Monday, July 20, 2009

Dilemma Pack, part 1

In the past, (and sadly, still presently) ridiculous and squabbley arguments over topics such as racism, sexism, abortion, religion, and homosexuality, have been easily solved by applying the ethic of reciprocity (better known, but not fully encapsulated by "The Golden Rule.")

However, a new breed of wicked problems are arising which have serious ramifications for every facet of life, including social, political, and economic players.
All of these problems have been seen glimmers of life in the past, but with the feverish rate of technological advancement, there is a consistan movement towards their increasing frequency and overreaching implications.

1) Intervention vs. Tolerance, as they apply to culture and business.

On October 1942, During World War II, Prescott Bush (grandfather of George W.) was one of seven directors of the Union Banking Corporation, when it was seized under the Trading with the Enemy Act for doign business with the Nazi regime.

Just in the last few months Nokia-Siemens has sold surveilance equiptment to a repressive and violent Iranian government.

Philosophically, tolerance is a bit of a mutually-agreed hands-off approach to differences. However, in a quickly shrinking world, it is becoming increasinly difficult to ignore the domino effects of evey individual action. Humans must quickly become much more mature and responsible if they ever hope to perpetuate their current state of existence.

So, where should the line be drawn?
What is universally 'good', and to what extend can one impose their idea of 'good' on another?