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There’s a magic trick that’s going to get played on us every day during the 2020 election cycle. It’s a fairly simple trick, once you see it.
I’d like to talk about leadership and governance.
And the compass, the navigation, the travel, and the corrections.
(thread)
I’d like to talk about leadership and governance.
And the compass, the navigation, the travel, and the corrections.
(thread)
By the way, this is a long thread, so I'm going to experiment. Rather than spam everybody's feed, I'll just post a bit at a time.
If you want the whole thing immediately, here:
armoxon.com/2019/02/the-co…
If you want the whole thing immediately, here:
armoxon.com/2019/02/the-co…
Let me begin by proposing ‘movement’ as a metaphor for coordinated human activity.
Sometimes the metaphor actually involves movement: Humanity moved from the earth to the moon.
Sometimes the metaphor is figurative: The United States "moved" from legal slavery to abolition.
Sometimes the metaphor actually involves movement: Humanity moved from the earth to the moon.
Sometimes the metaphor is figurative: The United States "moved" from legal slavery to abolition.
When people decide to leave the place they are and move to a different place, there’s an observable order to it.
The order is very important.
The order is very important.
So, in movement, there is the moment of arrival at the destination.
But before that moment, there is the actual trip.
We began HERE. We moved until we got THERE. One foot in front of the other. We set sail and kept going. The aircraft cut its way across the sky.
The travel.
But before that moment, there is the actual trip.
We began HERE. We moved until we got THERE. One foot in front of the other. We set sail and kept going. The aircraft cut its way across the sky.
The travel.
But before the movement, there was a plan.
We ARE here. We WILL GO there. Here, after study and research and consultation and testing and training, is how we’ll do it.
The navigation.
We ARE here. We WILL GO there. Here, after study and research and consultation and testing and training, is how we’ll do it.
The navigation.
But even before that, there was a determination to move in the first place.
We ARE here. We SHOULD BE there. We will go there, in that direction, as opposed to all other directions.
The compass.
We ARE here. We SHOULD BE there. We will go there, in that direction, as opposed to all other directions.
The compass.
Coordinated movement begins with a determination to move in one direction over all other directions.
Then comes the plan.
Then comes the actual trip.
But the trip may turn out to be something quite different than the plan.
Then comes the plan.
Then comes the actual trip.
But the trip may turn out to be something quite different than the plan.
Sometimes the trip is smooth and easy, and goes exactly to plan.
More often, esp. if the destination is an ambitious one, or the path long, there are challenges and setbacks and unforeseen difficulties, requiring delays and divergences and detours.
Corrections.
More often, esp. if the destination is an ambitious one, or the path long, there are challenges and setbacks and unforeseen difficulties, requiring delays and divergences and detours.
Corrections.
We thought we would be HERE. Instead we are HERE. But we are still going THERE.
A successful correction requires the same tools that motivated the original trip: the determination to arrive at the destination, then the plan to do it, then the actual travel.
In that order.
A successful correction requires the same tools that motivated the original trip: the determination to arrive at the destination, then the plan to do it, then the actual travel.
In that order.
The compass determines direction.
The navigation determines the route.
The route leads to the destination.
In that order.
The order is key.
The navigation determines the route.
The route leads to the destination.
In that order.
The order is key.
As long as you have these steps, and put them in that order, your original plan can absorb any number of corrections.
You may even learn of a better destination on the way.
But first you have to actually decide to move.
You may even learn of a better destination on the way.
But first you have to actually decide to move.
You wouldn’t make a plan before you knew where you were going.
You wouldn’t begin travel before you’d figured out how to get there.
It wouldn’t work.
So now let’s talk about leadership and governance, and the magic trick that gets played on us over the difference.
You wouldn’t begin travel before you’d figured out how to get there.
It wouldn’t work.
So now let’s talk about leadership and governance, and the magic trick that gets played on us over the difference.
Say we humans have a problem. It could be anything.
Like 50% of the wealth in the hands of a few hundred people among billions. Or a medical system that only cares for those who can pay. Or millions of people without homes in the world’s richest country.
It could be anything.
Like 50% of the wealth in the hands of a few hundred people among billions. Or a medical system that only cares for those who can pay. Or millions of people without homes in the world’s richest country.
It could be anything.
But I don’t want to be controversial, so let me make up a more sci-fi premise.
Let’s pretend there was a climate disaster that threatened extinction of life on the planet.
Say the evidence was incontrovertible.
