A definition of insanity attributed to Albert Einstein getting a lot of attention lately is . . .
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
So every day I get up, read the news, write some comments on Facebook, OpEdNews,
Huffington Post, sign some petitions. Some days I write a blog (that takes up several hours),
some years I write a book. That means 6 to 8 months of focused work. (My most recent novel,
"An Unlikely Truth" took about two years to research, then six months to write and re-write.)
This pattern of activity has been going on for several years now. Day after day, I do these same
things over and over. Each and everyday I check the news, the reports, the updates.
I keep hoping.
But nothing changes.
Well . . . technically it does. Things get worse.
But there you are. The textbook (or comic book) definition of insanity. Doing the same thing
over and over and expecting a different result.
Sound familiar?
But I figured something out the other day. Maybe I'm not insane.
There is an important concept that applies here. That concept is critical mass.
Adapted from nuclear physics, where a certain critical concentration of fissile material is
required to create and sustain a nuclear reaction, the sociodynamic concept of critical mass
is parallel.
Basically, it suggests that there is some level of active participation within society, where
change occurs and becomes self-sustaining. Estimates of what percentage of the general
population is sufficient varies. Some say only 5%, others suggest it's more like 20%.
The important thing is that profound change, even huge paradigm shifts, don't necessitate
100% of the population. An aggressive, focused minority can move mountains. They might
even be able to move Congress. Wouldn't that be special!
So in terms of our current, highly frustrating political quagmire, let me suggest my own,
slightly different definition of insanity . . .
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over but not having enough other insane people
doing it to get a different result.
Obviously insane?
Or just hopeful?
______________________________________________________________
I am doing what I can to address the destruction of our democratic system.
Without taking back our government, nothing will change.
In my new book, An Unlikely Truth, I offer an electoral strategy which I believe can
effectively remove the crooks and liars from office, and begin to restore representative
democracy to America.
An Unlikely Truth (Literary Vagabond Books) is now available worldwide in
every popular ebook format and as a deluxe edition paperback.
