Systems Thinking and Taoist Ducks

W. Edward Deming (1900-1993), the Father of Total Quality Management, observed that we live and work in systems. These systems enable or limit what we can and cannot achieve. Americans increasingly live in totally dysfunctional systems of government, economics, and social values.

The frustration for the individual is that he or she feels totally helpless to reverse the destruction of these systems. The best we can do now as Americans who care about our country is to let the systems destroy themselves, stand aside as best we can, preserve our "seed corn" for better days to rebuild amid the debris of the lunatic systems now in control, in the "saddle."

This more and more is the counsel your humble servant here extends to persons in the USA. Save your time and energy for yourself, your family, friends, local community. Do not waste it on macro-systems that are intent on detroying themselves. Stand aside.

As Taosim teachers, ducks waddle, and all of the wishful thinking in the world will not make a duck walk. Apply this logic to the degenerate systems in the USA today. All of the wishful thinking will not make these "ducks walk." The systems need to destroy themselves, and in the debris the decent, good people of this country can rebuild.