Complex Systems Will Not Survive The Competence Crisis

[GURPS]

Speaking of merit-based policy, if you enjoy well-written, meaty, intellectual essays about current events, you must read this excellent article recently published in the highbrow Palladium Magazine:



In the essay, the author accurately described two inter-related phenomena: (1) the crisis in world leadership, and (2) the increasingly-common failures in our previously-reliable systems like the rail lines and the energy grid.

Mr. Robertson, who manages a multi-billion-dollar investment fund, compellingly argued that the world’s leadership crisis can be directly traced to the elevation of diversity over merit, which started with the civil rights “revolution” in the 1960’s, and has only increased in velocity since then, like the out-of-control bus in that Keanu Reeves movie, “Speed.”

The article cites a long list of excellent examples showing how diminishing competence in politics, big corporations, and non-profit companies is leading to mistakes. And the mistakes are piling up. In one persuasive argument, Robertson recited the history of how the FAA dumbed-down the air traffic controller entrance exam, for “inclusion,” and now the numbers of close calls are racking up.

A weird coincidence.
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Robertson also mentioned the East Palestine rail disaster, which is only the worst of many recent derailments. And he discussed last year’s avoidable supply-chain disaster.

The piece ended with a stark warning, as you would expect given the subject matter. But this is actually good news. Robertson’s piece, the discussion itself, is saying something that needed to be said for a long time now.

To fix the problem, you must first diagnose the problem.

This particular diversity-over-merit problem is finally reaching a crisis stage that we won’t be able to ignore much longer, and folks will either have to participate in their own destruction or start agreeing on some solutions. Robertson warned:

The path of least resistance will be the devolution of complex systems and the reduction in the quality of life that entails. For the typical resident in a second-tier city in Mexico, Brazil, or South Africa, power outages are not uncommon, tap water is probably not safe to drink, and hospital-associated infections are common and often fatal. Absent a step change in the quality of American governance and a renewed culture of excellence, they prefigure the country’s future.​

In other words, our first-world train is running off tracks into a third-world ditch. The solution is to elect competent people. And the way to do that is to start local, and work our way up.

☕️ IDEA WARS ☙ Monday, June 19, 2023 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠

A roundup of good news and an opening monologue about the importance of focusing on the Sherman Tank of things going well, instead of the weeds on the side of the road. Today is for encouragement.

www.coffeeandcovid.com

 

[stgislander]

I don't know about that. Take the rail industry for example. Diversity is not causing those accidents. Profits at all costs is. The joke among rail workers after an accident is, "I'm glad no shareholders were hurt."