Mr. Palin is at it again...
A catastrophe is not
only a matter of numbers killed or property destroyed, it involves a
fundamental shift in direction or perception, well outside pre-event
expectations.
Hypothesis: The velocity of a catastrophic shift
is correlated with two factors: 1) preexisting systemic
resilience and 2) the intentionality of post-catastrophe response. The
more resilience and intentionality depend on control mechanisms, the greater
velocity of change. The more resilience and intentionality are
predisposed to creative adaptation, the [more the] velocity of change is
reduced.
Proposition: What we call homeland security is a catastrophic
consequence of the 9/11 attack.
The 9/11 attack cost AQ $500,000 USD and
has resulted in two trillion dollars (and climbing) in unplanned and unfunded
spending in the decade since. Bankrupting a superpower that now spies on its
citizens, gropes grandmothers, and tortures its enemies, all for a mere half
million bucks and the lives of 19 martyrs, is a payoff like no terror attack
has ever accomplished.
That said, my concern is that the sort of catastrophic
transition Philip contemplates may come as the result of the delineation,
reinforcement, and concretization of the boundaries of the culture wars.
Right/Left. Conservative/Progressive. Republican/Democrat. Drive time reactionary radio
personalities/NPR. Rich/Poor. Fear and greed/Hope and understanding. In group/Out group. The differences between Hierarchical-Individualists
and Communitarian-Egalitarians have never been drawn more starkly. The
political, economic, and cultural issues we use to define ourselves have never
been more distractingly and dangerously polarized. What if our republic were
burning and the Tea Party, the Occupy Movement, and everyone between were
unable or unwilling to do more than play fiddles?
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