As the economy continues to falter, some people hope that three years forward will take us a few years back. Whatever people imagine the future to be, people are talking about the recession at caffeinated conversation friendly places. And because it’s affecting so many people, speaking openly about money and work is becoming more common.
The act of conversation, the sharing of new ideas and the contestation of prevailing ones, ensures that change is constant. New ways of thinking about the economy will take hold as previous ones become more and more critiqued. The only way to restrict change—whatever that may be—is to prevent people from talking, and history shows that conversation can only be constrained temporarily.
In 1675, King Charles II of England felt threatened by “False, Halitious and Scandalous Reports” and issued a proclamation banning all coffeehouses in the Kingdom. The resulting uproar, however, proved a greater threat to the monarchy than the conversations therein, and the King was forced to reverse the ban before it was put into effect.
In many countries and regions of the world today, conversation remains constrained. However, always to be found are people talking or on the verge of doing so; sometimes in secret. Even the most dehumanizing of leaders cannot control all who reside within his kingdom, and thus the possibility of transformation is always possible.
Three years forward will take us three years forward rather than a few years back. While the economy may not look fundamentally different, economic polices will differ, new regulations will be initiated, and spending habits will change. Whatever the differences (and similarities) are, they will be the result of conversations among the public and the leaders elected to represent them; some with their origins in caffeinated conversation friendly places.
As the economy continues to falter, some people hope that three years forward will take us a few years back. Whatever people imagine the future to be, people are talking about the recession at caffeinated conversation friendly places. And because it’s affecting so many people, speaking openly about money and work is becoming more common.
The act of conversation, the sharing of new ideas and the contestation of prevailing ones, ensures that change is constant. New ways of thinking about the economy will take hold as previous ones become more and more critiqued. The only way to restrict change—whatever that may be—is to prevent people from talking, and history shows that conversation can only be constrained temporarily.
In 1675, King Charles II of England felt threatened by “False, Halitious and Scandalous Reports” and issued a proclamation banning all coffeehouses in the Kingdom. The resulting uproar, however, proved a greater threat to the monarchy than the conversations therein, and the King was forced to reverse the ban before it was put into effect.
In many countries and regions of the world today, conversation remains constrained. However, always to be found are people talking or on the verge of doing so; sometimes in secret. Even the most dehumanizing of leaders cannot control all who reside within his kingdom, and thus the possibility of transformation is always possible.
Three years forward will take us three years forward rather than a few years back. While the economy may not look fundamentally different, economic polices will differ, new regulations will be initiated, and spending habits will change. Whatever the differences (and similarities) are, they will be the result of conversations among the public and the leaders elected to represent them; some with their origins in caffeinated conversation friendly places.