But what happens when we recognize the need and have no ready method to address it? At that point resources are not the question. Means is.
The presence of a void emerges.
Filling the void becomes a new ‘need.’ We will have to invent the process which will be used to address the original need.
Imagine what our country did to place a man on the Moon. We knew the objective (the Moon), we knew the complexity (keeping men alive to reach the Moon, and return to Earth), and we had accumulated scientific knowledge (astronomy to locate the Moon, rocket propulsion for speeds needed to travel the distance, engineering to keep man alive in an artificial environment, materials to withstand the trip, etc.). Deductive reasoning told us what we didn’t know. The tension of the unknown pulled our minds into creative mode to fill the gap, to relieve the tension.
The rest is history. We filled in the knowledge gaps. We solved problems one at a time leading to the final burst of creativity that led to placing men on the Moon on time.
Collateral discoveries were enormous but the largest of all was finding our ability to achieve an “impossible” mission.
Many discoveries of the Moon Program led to the expansive Space Program, which produced scientific knowledge and product development of immense importance. These, in turn, led other people to develop new technologies in computing, telecommunications, and materials. These led to further advancements in medical technology (fake blood, fake bone, fake organs and tissue) as well as the application of those technologies. Entire new industries emerged.
People were inventive. Individuals and teams produced results. Resources were made available to support research, engineering, prototype building, manufacturing and education. But first there was something very special required to make all of this happen.
A priority was identified and made into a goal: Place a man on the Moon.
Our nation accepted the challenge, made it a goal, and used inventiveness to complete the objective. We succeeded. We can do it again.
And we need to. This time around we need to accomplish these goals:
- Restore household incomes to sustainable levels
- Provide education to each person to fulfill their potential
- Remove petroleum as an energy source
- Provide clean drinking water to all global residents
- Provide accessible and affordable medical care to each person
- Reinvent housing to meet changing personal needs while minimizing eco-impacts
These are basic goals. We have ignored them because we have been distracted by other things. We have allowed social, political, and other nonsensical distractions to waste our time, money and resources. We have not been attending to our core needs.
We need leadership to get back on track. We need clear cut priorities and goals.
We have the talent and ability. We have the accumulated knowledge and the means to discover more. And we have the national wealth to support these efforts. In fact they will create new sources of wealth.
But do we have the will to redirect our mind and effort to what is important? Do we have the leaders to take on this challenge? If so, where are these leaders now? When will they step forward? Are you one of them?
October 28, 2011
I agree, George, up to a point. That point being the difference between a NEED and a WANT. I suggest we WANTED to go to the MOON (didn't actually NEED to go there). Wanting is a far more powerful force than needing. Taken to its clear conclusion, our current problems are resolvable if enough of us WANT to make changes. We can NEED all day long, but we'll stay mired in the mess until we collectively WANT to act.
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