Oftentimes, it seems like the more we learn, the more complicated the world becomes. Nothing is easy. As soon as we think we understand something, we find it intimately related to another complicated issue.
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.”
-John Muir
It’s easy enough to identify problems in the world – there’s no shortage of things we wish could be different. The difficulty comes in trying to improve on a situation; when it comes to actually fixing a problem.
When trying to deal with the complex issues we face as a country, it can be hard to know where to start solving them. But an important step in the problem-solving framework is to understand the root causes of the status quo.
To implement solutions effectively, we need to understand the root cause of the problem. Once the cause is understood, it is much easier to develop a plan of action that will address the issue.
Understanding why things are the way they are.
Before devising any workable strategy for improvement, if there is any hope for improving on a bad situation, the first step is to understand the why. What systems, incentives, norms, laws, etc cause the behavior that determines what the world looks like?
Some of these causes are the result of purposeful human behavior. Some causes come from innate human nature we are often unaware of. And others are the result of reality – the laws of physics, limited resources, chance, etc.
Regardless of where the cause originates, it’s important to identify it and understand how it affects the status quo.
In this article, we will explore some of the complicated causes of a complicated world.
How Government Causes Our Problems
I think we all wish the government ran a little smoother. You know… Did stuff. Sadly the government is broken.
The inability of our elected officials to do anything affects every American’s life. But not all government inaction is created equal. Here are some of the trends and realities negatively impacting the world that are primarily caused by the government.
These are some of the government-related reasons problems exist:
An AI’s Letter to A Politician – “Forgive Me if I Remain Skeptical. After All, Your Lips Are Moving”
An Inept, Lazy and Compromised Media
Corporate Personhood
Extrepublicrats – Causing All the Trouble
Government Spending is Out of Control
Incentives
Lobbying – Just Super Lame
Our Broken Election System
Polarization
Politics: The Art of Making Things Worse
Regulatory Capture – When Corporations Control The Government
Rent Seeking
Rising Inequality – Enough is Enough
So. Much. Waste.
The Broken Legal System
The Influence of Money in Government
The Leadership Vacuum: Our Politicians are Worthless and the Media Lies
The Primary System Sucks
Vicious Cycles: Escaping the Cycle of Failure
While the government doesn’t have complete control over some of the causes of problems with the government, it does play a role in them. Regulators and or political leaders do have the ability to positively intervene to make the cause Less Bad.
See also: Making the Government Better
The Government Shouldn’t Be “Fixing” Most Things
Clearly, the government plays an outsized role in terms of the way society develops. But the government can’t, and we shouldn’t want it to, fix all our problems.
We humans are way too lazy/stupid/greedy, and reality is far too complex, to have any reason to think the government is up to the challenge of addressing the many complicated issues we’re grappling with.
If we are serious about improving society, we need to look at parts of the culture we collectively determine.
It’s easier to blame the government or business for all our problems than it is to take responsibility. At both an individual and societal level, a lot of the problems are the result of our actions. Our behavior re-enforces (causes) trends.
US Consumer Culture and the Rise of China
For example, if we hadn’t bought as much cheap crap from China in the 1990s – 2000s, China wouldn’t have had the money to build its economy the way it has. I’m not passing judgment or saying it’s good or bad (I bought plenty of cheap crap) I’m just saying that our actions and choices as consumers resulted in jobs and money shifting from the US to China, which drove down wages for the middle class, which had all kinds of consequences for the country.
What is currently going on in society that is leading to problems? What are we doing, individually and collectively, which is negatively impacting the country’s long-term viability?
Societal Causes of Problems
An Inept, Lazy and Compromised Media
Are We Even Here?
Extrepublicrats – Causing All the Trouble
Human Nature
Incentives
Irresponsible Corporations
Lack of awareness
Nobody leaves money on the table
Overpopulation – From One Billion to Nine Billion
Polarization
Pollution Is Killing Everything
Rising Inequality – Enough is Enough
So. Much. Waste.
The Developed World is Aging
The Leadership Vacuum: Our Politicians are Worthless and the Media Lies
Vicious Cycles: Escaping the Cycle of Failure
We Only Do Things That Make Money
Who Are We? An Inquiry into the Existence and Purpose of Human Beings
There are actions by average people, whether in their role as citizens, voters, workers, neighbors, consumers, etc, that cause, or at least aggravate, a lot of our biggest problems. And they compound when many people are doing it.
But of course, people aren’t the whole story.
Businesses, or the private sector, have a huge effect on society. The private sector employs most of us, has the most resources (economic and human), and largely determines how we spend our time and where natural resources end up.
Corporations and the free market do a lot of good. Private investment in corporations that return a profit in the future led to the industrial revolution and led to so many discoveries and inventions that define modern life.
But corporations also have downsides.
Businesses’ actions do cause problems across society, government, and the environment.
How Businesses Cause Problems in Society
An Inept, Lazy and Compromised Media
Anticompetitive Acquisitions
Astroturfing: Making Friends and Influencing People – Without Really Trying
Corporate Personhood
Human Nature
Incentives
Irresponsible Corporations
Lobbying – Just Super Lame
Nobody leaves money on the table
Politics: The Art of Making Things Worse
Pollution Is Killing Everything
Regulatory Capture – When Corporations Control The Government
Rent Seeking
Rising Inequality – Enough is Enough
So. Much. Waste.
The Broken Legal System
The Financial System is Corrupt
The Influence of Money in Government
The Leadership Vacuum: Our Politicians are Worthless and the Media Lies
Vicious Cycles: Escaping the Cycle of Failure
We Only Do Things That Make Money
Businesses are an easy target. They are easy to point the finger at. It’s much harder to untangle the general web of incentives and priorities that led to specific outcomes.
Like everything, the answer is in the middle. Corporations can help or harm society, often at the same time. By understanding how causes affect our lives, we can promote the good ones and discourage the bad.
Last but not least, we have the environment.
What are the reasons humans are having such a devastating impact on the environment?
Why are we collectively murdering the host that makes all our lives possible?
Causes of Environmental Problems
Deforestation
Desertification – Who Wants to Live in a Barren Wasteland?
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Incentives
Irresponsible Corporations
Lack of awareness
Overpopulation – From One Billion to Nine Billion
Pollution Is Killing Everything
So. Much. Waste.
Vicious Cycles: Escaping the Cycle of Failure
We Only Do Things That Make Money
We’re One, Big Organism
We’re Destroying the Planet
Certainly not all the causes of environmental problems, but it’s a start. If you have any thoughts on what’s most important, get in touch.
We Need to Understand How and Why We Got Here If We Want Things to Change
If we are going to make progress, to make things Less Bad, understanding the causes of the problems is essential. We started with identifying the problems, this page explored the causes of the problems and asked why things are the way they are. Next up we can set some broad goals, and then devise strategies to reach those goals. That is the framework we’re using as we try to fix problems in society.
I hope this all at least makes sense to you. Even if you don’t think it’s reasonable.
If you made it this far, thanks! I know there are a lot of ways you can spend your time.