Emerging advanced societies will be characterized by opportunities (across spectrum from small to large business), innovation, rule of law (equity), educational attainment, research, advanced infrastructure, democratic institutions (also a flip alternative), international influence and wise political leaders. That doesn't mean each person within the socio-political perspective will always do what is in the best interest of society, or have much conception of the environment they are in, but there are cultural expectations that encourage people to think about others and the long term interests of the nation before they default to their own needs. We are at that spot in history where people choose one path over another and that will make a big difference in our trajectory.
"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink" as the saying goes ("Knowing" the answers without knowing the questions first is almost always a bad policy for leaders.). To build an advanced Digital Age/Information Age society means that current stakeholders must create the pressure that leads to unity of essential purpose and organizational action toward environmental mastery. While such a society does not yet currently exist there are a few societies that are likely posed to transform in the next 10-20 years (Some will collapse or revert to a lower level if they fail as it is because they didn't accept new expectations that lead to higher performance. The exact characteristics of this advanced socio-economic structure are in fluid definition but there are lots of secondary data and historical innovation trending that would indicate a major economic shift is coming....likely good for some and bad for others.).
Whether or not we can sustain a commitment to something greater than ourselves remains to be seen. We went through a lot over the last few years as a nation and for some they now "get it" that not everything is about them. They have greater responsibilities to values and principles that connect society together (Economics is the macro study of human behavior based in very root values and assumptions of pro social exchange.). If societal rewards are going to those who engage in improper and self oriented behaviors (and decisions) across the spectrum (It makes no difference the long chain justifications we give for it) we will derail our development on philosophical course rooted back to the beginning of our nation. The best and brightest must be able to rise through the ranks to perform (Its a human capital argument. Nepotism levels, rigid social structures, lack of diverse wealth/opportunities, etc... are are all risks.)
Where we go from here may seem like purely a collective choice we have no responsibilities but as with all systems it is based on the micro choices by which we live our lives. (Think about it. Coffee, cars, houses, friends, behaviors, etc... all have a level of personal choice. They add up to build a culture and nation. Leaders are supposed to push people to higher levels of collective action and not just their leaders or party. )
The Digital Era/Information Age will heighten the speed of change because technology will increase the speed of activity and the frequency by which new ideas are created/spread. The social structure is slower to change as what is currently dysfunctional today will increasingly be misaligned and more dysfunctional in the future (We have seen this in Capital Riots, police-protestor clashes, lack of trust both of and between political factions {I actually have more faith in government than the large political polls that have come out in the past five years}, reduced national competitiveness, etc...).
While we think that our values and choices are removed from the outcome they are a direct catalyst of macro outcomes. As we start transitioning into the next developmental platform level (It will happen with our bow pointed into the waves with a sense of direction or we can capsize broadside because we were too busy arguing and rewarding poor behavior to navigate the ship.) If we do not adapt we become #2 (...our choices will be more obvious in hindsight when the the flowery words dissipate into something more factual), #3, #4, etc...to dissolution (No one can say what will happen but if we follow the development of all teams and organizations they work along the very same processes. Countries must also renew their purpose or dissolve even though the life cycles are long. The USSR wasn't "magically" immune and neither are we.)
The only question the next generation will have is ,"Were you loyal to your nation (i.e. its people and Constitution) or were you loyal to something else (self, politics, rigid ideologies, racism/bigotry, social class, etc..)? It makes no difference what we say....unless those words lead to positive action to overcome our current national challenges. Whether we have the moral courage and evidence-based decision making skills to build something greater remains to be seen (I think we do...but that is not dependent on any single person.) Time answers all questions! Where you lay is determined by your inner values.
Where do I lay? While I'm not a perfect person I will encourage people to think about something more important and create win-win situations where they seem possible (No stones left to throw!). Unfortunately, I am concerned that most of our political structure will fall back into previous failing patterns of thinking that got us to this point because they already knew "all" the answers until it becomes obvious there is a possibility "they didn't"! Unfortunately their choices will impact our generation, the next, and likely the one after that (I wonder if being in leading positions and not able to see the risks for hundreds millions of people because an appropriate risk analysis/environmental scan is low on the political field's priority list is considered selfish? 🤔 Maybe not, as one party wins blind votes over the other?🤷 ) Even if I'm wrong (that is a possibility as well...I think it would get us in the "ball park" where we can take a Babe Ruth swing. ⚾) what I have to say relates to togetherness, creation, human development/capital, loyalty to deeper universal values, organizational alignment, mission statement, entrepreneurial and competitive spirit as an untested but supported plausible path to scalability at a time when infrastructure dollars are hitting the market right at a time when the pandemic created transformational change capital. 😲😷 Thus far, in my lifetime I have been fairly accurate in my market forecasting 👀. Just sharing some of what I have learned over the past 22' years. 🙇⛲⨻ 10 Years is not much lead time for meaningful organizational change. My loyalty lays with my moral conscious. Whatever that means!
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