It's Hard Being a Revolutionary

I was in Sacramento yesterday -- talking to people in ag, energy, and politics about water policy. During my conversations with these people, I brought up several ideas (conservation pricing, All-in-Auctions, fixing SoCal, the Peripheral Canal, etc.) and realized -- through their reactions -- that it's hard to bring up new ideas to people who don't want to hear them.

I've run into that problem many times in the past. A combination of righteous fury, youthful idealism, and sang froid has always served me well, but it's uncomfortable to get the feeling that you've just sprouted another head in the other person's mind.

Unfortunately, this is the price that one must pay upon introducing new ideas -- ideas that may not survive but at least force people to reflect on their stand and alternatives in the debate.

[I'm just exhausted from many things, so this is a bit whiny. On the other hand, it's my way of clearing out the fear and doubt and moving on. So there you go, "Diary of a Madman, Part I." :) ]

Bottom Line: People do not like change, and they do not like agents of change. (That's not completely true when "change" means a new cell phone; I refer to change that has current costs and future benefits.) Even so, I like change because -- in the absence of divine intervention -- it's often the only way to make the world a better place.