Say early effects were present and observable.
try to imagine this
Let’s pretend there was a climate disaster that threatened extinction of life on the planet.
Say the evidence was incontrovertible.
Say early effects were present and observable.
try to imagine this
Now, let’s say the remedies were known, but very challenging. Let’s say real solutions would require major global restructuring of the political and economic and social order.
And let’s say as a result, there were a lot of people who didn’t want to do it.
Again, try to imagine.
And let’s say as a result, there were a lot of people who didn’t want to do it.
Again, try to imagine.
Let’s pretend that the people most resistant to changing the world order were the people who had gained the most power and wealth within that world order. Let’s pretend the next election would be about whether or not to even respond to the threat.
Hard to imagine, right?
Hard to imagine, right?
Let me locate us within this scenario:
We’re not yet at the point to start enacting a plan we haven’t yet decided to make.
We’re not at the point to argue about the specifics of the plan—though we need a plan!
What we need is the determination to move.
We need the compass.
We’re not yet at the point to start enacting a plan we haven’t yet decided to make.
We’re not at the point to argue about the specifics of the plan—though we need a plan!
What we need is the determination to move.
We need the compass.
Leadership is the compass. Leadership is the thing that says, without fear or equivocation: “even though it is controversial, even though it is disruptive, even though it is hard, we ARE going to move from here to there.”
Leadership statements are compass statements.
Leadership statements are compass statements.
“The Green New Deal” is a leadership statement, not a governance statement.
It’s a compass statement. It’s a declaration about direction for coordinated human movement.
You might disagree with this statement. If so, you have some options regarding how you might respond.
It’s a compass statement. It’s a declaration about direction for coordinated human movement.
You might disagree with this statement. If so, you have some options regarding how you might respond.
You might claim that there is no reason to move. You’d say something like, “this is a hoax.”
You might claim that it’s too early to move. You’d say, “the science is uncertain.”
You might claim it’s too late to move. You’d say, “human activity isn’t causing it.”
You might claim that it’s too early to move. You’d say, “the science is uncertain.”
You might claim it’s too late to move. You’d say, “human activity isn’t causing it.”
Those are the direct responses.
But remember: there’s a magic trick.
But remember: there’s a magic trick.
Some might realize that the danger is real, and the moral call toward movement is absolutely uncontestable. They might decide the best way to oppose is to perform some slight-of-hand.
They’d say things like “The Green New Deal is unrealistic.”
They’d say things like “The Green New Deal is unrealistic.”
Unrealistic?
That’s a matter for the challenges of navigation and travel. We’re not there.
We’re making compass statements.
Nothing is more "unrealistic" than something we've decided not to do.
And we've done any number of unrealistic things, by deciding to do them.
That’s a matter for the challenges of navigation and travel. We’re not there.
We’re making compass statements.
Nothing is more "unrealistic" than something we've decided not to do.
And we've done any number of unrealistic things, by deciding to do them.
“The Green New Deal is unrealistic" *sounds* like a governance statement. It’s not. It’s a leadership statement. It’s a compass statement. It says “actually, we will stay where we are” as much as “climate change is a hoax” does.
It says it w/more subtlety, but it still says it.
It says it w/more subtlety, but it still says it.
I want to be careful, because even as we talk compass, we want an eye on navigation.
And it’s OK to point out that the navigation is off.
But when one does so to close off or delay the compass, then it’s the magic trick. Leadership disguised as governance.
And it’s OK to point out that the navigation is off.
But when one does so to close off or delay the compass, then it’s the magic trick. Leadership disguised as governance.
If one wants to critique the GND policy, it needs to be within the larger context of a firm commitment to a robust and prioritized response to climate change, and a willingness to engage in the significant disruption that will cause.
Else, it's an opposing compass statement.
Else, it's an opposing compass statement.
One of opposition's slyest tricks is to deny a clearly needed solution to an obvious problem, not b/c a solution isn't needed, but b/c the route hasn’t been charted thoroughly, b/c all potential problems haven’t been identified, b/c every last correction hasn’t been made.
You can hide a morally unsupportable leadership statement by disguising it as a governance statement.
You can use the enormity of the challenge of the problem facing us as a reason not to start.
Abracadabra!
You can use the enormity of the challenge of the problem facing us as a reason not to start.
Abracadabra!
This is the reason that @AOC (for example) has so many people who oppose her obsessed and frightened, by the way. Whenever someone arrives who actually makes bold and needed compass statements, people respond.
And it reveals all the people who have been refusing to make them.
