This piece by Gladwell is getting a lot of links, and it deserves them. It is a classic of reporting, analysis, and insight.
The subtext of this article about Detroit and cars and psychology and
safety is that we are creating a more and more deeply irrational
society, with our industries pandering to our lowest instincts
(literally reptilean) and allowing us to pull ourselves down a rathole.
Hey, how come a famous author gets more famous–deservedly–by writing
like this, and our presidential candidates avoid all of these sorts of
issues? What’s wrong with them?
Oh, yea, winning elections is about getting the support of big numbers
and large percentages of the society. The same folks who buy the
stupid trucks that Gladwell is writing about, determine who will win
elections.
And success as an author like Gladwell is garnered by having a large
(think: critical mass) of readers who are passionate about your
issues. But it does not depend upon your percentage of the
total electorate. Gladwell is not competing against People
Magazine, or even Time, for market share.
So what we all see now is the political challenge of mobilizing a core
of thoughtful folks, and empowering them to the extent that they can
then enlist (or overcome) others who are not paying the same kind of
attention.
But is this the right way to see the problem? Hmmmm. Not sure…….
