Fed & Led: The Analogy of the Body

To a certain extent the analogy of the body lends itself to explaining differences. The eye is different from the ear but we need both for the full function of the body. But the analogy of the body also shows us where the dangers are. The parts of the body are regulated by the same nervous system. The circulatory system also brings nutrients to the cells.

In the organizational world, many people just assume that a particular purpose, should it be important enough, needs a new control system. I think this has a lot to do with man's impatience. For instance, I think that America may have managed just fine with the Article of Confederation, but people like Alexander Hamilton wanted problems solved, not only in the way he wanted them solved, but also immediately. This kind of thinking leads to the use of force.

A new control system also tends to justify its continued existence. This is a venue to power after all. And so, in organizational terms, a new circulatory system emerges, with new ideas, new propaganda, new identity- all designed to build up the new system. In a large system, like the United States, the situation might be rather unnoticeable to the average person, even if the new organization becomes parasitical. The various governments of the U.S. do try to minimize the pain for most of the people- note how they take taxes out of your paycheck BEFORE you actually see it.

As a counter example, consider how a living body differentiates. As the body grows each cell determines what it will become in the context of what the surrounding cells are. A pattern begins to build without the constituent parts having any role as "overseer." This is why you don't have an eye in your foot.