Chapter VII
Simplicity
"Common Sense"
Plain old common sense should be used in making public decisions. There is an old adage, "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for life". Most governmental and charitable efforts at problem solving take the "give a fish" approach. Public problem solving efforts need to be refocused toward correcting the problem causing the undesirable circumstance, instead of treating the resulting symptoms. For example, the expanding of the focus for helping the disadvantaged to gaining self-sufficiency costs a little more in the short run, but pays off in the long term. Each displaced person who achieves self-sufficiency, results in multiple positive impacts on society, because there is a happy person no longer using public funds, while producing through earning a living, and contributing to the tax base.
Additionally, more effort should be devoted to avoid public problems. Public policy is unnecessarily focused on management by putting out fires, instead of making things fire proof. It is less costly in both Human and economic terms to avoid a problem, than to fix a problem. For example, it is easier to not pollute, than to clean up pollution. Public policies should take a proactive approach, instead of a reactive approach, whenever feasible. This is a simple matter of wise planning.
In sum, let's use wisdom to avoid problems, and to solve the problems not avoided. As our knowledge increases, we will have expanded capabilities for problem resolution and/or avoidance. For example, Humanity may discover most if not all harmful antisocial behavior is the result of mental disease, and may find a cure. Each such solution has a multiplier effect, in that people are no longer subjected to the negative effects of the problem solved, the quality of life is improved, and the resources that had been consumed because of the problem can be used in other ways to further improve the human condition.
-Adapted from THE ULTIMATE PHILOSOPHY - BOOK II The Light of Knowledge
Simplicity
"Common Sense"
Plain old common sense should be used in making public decisions. There is an old adage, "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for life". Most governmental and charitable efforts at problem solving take the "give a fish" approach. Public problem solving efforts need to be refocused toward correcting the problem causing the undesirable circumstance, instead of treating the resulting symptoms. For example, the expanding of the focus for helping the disadvantaged to gaining self-sufficiency costs a little more in the short run, but pays off in the long term. Each displaced person who achieves self-sufficiency, results in multiple positive impacts on society, because there is a happy person no longer using public funds, while producing through earning a living, and contributing to the tax base.
Additionally, more effort should be devoted to avoid public problems. Public policy is unnecessarily focused on management by putting out fires, instead of making things fire proof. It is less costly in both Human and economic terms to avoid a problem, than to fix a problem. For example, it is easier to not pollute, than to clean up pollution. Public policies should take a proactive approach, instead of a reactive approach, whenever feasible. This is a simple matter of wise planning.
In sum, let's use wisdom to avoid problems, and to solve the problems not avoided. As our knowledge increases, we will have expanded capabilities for problem resolution and/or avoidance. For example, Humanity may discover most if not all harmful antisocial behavior is the result of mental disease, and may find a cure. Each such solution has a multiplier effect, in that people are no longer subjected to the negative effects of the problem solved, the quality of life is improved, and the resources that had been consumed because of the problem can be used in other ways to further improve the human condition.
-Adapted from THE ULTIMATE PHILOSOPHY - BOOK II The Light of Knowledge
posted by LAH at
9:15:00 PM
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