This past years, as I have
watched the world recover from a severe recession, I have come up with the
phrase, “The Manhattan complex”. The Manhattan complex is what I see radio and
broadcasters do; they look out the window and think they see the world. Or they
read the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal and think they know what is
going on in the world. When reporters travel they fly to a location, stay in a
four or five star hotel and report what is happening in the world.
But they really haven’t seen
the world. They are led to believe WYSIATI.
The other day I fell into this
mindset at a social gathering. A young couple was telling me how the loved
their new 2006 Prius with only 104 thousand miles on it. Their only complaint
was the view backing was restricted. The comment I was about to make, “isn’t
your back up camera adequate?”.
Then I came to my senses before
I spoke! My 2010 Prius has a backup camera. Momentarily, I believed, because I
have a backup camera, all Prius cars must have a backup camera. Momentarily, I
was a believer of WYSIATI.
After a 35 year career with 3M
and operating a corn-soybean farm, I was convinced that my depth of experience
was pretty good. Then I become a director for the Minnesota Corn Growers and
involved with National Corn growers. I soon become aware of how little I had
seen. After nearly eighty years of experience, I now wonder how much I don’t
know.
Meeting with fellow farmer from
all parts of Minnesota and every state in the US, I was able to discuss farming
methods, national farm policy, agronomic research and research on how to add
value to farm production. I was sent to Washington to discuss farm policy.
Every day was a learning experience.
What I have learned is that the
most powerful tool, was the question! As we listen to today political
discussion, we hear simplistic sound bits, never a question. We are told what
“we” believe or should believe. And much is based on fear and hate.
Past leaders were very
effective at gaining power using demagogy and WYSIATI. Both are tools of politicians.
From Wikipedia I conclude with a quote from George Bernard
Shaw.
“But though
there is no difference in this respect between the best demagogue and the
worst, both of them having to present their cases equally in terms of
melodrama, there is all the difference in the world between the statesman who
is humbugging the people into allowing him to do the will of God, in whatever
disguise it may come to him, and one who is humbugging them into furthering his
personal ambition and the commercial interests of the plutocrats who own the
newspapers and support him on reciprocal terms.”
