Applying Systems Engineering Principles to Governments, Societies, and Institutions

I've argued that simple solutions to complex problems generally make those problems worse, or create new problems you weren't intending to create. Making  sweeping laws that leadership thinks will be a quick fix are often patches on bullet wounds. 

      Sweeping generalization laws like "ban all [insert boogeyman thing of the week here]!" when that thing or tool is used inappropriately or causes accidental or intentional damage is like taking a stinger missile to a housefly.

       In doing so, you often take away the opportunity for those things to be utilized in a positive way. Those kind of laws are overkill, and overkill laws often end up being oppressive. 

         Complex systems have complex problems, and require complex solutions or solutions that are well thought out, strategized, and precise with respect to what kind of problems you want to address. Systems engineering does this kind of procedure in software and computer systems as well as mechanical systems.

       I believe the principles of systems engineering can be applied to governments and institutions to make them more effective, efficient, more secure, and more fair when dealing with various social and political ills. If you think about it, systems where the parts or the system are actual human beings can be designed to maximize the functionality and efficacy of the humans within it. 

       There is more freedom in a complex system when that complex system is properly and very well managed and complex problems aren't met with simple "band-aid on a bullet wound" solutions. There is liberty in complexity

      . Obviously there is, otherwise I wouldn't be able to write this because the American system is a complex system. However, one of the quickest paths to oppression and the deprivation of liberty are sweeping generalization laws; the ban "everything of a kind of thing that was used to do something wrong" laws. Congress and the legislative branch in general love sweeping generalizations and stereotyping, and often pass legislation that, whether intentionally or accidentally, strip even more freedoms

    The stimulus package for Covid-19 is a good example of a not-so-well-thought-out, poorly planned and poorly engineered, "band-aid on a bullet wound" law that exemplifies the kind of thinking of a politician to the Nth degree. Applying systems engineering principles to complex governments or institutions or even corporations could possibly help fix that "sweeping generalization" "band-aid on a bullet wound" problem in lawmaking, since they are, after all, human systems.

Have a good day everyone!