To our great misfortune, if not ultimate demise, there is no aspect of our existence that is not politicized. The bitter debates over Infrastructure are a glaring example. It is both a pressing problem and a metaphor for what ails us in general.
Four very different perspectives are constantly battling for supremacy. The situation is so bad that they’ve hardened into distinct camps. Their followers demand nothing less than complete allegiance to their points of view.
The first is Short-Term Technical; second, Long-Term Technical; third, Long-Term Human-Centered; and fourth, Short-Term Human-Centered. Those who are familiar with the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator (MBPTI) will immediately recognize them as four of the major Personality Types: Sensing-Thinking or ST for short; Intuitive-Thinking or NT; Intuitive-Feeling or NF; and Sensing-Feeling or SF.
For those whose personalities is governed by a Short-Term Technical or ST perspective, Infrastructure is not just “primarily,” but “solely Physical.” It consists only of Physical Structures such as roads, bridges, and buildings. Nothing else even comes close, and thus qualifies in any way.
For those whose personalities is governed by a Long-Term Technical or NT perspective, Infrastructure is Systemic. It not only includes roads, bridges, and buildings, but most important of all, it encompasses all of the diverse means by which we connect with one another in a world that is totally interconnected. As a result, it’s especially concerned with ensuring that new technologies are not only allowed to flourish, but are protected from nefarious actors who can bring down the entire System. In this way, Cyber-Security is of paramount importance. It’s also deeply concerned with the Physical Health of the planet as a whole
For those whose personalities is governed primarily by a Long-Term Human-Centered or NF perspective, Infrastructure includes the wide range of Social Support Services that are absolutely necessary for communities as a whole not just to function, but to thrive. The focus is strictly on personal, not technical, connectedness. It not only includes expanding Child Care for working parents, but support for Seniors. It also includes support for Education from K-12 through college and beyond. In short, the primary emphasis is on the Collective Mental Health and Well-Being of communities as a whole.
Finally, for those whose personalities is governed primarily by a Short-Term Human-Centered perspective, Infrastructure pertains primarily to one’s immediate family and close circle of friends. That is, how do better roads, etc. improve my individual, personal Quality of Life. Anything else is too abstract and pie-in-the-sky!
It’s important to note that each is not only defined by what it affirms, but equally by what it’s against. Thus, from its perspective, Short-Term Technical is not only down to Earth and practical, but all of the others are completely impractical and totally unrealistic. In turn, the others consider it to be narrow-minded, too preoccupied with itself, and cold-hearted.
In this regard, it comes as no surprise that Conservatives generally favor Short-Term Technical and Human-Centered while Liberals generally favor Long-Term Technical and Human-Centered.
This only makes the truth even more important. Namely, all of them need to work together for by themselves none of them can address all of the challenges facing us. While historically Infrastructure has been limited to Physical matters alone, it’s been broadened by the complexities of a modern world. Indeed, it grows more complex with every passing day.
The biggest barrier standing in the way is us. At lower levels of Consciousness, one’s preferred Psychological Outlook Is The Only Acceptable One. All others are completely lopsided and wrong. Indeed, they are dangerous. The extreme Politicization of everything in contemporary life has only made it even worse.
One of the best, if not only, ways of getting beyond the stranglehold of the Pure Positions is by getting representatives of each perspective who are willing to come together to work in forming a Synthesis Position that incorporates the concerns of all of the perspectives but is not beholden to any of one of them. It requires a Higher Level of Expanded Consciousness before one can break the stranglehold of believing that one’s basic stance is the only legitimate one, thereby recognizing that all of them are needed to form a comprehensive picture of how things really are.
The fate of the world literally rests upon our shoulders.
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