As an individual we might recognise
the influence others may have had on us in the past, perhaps creating a positive spiral of motivation, decisions, actions and impact, where we feel energised, empowered and fulfilled. Similarly, we may have experienced the opposite situation, feeling that we might be spiraling down negatively like water draining out of a bathtub, when others direct negative beliefs and
actions towards us.
But what if this effect is happening at a national scale? A Pygmalion festival as it
were. What if our politicians, government departments, ministries and the wider support ecosystem is creating and perpetuating its own positive self-fulfilling prophecy about its own ability to orchestrate the perfect transition?
A situation where each and every individual, group and organisation believe that what the other was doing was necessary and important, all the time setting and reinforcing incrementally stronger and more expansive beliefs and expectations.
Somehow believing that its own growth justifies more of its own growth. That more legislation should lead to more legislation - to an even bigger Govt? And perhaps that the private sector and civil society cannot discover and travel a
low-emissions pathway by itself, justifying the ongoing self-fulfilling beliefs that more legislation is the only way in future?
Meanwhile, simultaneously we hear increasingly louder calls for the slowing or reversing of the use of energy, materials consumption and in turn economic growth. Energy quota systems, Circular, Regenerative, Degrowth strategies and pathways are being explored and considered as feasible and desirable - but are they able to get a place on the program in the Pygmalion festival?
Of course, there are good reasons to think the festival will continue. Well paid and powerful
people, whether they are in the Public or Private sectors all tend to look after number one, that means doing whatever is necessary to keep the show going for their own benefit.
Generally, we seem to accept that Climate change and Transition are a 'nuclear moment', but questions remain about whether the continual expansion of government and increasingly far-reaching legislation, and the autocracy that is likely to follow, is what we need, want or
expect.
We can probably expect plenty of debate around the size of central
Govt. in the lead up to the next election. But even if there is a change in Government the question still remains, could the Pygmalion festival be one lead by the private and community sectors?
This week's quote:
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
- Albert Einstein
Have a great week
Grant Symons - The Transition Guy