Brexit: an arbitrary World

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silmcoach
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Brexit: an arbitrary World

Post by silmcoach »

There can be no more clear example of how we live in an arbitrary World. John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, has enacted a rule from 1604 such that the UK government cannot seek a third meaningful vote on the Brexit withdrawal agreement unless there is a significant change in the proposal put to the House, effectively scuppering the Prime Ministers strategy of repeatedly putting forward the same proposition until it is passed. So the future of a nation and millions of lives may well be determined arbitrarily by a precedent that effectively overrules the will of a majority of citizens who voted to leave the EU.

The SILM® model emphasizes the distinction between the absolute human organism, with it's emotions and immediate response in the moment, and the slow response of rational thought, strategic planning, and measured action required to negotiate an arbitrarily constructed political and economic World.

Currently, many citizens just want to get on with it, deal or no deal, but the different factions of a divided House are all adopting their respective strategies to achieve their contrary political goals.

Voters in the referendum could not possibly know what the consequences of the UK leaving the EU would be, so could only be guided by a gut feeling based upon a few political sound bites. But negotiating the withdrawal deal, the challenge was to anticipate and so avoid as many potential problems that might arise as possible. The one problem that few would have considered when voting was the Irish border. Gut feeling cannot provide a solution, slow rational thought is required to strategically deal with the phenomenal complex problem that the border issue raises. Hence the impasse.

The Speakers intervention is also a good example of Chaos theory, how some small event can ripple through a system to initiate major and totally unforseen consequences. No one can say what will happen, the dice are in air, which way they fall will determine a nation's future.

In our everyday lives it pays to be aware of this distinction between the absolute organism with its rapid emotional reflexive response and the often rigid arbitrary Worlds that we construct. There will be times when a quick response is required, but more often than not there will be time to think ahead, plan, and monitor measured action.

Examples of Arbitrary and Absolute Worlds.

Absolute World - if you heat meat or fish it will cook
Arbitrary Arbitrary World - How you cook; gas or electric oven, grill, oil burning AGA Cooker, Grill, Barbecue, Microwave.
Absolute World - Driving a car on the road is an acquired skill, the same the world over.
Arbitrary World - Which side of the road you drive on will depend on the laws of the country in which you are driving.
silmcoach
Greatest wealth - happy heart, peace of mind :D
silmcoach
Site Admin
Posts: 239
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 4:28 pm
Location: Dorset, UK
Contact:

Re: Brexit: an arbitrary World

Post by silmcoach »

Well today Parliament begins to try and find a cross-party consensus agreement for Brexit, having wrestled power from the Government. This may be the only, and perhaps best way to move forward and reach a deal with the EU, given that so few on all sides want to leave without a deal.

This is moving from power-based (elected government) majority decision making to cooperative decision making, which is rare in the democratic political world. I think the last time was during the Second World War. It will be interesting to see how things work out.
silmcoach
Greatest wealth - happy heart, peace of mind :D
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