And it reveals all the people who have been refusing to make them.
@AOC And, to briefly riff, I'd argue that the reason Donald Trump was successful is that he understands compass statements.
Everything he's ever said communicates very effectively: This WILL be a white supremacist country ruled by the wealthy.
A popular direction, for some.
Everything he's ever said communicates very effectively: This WILL be a white supremacist country ruled by the wealthy.
A popular direction, for some.
@AOC "The wall" is a compass statement. They'll never stop building that wall.
They're right to call it a metaphor.
It's about pushing people out of this country for good, and never letting them back in.
That's why it's so important to Trump's base.
They understand the direction.
They're right to call it a metaphor.
It's about pushing people out of this country for good, and never letting them back in.
That's why it's so important to Trump's base.
They understand the direction.
@AOC Once you know the magic trick, you can see it everywhere.
@AOC But who’s going to PAY for Medicare for All?
Magic trick. “Medicare for All” is a compass statement. We WILL care for everybody’s medical needs, because that is what a civilized society does.
Magic trick. “Medicare for All” is a compass statement. We WILL care for everybody’s medical needs, because that is what a civilized society does.
@AOC But who’s going to PAY for free college education?
Magic trick. “free college” is a compass statement. We WILL invest in universally accessible education, because that strengthens our society in ways that benefit everyone.
Magic trick. “free college” is a compass statement. We WILL invest in universally accessible education, because that strengthens our society in ways that benefit everyone.
@AOC The country won’t accept gun control, it can’t happen here, there's no political will.
Magic trick. We WILL minimize gun violence. Letting our schools become war zones is unacceptable.
Magic trick. We WILL minimize gun violence. Letting our schools become war zones is unacceptable.
@AOC Abolishing ICE is lunacy! Nobody wants open borders!
Magic trick. Open borders are a sign of free, friendly mutually-beneficial relationships between nations and should always be our goal.
Militarized officers rounding up undesirables have no place in a free society.
Magic trick. Open borders are a sign of free, friendly mutually-beneficial relationships between nations and should always be our goal.
Militarized officers rounding up undesirables have no place in a free society.
@AOC The Green New Deal is flawed!
Magic trick. We ARE going to drop literally everything else to address a potential extinction-level crisis, because of course we are, my god, what the hell is wrong with you?
Magic trick. We ARE going to drop literally everything else to address a potential extinction-level crisis, because of course we are, my god, what the hell is wrong with you?
@AOC This is going to matter in 2020. Remember that leadership is the compass, governance is the navigation. Both are important, but one comes ahead of the other, and you can make adjustments on the way.
And watch everyone’s hands closely.
And watch everyone’s hands closely.
@AOC Oh and hey if you like my writing here you may well like my upcoming novel, THE REVISIONARIES.
News about when it will be available (and other things) on my newsletter: tinyletter.com/ARMoxon
News about when it will be available (and other things) on my newsletter: tinyletter.com/ARMoxon
Nope. By “free” I mean free, in a way we should all hope to achieve.
Free of strife.
Free of contention.
Free of need.
Free of suspicion of one another.
And thus free of all the fears that would make us want walls and patrols.
You know: free.
Free of strife.
Free of contention.
Free of need.
Free of suspicion of one another.
And thus free of all the fears that would make us want walls and patrols.
You know: free.
Just because I lock my door at night doesn’t mean I don’t desire a world in which I don’t have to, or that I wouldn’t work to bring such a world about.
Watch the hands ... presto!
This is a compass statement.
This is a compass statement.
This is also a compass statement.
And, again, Donald Trump is very good at compass statements that encourage white supremacy and every kind of bigotry.
Compass statements are leadership statements. You can track the results.
Compass statements are leadership statements. You can track the results.
This is a compass statement about the relative value of money and human life.
Presto! Compass statement.
See we're not actually talking about what the response to climate change will be.
We're deciding whether or not there even will be a response.
There's a side that doesn't want to respond. We need to call attention to that fact repeatedly, so we can get them out.
We're deciding whether or not there even will be a response.
There's a side that doesn't want to respond. We need to call attention to that fact repeatedly, so we can get them out.
We haven't yet gotten to the navigation. We're on the compass.
We need to win the compass.
A partnership with those who don't want a solution won't create a solution.
Is the problem.
We need to win the compass.
A partnership with those who don't want a solution won't create a solution.
Is the problem.
Compass statement. nytimes.com/2019/02/25/us/…
Compass statement.
