Seeing the Whole Picture

To some extent we all have "tunnel vision". Not as in eyesight, but as in being completely absorbed in ourselves, those closest to us, or achieving a particular aim and not noticing or considering the different aspects or effects of what we are doing. Depending on the circumstances, it can be a good or bad trait.

Now I am old, when I walk I look down at the pavement because I have had several bad falls. I want to ensure that I don't trip up. The result of that is that I don't see what is around me & I have become stooped. Literally tunnel vision.

When I think back over the decades I can see that there have been micro & macro decisions that I have made, or other people have made for me, that have had unforseen consequences. In order to see the whole picture, you have to take into account what has gone before & also speculate on the possible outcomes of what you propose to do or not do. Once you have identified all available information you have to select the best way of going forward. It isn't always easy. You need evidence & possibly advice from other sources.

That is true for me in my life & also in the grander scheme of things - the bigger picture of the world I live in. But we humans are very bad at doing this. We make choices that are expedient at the time. We make choices in our own self interest & try to avoid choices that might adversely affect us. We are often driven by fear & ambition. We are more comfortable with the status quo & we don't like change. We don't want to move out of our "comfort zone". 

Individually this is sometimes difficult to deal with. A small individual mistake can have big consequences on events or people. Politically, internationally & at a country level, making the right decisions is seriously important. Hindsight is wonderful, but "pointing the finger" really doesn't get anyone anywhere. History teaches, but we are often blind to the lessons. Everyday seems to be "groundhog day" & everyone seems to "re-invent the same wheel". 

So we are stuck in a mess of our own making. Not just the politicians, but each of us individually, because we do have a democracy of sorts. We, the electorate, are, at the moment, able to speak freely & protest. In the case of privatisation for example we can see that it has failed us. The statistics show that a majority want our vital services in public hands. 

 

We just need to make our politicians see that they need to follow the "will of the people".  But you the people need to use your powers & vote. Turnout at the 2024 general election was 59.7%, which was the lowest at a general election since 2001. If you don't participate, you can't complain! And you certainly won't change anything.