This position of absolute privilege, in terms of human evolution, has turbo-charged America's economic growth, development, consumption, production and innovation at gigantic scale, which in turn has provided fortunes for the elite and surpluses for the masses. And it is true that, those of us in the developed world, have benefited from the rise of America. Where would we be without our iPhone, Big Mac,
Facebook and mortgage that ends up being linked into the global currency and banking system?
Maybe you have a collectible 1960's Ford Mustang, along with photo albums and fond memories of holidays to Disneyland, the Golden Gate, Las Vegas, Broadway and many places in between? We have probably all had wonderful times there, or have friends or family who have been or are still part of the American phenomena. But, "the times, they are a chang-in" as Bob Dylan wrote.
Beyond the nostalgia, the developed world still benefits from access to a common currency, technology advancement, intelligence and military protection should the world become increasingly hostile. Most people don't think about these things as they are 'assumed', but an America that is distracted and fighting internally may not be the ally we hope for in future?
Why the need to "Make America Great"...again?
The American challenge
There is no denying that the country suffers from significant racial tension and a long history of exploitation of labour, land and resources. And it has a mounting debt burden. Most of its forays in international affairs haven't rested well with the general population, as it understands that the activities, while done under the auspices of maintaining world peace, freedom and democracy are mostly about American elite interests.
The freedom to consume, on the scale that it does, is a problem for the world. To many, freedom might equate to the right to carry a firearm and drive a Harley Davidson with the wind in your hair, but for the majority of Americans it is much more about the right to democratic choice and proudly taking responsibility for ones own affairs. The majority of the citizens there are fine people with strong values
and a sense of what is right and wrong, and it isn't unusual to see folks living on the breadline, still proud to be American!
Perhaps this sense of individualism, personal rights and self determination are both an affliction and opportunity for the transition? On the one hand America sees the future being created through free enterprise and innovation, whereas on the other hand regimes such as China see government institutions and controls playing a much greater role in determining the future and the means to get there.
Having grown up in a system of 'excess', without really knowing it (at least for the majority of the population since WW2), most Americans voluntarily learning to live on something like half of the energy and resources (or possibly less) in future is going to be a significant transition challenge. But it is the obvious place to start restructuring - to "chase out the excesses and waste" and re-configure the system to provide the essentials more effectively for everyone.
Looking ahead - a Great America would be a Better America for the sake of the world. And there are tail winds...
- Massively diverse and resilient multi-state political system
- Massive wealth - albeit in the hands of a few
- Significant infrastructure
- High levels of education
- A culture of entrepreneurship
- A relatively young population (mostly immigration driven)
- An adaptive workforce and spirit
- Vast networks of community and local business groups emerging
- A shift to localisation
- On the path to greater equity across society - a long journey
And here in New Zealand...
Having adopted much of American culture (along with Australia), we too have some of the highest consumption rates per-capita in the world. Over the past decades this activity and an over-stressing of the environment has undermined our 'Clean Green' image... perhaps we too should be focusing on, A Better New Zealand - as opposed to trying to 'consume our way to success'?
Summing up
The Great Transition will take decades and can only be done through a well functioning partnership between government, business and society. It won't matter whether it is America, China or New Zealand - the process of transition will happen in some form...
The question is..."Will you use your own freedom and initiative to transition, or will you wait until it's done to you?"
Real Transition leadership is about taking the initiative and learning the pathway forward ourselves. Hope you join us. Learn more
here.
This weeks quote
Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.
John F Kennedy
Many thanks to all of you that responded to the 'Colombo' edition last week, it seems many of us have used 'Just one more thing' question to great affect...
Grant Symons - The Transition Guy