Where are the political entrepreneurs?
Where are the political entrepreneurs?
Last week I was preparing for a creativity and innovation class that I am currently teaching. Through the course of preparation I came across a 20 minute speech by <a href=”http://www.ted.com/index.p
Last week I was preparing for a creativity and innovation class that I am currently teaching. Through the course of preparation I came across a 20 minute speech by Sir Ken Robinson an expert in creativity and innovation. His talk was on how the education system kills creativity in individuals and is a must listen for everyone. I spend a lot of time in social entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation and his talk was one of those epiphanies that wraps years of thoughts into coherency.
Over the last few years I have become increasingly concerned over the political system and the lack of real creativity and innovation when it comes to solving critical problems. As Ken Robinson articulated in the field of education, we are beyond the point where a few tweaks here or there are going to fix the problems. The education system is designed to create university students (Sir Ken would argue college professors) and everyone is pigeon holed into making sure they achieve that goal (anything short is considered a failure of the system). The issue, however, is that not everyone is wired to be math and science wizards (or other academic pursuit). Through the course of the education system, all individualization is wiped out and what ever skills or talents we have as children are turned to a “more” useful education. As Sir Ken argues, in the end any creativity we are born with has been killed and we work to maintain the status quo of the system. Although the speech was specifically about education, the underlying concepts apply to a number of areas.
Through the course of this class I have also come to the conclusion that there is not much of a difference between creativity/innovation and entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurs are those that can push the current system to new directions. The entrepreneurs are those with the passion and ability to make a difference and are not content with maintaining the status quo. They take the creative ideas and make them happen, despite enormous challenges. If this is the case, then the only way to solve social and environmental problems is to let the entrepreneurs loose. The problem is not the creativity in the business and non-profit sectors, there are plenty of examples of cool things going on that may make a big difference. The problem is the lack of any political entrepreneurs that can help clear the way. The political system seems design to maintain the status quo and is now a hindrance instead of a help.
Most of the political discussion is in the stereotyping of each political party, ignoring the enormous differences in individual beliefs within each party. Most of the platforms are on conceptual issues that attract a number of people, but really do not accomplish much and most of them have already been tried and failed. Platforms are meant to feel good, instead of creative solutions that will fix the system. Special interest groups put considerable money into the system to minimize the changes as much as possible. In the end we get an incremental approach to politics, instead of an entrepreneurial approach to politics.
Over the last few years I have become increasingly concerned over the political system and the lack of real creativity and innovation when it comes to solving critical problems. As Ken Robinson articulated in the field of education, we are beyond the point where a few tweaks here or there are going to fix the problems. The education system is designed to create university students (Sir Ken would argue college professors) and everyone is pigeon holed into making sure they achieve that goal (anything short is considered a failure of the system). The issue, however, is that not everyone is wired to be math and science wizards (or other academic pursuit). Through the course of the education system, all individualization is wiped out and what ever skills or talents we have as children are turned to a “more” useful education. As Sir Ken argues, in the end any creativity we are born with has been killed and we work to maintain the status quo of the system. Although the speech was specifically about education, the underlying concepts apply to a number of areas.
Through the course of this class I have also come to the conclusion that there is not much of a difference between creativity/innovation and entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurs are those that can push the current system to new directions. The entrepreneurs are those with the passion and ability to make a difference and are not content with maintaining the status quo. They take the creative ideas and make them happen, despite enormous challenges. If this is the case, then the only way to solve social and environmental problems is to let the entrepreneurs loose. The problem is not the creativity in the business and non-profit sectors, there are plenty of examples of cool things going on that may make a big difference. The problem is the lack of any political entrepreneurs that can help clear the way. The political system seems design to maintain the status quo and is now a hindrance instead of a help.
Most of the political discussion is in the stereotyping of each political party, ignoring the enormous differences in individual beliefs within each party. Most of the platforms are on conceptual issues that attract a number of people, but really do not accomplish much and most of them have already been tried and failed. Platforms are meant to feel good, instead of creative solutions that will fix the system. Special interest groups put considerable money into the system to minimize the changes as much as possible. In the end we get an incremental approach to politics, instead of an entrepreneurial approach to politics.
