is hard to control.

Oscillation versus Advancement

In my view (I could be in the small minority), our political system, as it has existed for much of our history, is responsible for slowing the change process.  Every eight years or so the other party takes control. The incoming party shaves off any gains made by the previous party that do not conform to its ideology. Advancement of the agenda is immediately followed by reversal. This periodic oscillation reduces the forward movement made by the prior administration.

We have witnessed this phenomenon this year. The incoming administration has erased or diminished any advancement by the prior administration in climate change, education, foreign policy, regulations, healthcare, immigration, and so on.   The only period in our history where substantial change took roots was during the 1930-1940’s. The party in power was able to maintain control of Congress and the White House for twenty years, thus enabling the nation to digest and institutionalize significant changes.

Lessons from China

Revolutions are chaotic and messy. They unnerve people, and often lead to instability and unintended consequences. Once they reach the tipping point, revolutions are hard to stop. They breed another form of intolerance … against those who think or behave differently. Although peaceful in name, impatience often leads to autocratic and violent acts.

The Cultural Revolution in China divided families, elders from the younger, and led to many despicable acts. Old men and women were sent to re-education camps. Professionals were demoted and relegated to menial jobs. Perceived bourgeoisie was punished with exile or jail. The dogma of the little red book became the ruler of the proper way to interpret events or make decisions. Another form of PC? Symbols were erased. So-called privileges negated.

Resistance as a form of opposition can be a zero-sum game. Relativism takes over … the ends justify the means. Experience has shown that revolutions breed counter-revolutions, and the winners over time might become the losers. What goes around comes around …?

Fast Forward

In the past few weeks we have witnessed the dam bursting, triggering an avalanche of accusations, mea culpas, and sordid details. Luminaries, movie moguls, politicians, company executives, union executives, actors, famous sports figures, TV personalities, and religious persons have been accused of sexual harassment and assault. Members of the Congress have been on the receiving end of 260 accusations, silenced by more than $ 17 million dollars of the people’s money.

In short time, hypocrisy by the political and economic elite has been exposed and pilloried. Some folks suggest that it is only the tip of the iceberg; that major revelations will come out regarding similar abuses in our campuses and other institutions.  Others suggest that the opening of floodgates will usher much needed transparency.

For many women, on the receiving end, it is a time for catharsis and cleansing. Purging the system of unwanted sexual advances is long overdue, many say.  Women have suffered in silence for violation of their person and dignity.

Suspected perpetrators have been shamed and ridiculed.  A few have taken responsibility for their boorish behavior while others retreat to the familiar Sargeant Schultz defense of “I know nothing.” Looking for redemption for their inexcusable behavior, a few elites have sought the refuge of four-star “treatment” or “rehab” centers or taken a long sabbatical searching for redemption.

Dante, the author of the Divine Comedy, had a special place in hell for hypocrites.  They were condemned to walk around carrying heavy capes made out of solid (heavy) gold. The cape was a metaphor for cover-up and phoniness. This metaphor is most appropriate today.

Much hypocrisy and “I am holier than thou” pronouncements by our politicians, religious leaders, and other officials have shielded offenders from prosecution, shaming, and ostracism for years. It is their silence and cover-up that must be rejected. They were complicit in hiding unspeakable acts of abusive and perhaps criminal behavior. 

We are all guilty of this in the end.  Finger pointing is a diversionary tactic. We cannot escape to the sidelines … time to man-up? We must admit that we knew that it was happening and that we chose to look sideways. You can say that Pontius Pilate behavior in most of us is alive and well.

It is time for immediate change … we have run out of excuses.

Where Next?

We need to expose all our blemishes and defects if we are to construct a more perfect union. Reformation brings many benefits, addresses many inequities, and heals our wounds. But it is a painful process.

There are many overarching goals that can bring us together as a nation. We need to shift our focus to things that matter, where common ground and common purpose can meet.

We need better paying jobs. We need more equitable taxation. We need a better health system. We need to improve our infrastructure. We need to rationalize our immigration system. We need better ways to protect our democracy and way of life.

We need, we need, we need…

There is much that can bring us together! Instead, divisive parochial interests entrap us. We use identity slices of race, age, religion, national origin, gender, or sexual preference to expose differences.

Let’s remember that we are all Americans, and travel on the same boat.