I've been thinking about dogmatism and its negative impact. This thinking started with my disappointment with the dogmatism I saw on display in Congress this past week. In fact, it causes me to yell out "Dogmatism is not leadership!"
The newsworthy display of dogmatism was Congress and their notable actions on the crafting and vote for an economic stimulus plan. I saw dogmatism on both sides of the Congressional aisle.
First let's define what we are talking about. I appreciate the definition of dogmatism as defined by The Ism Book. It defined dogmatism as,
In the end, I still think we should applaud the President's attempts to bring the sides together for "rational and enlightened inquiry", even if it takes a cocktail or Super Bowl party.
The country is clearly looking for a plan that can lead us out of our economic woes. I think that most citizens like me understand that the answers are not not clear, they are not definitive. There are multiple opinions and beliefs. The economists certainly don't agree.
I believe that the best stimulus approach will be found somewhere on middle ground. There will be some balance between ideas. For the stimulus plan it likely means some balance between tax cuts and spending.
However, more then ever, we should demand thoughtful discussion and inquiry on the part of our politicians. We don't need politics as usual. Dogmatism is not leadership.
Thanks for reading my rants about dogmatism. It is not leadership. Please lead quietly
Don
The newsworthy display of dogmatism was Congress and their notable actions on the crafting and vote for an economic stimulus plan. I saw dogmatism on both sides of the Congressional aisle.
First let's define what we are talking about. I appreciate the definition of dogmatism as defined by The Ism Book. It defined dogmatism as,
An approach to ideas that emphasizes rigid adherence to doctrine over rational and enlightened inquiry.I felt that both Democrats and Republicans and their leadership in the House of Representatives were demonstrating dogmatism and not leadership in the past week. The Democrats demonstrated their dogmatism by presenting a stimulus plan that contained social measures and frankly pork in response to eight years of Republican handcuffs. The Republicans responded by their groupthink approach in not breaking ranks to offer a single vote for the plan. It is truly hard to believe that not one Republican Representative thought that the plan would not benefit their district.
In the end, I still think we should applaud the President's attempts to bring the sides together for "rational and enlightened inquiry", even if it takes a cocktail or Super Bowl party.
The country is clearly looking for a plan that can lead us out of our economic woes. I think that most citizens like me understand that the answers are not not clear, they are not definitive. There are multiple opinions and beliefs. The economists certainly don't agree.
I believe that the best stimulus approach will be found somewhere on middle ground. There will be some balance between ideas. For the stimulus plan it likely means some balance between tax cuts and spending.
However, more then ever, we should demand thoughtful discussion and inquiry on the part of our politicians. We don't need politics as usual. Dogmatism is not leadership.
Thanks for reading my rants about dogmatism. It is not leadership. Please lead quietly
Don
4 comments:
I agree that dogmatism is not leadership. I also agree that balance and the "middle" are good positions to seek. Unfortunately, reward systems in our political systems and in other areas of our society do not reinforce this behavior. I think we need to work on a "quiet" change within our political parties that encourages thought leadership that is more encompassing and is dedicated to true progress while letting go of old dogmas.
How do we do this?
I share your feelings Don, for I am greatly disappointed in the inability of our legislators to function without party alliance – if one can call what they presently do “functioning” at all.
In response to Pat’s question of what we can do, I think that we as the American populace must stop settling for the complacency and apathy of the individuals we have voted into office; we must speak up more, demand to be heard, and hold them accountable when they do not represent us as they were selected to do. That said, if they cannot work within ‘the system’ effectively, we must petition them to demonstrate more independent leadership within that system’s reinvention, so it will work effectively again.
Thanks Pat,
You are right. The current system does not provide incentive for the type behavior that we desire.
It kind of reminds you about the theory that proposes that one of the reasons that our financial system is in dire straits is that the incentive system was highly rewarding risk and not sound business decisions. We just heard that we rewarded risk in 2008 to the tune of $20 billion.
I guess campaign finance reform is one hope.
However, the approach suggested by Rosa would have the most immediate impact. We need to make our representatives accountable. The ballot box is the ultimate incentive.
Thanks Pat and Rosa for your insight.
Don
Dogma seems to me to be one of the most self-reinforcing elements of "us" and "them." It may diminish our ambivalence about controversial subjects but it does so at the cost of over-simplifying reality. Dogma requires mistrust, dismissal, and criticism of others in order to maintain its grip. Any belief system that becomes an unquestioned dogma inevitably invites some form of violence.
Thanks for raising this issue, Don. It's a great one.
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