It's Systemic you know

 

How often have you heard that recently?  Every problem, it seems, is systemic.  Our treatment of Indigenous people is systemic.  Discrimination against Blacks is systemic.  Unequal pay for women is systemic. Police brutality is systemic.  Sexual crimes within the military are systemic.  Ingrown toenails are systemic.  It is the fault of the system.  This kind of description tends to suggest that the problem is unsolvable and that it is out of the hands of mere people.  It means that we just have to live with it. Only the system has failed. And everyone seems to be in consensus with this assessment.

“Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled.”
  - Michael Crichton

On the other hand, you might notice a different situation.  When things go right it is people; individuals or groups that get the credit.  When a sports team wins, it is the players who have succeeded.  When a medical breakthrough is made, it is the scientists and doctors who have made it.  When a battle or war is won, it is because of the soldiers, sailors and airmen who have overcome the opposition.  People win.  Systems lose?  People can think and make decisions.  Do systems have no such capabilities?

“That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.”
  - Paul Valery

But wait a minute, systems are made up of people are they not?  Whether governments, companies, organizations, military forces, or society as a whole, they are made up of and run by PEOPLE.  What a wonderful discovery.  So, if this is the case, why can’t people solve so-called systemic problems?  In fact, why can’t people be blamed for these problems that seem to run through societies?  Maybe the answer to these two questions is because people would then have to take responsible; would then have to actually do something about them. 

“It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.”
  - Abraham Lincoln

One of my favourite sayings in “there are no problems, there are only challenges”.  So maybe it is time for us all to not consider systemic weaknesses as problems but start treating them as challenges.  Challenges means setting goals, finding solutions, and taking responsibility, either individually or collectively, to work to solve these challenges.  Let’s get rid of the stigma of systemic.  It should only apply to mechanical or electronic systems, and even there, fixes can usually be found.