In February at the PASA Conference William McDonough touched on this phenomenon of
government and industry. He refered to the work of Jane Jacobs and a book she wrote
called "Systems for Survival". I was intrigued by this concept so got a copy. It's an
interesting dialog on the moral foundations of commerce and politics. In it (and during
McDonough's keynote speech) the concept of two moral syndromes, one for individuals and
business, the other for government and political leaders.
Commercial Moral Syndrome
Shun force
Come to voluntary agreements
Be honest
Collaborate easily with strangers and aliens
Compete
Respect contracts
Use initiative and enterprise
Be open to inventiness and novelty
Be efficient
Promote comfort and convenience
Dissent for the sake of the task
Invest for productive purposes
Be industrious
Be thrifty
Be optimistic
Guardian Moral Syndrome
Shun trading
Exert prowess
Be obedient and disciplined
Adhere to tradition
Respect hierarchy
Be loyal
Take vengenance
Deceive for the sake of the task
Make rich use of leisure
Be ostentatious
Dispense largesse
Be exclusive
Show fortitude
Be fatalistic
Treasure honor
These syndromes have evolved over time and Jacobs developes the ideas and concepts in
her book. The most germane to the discussion here is the "monstrous hybrid"-anytime you
mix the two syndromes. The mafia is the classic example. The U.S. government, especially
appointed officials is becoming another. As you read the two you will get little tingles
of where we have hybridized the two.
I don't have answers to your "why?" and "when?" I offer these syndromes and concepts for
further discussion.
Sincerely,
Jim Weaver
Northern Penn Holistic Management Network
RD#6 Box 205
Wellsboro, PA 16901
570-724-7788
To Unsubscribe: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with the command
"unsubscribe sanet-mg". If you receive the digest format, use the command
"unsubscribe sanet-mg-digest".
To Subscribe to Digest: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with the command
"subscribe sanet-mg-digest".
All messages to sanet-mg are archived at:
http://www.sare.org/htdocs/hypermail