Category: Politics

Renewing Democracy: Shifting the Paradigm

Bob Burnett

Huffington Post, 27 July 2012

Thomas Jefferson believed in renewing democracy by regularly shifting the dominant social paradigm.  Jefferson argued that constitutions should be rewritten every generation, declaring the ³dead should not govern the living.² That explains why contemporary Americans are so fractious: we¹re overdue for a new paradigm.

In computer technology the dominant paradigm has shifted approximately every twenty years.   In 1954 IBM introduced a mass-produced mainframe computer, the 704.  In 1977 the personal computer era began with the introduction of the Commodore PET.  In 1996 Nokia introduced the modern era by introducing the 9000 Communicator, a personal data assistant.

Not every company can adapt to change. In December of 2000, Microsoft stock shares were worth $119.94; it was the most valuable corporation in the world with a market capitalization of $510 billion. When the paradigm shifted to the personal data assistant, Microsoft didn¹t adapt but Apple did.  In October of 2001, Apple introduced the Ipod ­ a digital music player.  Apple followed with the 2007 release of the IPhone and the 2010 introduction of the IPad.  Today Microsoft¹s stock is worth $29.15 per share and its market capitalization is $244B.   In twelve years, Apple¹s stock increased in value from $8.19 to $574; its market cap rose from $4.8B to $538B and it became
the world¹s most valuable company.

In the last eighty years there have been two social paradigm shifts.  In the thirties, Franklin Delano Roosevelt ushered in ³the New Deal² in response to a catastrophic depression.  ³Throughout the nation men and women, forgotten in the political philosophy of the Government, look to us here for guidance and for more equitable opportunity to share in the distribution of national wealth… I pledge myself to a new deal for the American people.²  The New Deal featured “three R's”: relief, recovery, and reform; it provided a safety net for all Americans.

Continue reading “John Steiner: Bob Burnett on Renewing Democracy, Shifting Paradigm and Open Letter from Robert Steele”