A definition of insanity attributed to Albert Einstein has been getting a lot of attention lately . . .
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%. It’s a relatively small percentage nevertheless. Meaning once a certain level of awareness occurs, once a comparatively small number of individuals embrace a compelling idea, it takes off. Whoosh! It catches on fire and sweeps through the society like a firestorm. Soon almost everybody is on board. From that modest critical mass grows a powerful consensus.
The important thing to appreciate with critical mass 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 specifically in terms of our current, highly frustrating political quagmire, let me offer my own, slightly mutated 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.
What do you think?
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.
Obviously Insane?
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%. It’s a relatively small percentage nevertheless. Meaning once a certain level of awareness occurs, once a comparatively small number of individuals embrace a compelling idea, it takes off. Whoosh! It catches on fire and sweeps through the society like a firestorm. Soon almost everybody is on board. From that modest critical mass grows a powerful consensus.
The important thing to appreciate with critical mass 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 specifically in terms of our current, highly frustrating political quagmire, let me offer my own, slightly mutated 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.
What do you think?
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.