Learn the system to improve the system
Figuring out how government works is not easy, and there are a lot of different parts to navigate. With limited time and resources, it makes sense to take a step back and explore what path is best to improve the government.
Complex problems are often vague and have many possible solutions. The Meta-Problem Method may lead you far away from the dilemma that started your quest. That’s because the method forces you to clarify what you really want and what you are willing to give up. It enables you to compare objectively the possible pathways and their trade offs. It prevents you locking into solutions mode too early and then doubling down on solving a low-yield problem that does not serve your goals as well as the alternatives. At the end of this process, you will have a better understanding of your priorities and how to achieve them.
Steps in the Meta-Problem Method
Dilemma
The high-level issue you are trying to address
Learn how to operate the machinery.
Goal
The changes you want to make to address the dilemma. There are usually many options.
Supporting Goals
- Your solution is implemented.
- You propose good solutions.
Other goals could include more awareness of political systems, more understanding of the world as it is today and learning as efficiently as possible.
Problem Space
The set of problems you could chose to solve to advance your goals, plus the constraints that hold you back.
Example problems
- How can I get my solution implemented? Maybe the problem to solve is “Who do I need to convince to change policies?”
- What are the right solutions to propose? Maybe the problem to solve is “What do I need to learn to make good recommendations?”
There are many other potential problems to solve related to becoming more politically engaged. Each goal has many possible problems we could link to it. Are there other problems linked to these first two goals? Which options come to mind for the other goals?
High-Yield Problems
Sometimes solving one problem helps make progress towards several goals. In this step, we identify these “two-for-the-price-of-one” problems.
Which options will advance more than one goal?
- Speaking and listening at public forums can help you get your ideas implemented, learn what issues are top of mind in your community, will give you more understanding of the political system, and can help you understand why things work the way they do. However, a lot of the focus in public forums is on citizens concerned with how policy impacts them, and you may not learn about the bigger picture.
- Talking one-on-one with people who are politically engaged can help you learn how the system works, give you ideas of topics you could potentially contribute to, and help you avoid issues where there are already plenty of people focused. However, you have to find people to ask, and you may get a biased point of view.
There are many potential solutions that will have varying effects on the set of goals. Which alternatives improve the most important goals? How might the unknown change the right path forward? What other possible solutions are there to address the dilemma?
Problem Selection
Which of the many possible options in the high-yield problem step is the best set to address the dilemma?
- Which solutions make the most sense when you’re trying to improve the government?
- Which solutions will best address the dilemma?
- Which solutions will deliver the best outcome for the least amount of time, effort and money?
Implement, Learn and Adapt
Check continuously that you are still solving the best problem, as new information emerges.
Observe and learn as you go. As new information reveals itself, check continuously that you’re still solving the right problem.