Civilization: Uncertain but Persistent

It's very difficult to pick a favorite civilization from all those that rose and fell throughout the history of the world. The Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Mongols, the Maya, they all illustrate the power of getting human beings to agree with each other. Unfortunately, this agreement prevented them from adapting to changes they could not forsee or control.

They are sometimes described as "failed civilizations," however, it is perhaps more accurate to say that they unintentionally gave way to more adaptable programs for success.

The agreement part of the story is a lesson that still proves important today. In the preaching of one's personal virtue lies the birthplace of propaganda (the spreading of beliefs). These great societies of the past were seemingly unable to imagine that they didn't know what to do next in order to continue on (or to not be conquered). As a result, they held on to their beliefs (their propaganda) right up to the end.

Civilization today is experiencing a realization of our own deluded sense of control, or of being controlled. Many are disconcerted, if complacent. The people who are paid to be in charge of our affairs argue over how to move the money, or how to act in accordance with thousand year old books, as though the world does not change and these systems will guide our activities perpetually. It's recently been called a failure of imagination, but it's really just steadfast faith in propaganda.

Business has been king of America since I've been alive, and from the start has played a vital role in providing me the definition of economic success. It wouldn't make much sense for us to not use all the methods for success made available by our various societies. The problem lies in an overabundance of certainty within our schools of thought.

The promise of organized American leadership is being battered by the tabloid style in which our propaganda is delivered. That's not to say that the people with jobs in Washington (or Tallahassee) are inherently inept, they just seem to deal in a certainty their messages are lacking.

During debates in the United States congress, representatives often speak about what "The American People" want as though it were ever the case that we all agree with each other or them 100% of the time. This phenomenon often leads to the exclusion of millions of voices with personal grievances lying within the minutae of legislation.

In order to truly lead we have to stop pretending that everyone agrees with our propaganda, and actually be better in virtue. To lead today means to function better as a society. A leader values the wonder of life, as nothing is so tiresome to contemplate as death and chaos.

What Polymath Enterprises is attempting to do is to build a platform for voices to be heard, at least in the state of Florida. Floridians may not have all the answers for the ills of society at large, but together they can certainly decide the best for their own cities and towns, counties and regions.

Rather than elect someone in whom all our faith in propaganda lies, we have to function better with regard to distribution of resources, activities and knowledge. Our inability to answer the chaos of life with the present arraingment is painfully evident in our current affairs. Florida is small enough to allow for the study of the day to day goings on all over the state, with the goal of finding solutions to real world problems right in the back yard.

At this point, we are not asking you for your money or your belief. We just want a bit of your time. Tell someone about this post. Read the others on the blog. Follow @polymathenterpr on twitter, and be on the lookout for videos from the Polymath Enterprises youtube account. Soon, the forum will be completed and you will have the platform to share your thoughts on your town, city, county and state. And from there, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.

Voices of the people of Florida, by the people themselves; In a state where our propaganda is backed by the evidence of our shared knowledge.

Thank you, and please return (selfish) as soon and as often as you can.