“Change” – A thought before Super Tuesday
The hottest word in town today is “Change”. Change is to make or become different. The word itself is in fact neutral. It is either bad or good. But it could lead to bad or good depends on the outcome of the change.
Change involves uncertainly and risk. It is, therefore, dislike by most people. This is especially true to women and elders. Men and the young are more likely to accept changes. This may due to the adventurous nature of the later.
Change can also be slow as in the evolution process. It can take years to complete a change. It may also be very quick like in a revolution change. It can just happen over night.
Change always engaged in the two opposite forces of controllable and uncontrollable. We can not control weather change. But we can control room temperature change.
And so when we talk about change, we must bring forth all of the factors discussed to render it meaningful.
Since change can be good and bad, we must set goal for the good and avoid the bad. Change for the good may sound easier said then done. No one would really want to make change for the worse, yet many live a ruined life because of a bad change.
So before we make any change, or even we talk about it, we must spend time and thought on what do we want the change to be. Change for the good is not sufficient to justify change. Change must be clear and capture able. Do not say, “We want to change our nation for the better”, but say, “We want to change our nation to be the leader of the world in terms of social, economical and environmental country in the next 4 years.”
Women and the young may view a change as safe and dependable. At the same time it may be perceived by men as uncertain and risky. An emphasis on a change to have the first woman or first black President to take good care of their interests may not sound too appealing to those who are left out. Change should be good to all who participate in the change.
Change may evolve to benefit our children and grand – grand children of many generations to come. They are good changes. It may also be a revolutionary change that brings good instant result. But regardless of the consequences, the action to cause the result must be able to carry out within the reasonable period of time. Any change promised by a Presidential candidate must be able to carry out in the time frame of 4 years.
Finally, change involves uncertainly. A wish to make a change for the good may turn out to be miserable if we do not make plan, execute the plan and exercise control to prevent slipping out from the original course.
Clinton or Obama, we do not mind of the change. But we would certainly like to hear of:
what the change is (Good-Bad),
who are to be affected by this change (men or women, young or old, black or white),
when will change carry out (will it complete within a 4 years Presidential term or require a second term to complete)
how is the change be done (Plan – strategy to implement)?
All these what, who, when, how must be clearly spelled out with the word change when we advocating it. Otherwise, it is really meaningless to lure voters with “Change”.