WELL GOLLY CAP'N BILL WHATEVER SHALL WE DO?
The most salient element of the path to chaos involves some seemingly little perturbation that unexpectedly snowballs into a chaotic disruption that produces a systemic change in direction. But the theory of chaos is not just about things falling apart. It also implies something else that gives the deterministic creationists folks conniption fits. The previous chaos graphic ends in a hopeless morass of disrupted data streams. But something lies beyond the chaotic imbroglio.
When a system becomes chaotic there is no longer a linear relation between a depiction of the data field and the original system. For any given occurrence in the data field there is no way to predict the location or direction of that occurrence at a later point in time, even the shortest elapse of time we that can measure. But also it is impossible to trace a linear path back to the previous steady state system. All the occurrences within the data field appear to be entirely random, and sometimes, and for the most, part they are. Yet within the data field groups of occurrences can be seen repeating themselves. Much the same as the temporary perturbations in the original steady state system, these patterns of like occurrences mostly fade away back to apparent randomness. But sometimes some of these groups of occurrences appear to join forces and persist for longer periods of time.
Just as the WTF MOMENT precedes the cascading bifurcations leading to chaos these self similar occurrences precede a phenomenon I will call the WHOA BLACK BETTY MOMENT wherein these streams of bifurcated elements join in ever decreasing intervals following the mirror image geometric bifurcation halving finally resulting in a new steady state system. Now the hissy fit producing implication of this process is that order can create itself. Proving that is a hopeless and I think ridiculous endeavor to engage in. These arguments have been going on for thousands of years, each side periodically producing what it views as proof positive of an outside creator--- or not. But one side always fails to convince the other side, and I don't believe they ever will. As to which side I am trying to persuade you, I will quote my bro Clark- "frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn".
During the run up to the last presidential election the battle cry of the populist front was "YES WE CAN". At last a godterm with real meaning, bringing hope of a new and better direction for our nation, even the whole world. And having rallied around a real godterm and looking forward to a better life we all gleefully ran around slapping each other on the back and stepped out with renewed vigor---- marching straight back to our couches where we once again sat on our fat asses and waited for the magic to happen.
There has long been a phrase hanging around that evokes a picture of our government. It brings up the idea of the wisdom of getting out of the way of some inevitable calamity: the picture is that of rats running down the mooring lines away from a sinking ship. Now as the story goes all our attention is on the ship- is it really sinking, and if it is how fast? But I think our attention is far better spent on the rats. Now where are they going to go? Now where and how will they establish a new stable environment? One thing is certain based on what we know about the history of rats. Whatever it takes, they will git er done.
We will of course never be able to document whether the course of our country actually follows the mathematical process of cascading bifurcations leading to chaos. But just in case it makes a good metaphor, here is my advice. For the first time in our history the future of our country can not be assured by whomever we trust to lead us, and for the first time in our history we have the tools and the resources to make our own way. I believe the single most influential element for massive change of present society is right here where we are meeting now. Me and you. On the Internet. Wanna help? Look around for something you want done, if you see someone doing it, join in. And if you think of something you can initiate, turn it into a media format. Post it. The real hydrogen bomb of social change is the blog.
Next up, the disease that is really killing us. Laziness.
