Night-Time Chicago Seen From Space (Image via NASA)
I was listening to a podcast about the control of chemicals at the borders. A team of young reporters had apparently just finished a splendid series writing on this subject for the Tampa Bay Times.
One of the reporters said that since some of a certain chemical was still getting through customs, "obviously, the Federal Trade Commission" does not stop all these imports.
That made me realize that we, myself included, look at groups – be they agencies or teams or other organizations – as entities with their own existence. Like the reporter, we look at a group like the FTC, for example, as some kind of giant with its own existence, its own personality, its own vision, etc. That's not true though.
Groups of any kind are made up of people. It may be a fact that a certain chemical is still being imported into the United States. But it is NOT "obvious that the Federal Trade Commission" does not stop every one of these imports. The FTC is made up of people. It is more likely, perhaps even "obvious" once you think about it, that the FTC does not have enough inspectors. There may not be enough people inspecting imports for this particular chemical. It is more likely to be obvious right after you think about the fact that like any organization, the FTC carries out all its operations with people.
Groups are people, my friend.
Please read the disclaimer. ©2024 Dennis J. Wall. All rights reserved.
Comments