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Recovering backpacker, Cornwallite at heart, political enthusiast, catalyst, writer, husband, father, community volunteer, unabashedly proud Canadian. Every hyperlink connects to something related directly or thematically to that which is highlighted.

Thursday 1 August 2013

Committing Sociology in Government Relations


 
 
I find this very interesting. 
 
To imply a trend is emerging suggests there are other examples of GR misbehaviour just waiting to come to light.  How could that be, though?  Surely tough laws and some examples of justice served would be sufficient to course-correct bad behaviour in the industry, right?  If not - if tough-on-crime doesn't result in greater law-and-order - why not?
 
If you felt so inclined, you could profile the sorts of people who get into these types of ethically sticky situations.  With a bit of probing, you could get into their headspace and figure out what fuels the type of arrogance that assumes rules only apply to lesser people.  If you felt ambitious you could even do something about it.
 
But we won't.  That's not our style.
 
We don't look for patterns of behaviour - studying trends is a bit too much like committing sociology.  Looking at broader, historical cycles has nothing to do with the price of rice, so we don't bother.
 
In the end, though, it doesn't matter whether we consciously adapt to the changing social dynamic out there.  Systems have a habit of eventually finding balance, given enough time and iterations.  It just happens that the early adapters tend to be the ones who thrive; the inwardly-focused laggards fall behind.  That's just how evolution works.
 
Social media and real-time accountability are changing the dynamic of political power; we can no longer act first, think later and not expect to be called on our inconsistencies.  As a result, we are going to have to put a bit more forethought into what we say and do.  This isn't a curtailing of freedom, as some might decry; it's about efficiency and value-add
 
This will have particular application to GR and other folk who interact at high levels with government; it will have great meaning for government itself as well.   
 
I really don't see anything new in this - but don't take my word for it.  After all, I'm just looking for trends.

 

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