# Order and Chaos By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2024-02-17 There is a world of order and a world of chaos. These worlds always exist simultaneously. Order attempts to control chaos. Chaos rebels against the confines of order. This plays out throughout eternity and resides not just in the cosmos but also in the hearts of humans. Some people seek order; others seek freedom. People seeking order tend toward authoritarianism. A strong leader can “get everybody in line” and make society “great again.” Craving order is not inherently bad. Order provides efficiency and predictability. It does, however, tend to be stifling. Authoritarian order attempts to be monolithic. There is one right way, and people are expected to conform. Such a few discount the inherent chaos that exists. There is no one right way. People are different. They want different things. They hold different thoughts, beliefs, desires, and values. Those open to chaos create space for the expression of all this diversity. Appreciating chaos is not inherently good. Chaos produces uncertainty. It makes people uncomfortable. Chaos is inefficient and messy. Imposing order that attempts to preclude chaos is destined to fail. Chaos exists. It will endure. Sustainable order is open to chaos. Democracy, pure or representative, can provide order and account for chaos. Making it work isn’t easy. Heterogeneous societies will always include those with whom one disagrees. Determining what to do with that inherent disagreement is challenging. Policy is a good place to start. Instead of talking about leaders, which is simply a form of celebrity and team association, discussing real policy concerns would be more constructive. We don’t tend to do this because most of our political identity is nothing more than tribal affiliation. Policy is boring, but it matters. Policy is how nonauthoritarian order is established. In the never-ending battle between order and chaos, citizens must engage in thoughtful debate about policy, not factions or celebrities. This insight isn’t new. The fact that it largely doesn’t happen suggests something of this society. It’s not too late to improve, however unlikely. #### Related Items [[Order]] [[Chaos]] [[Society]] [[Democracy]] [[Teams]] [[Progress]] [[Policies]]