Tuesday, October 23, 2007

“Any decision-whether made by government, by a corporation, or by an individual person-must take into account future conditions more than present cond

Any decision-whether made by government, by a corporation, or by an individual person-must take into account future conditions more than present conditions.”

Decisions are made every day, whether it is by the government, by a corporation or the individual. Depending on the context and the situation, the decisions made can be small or affect little of the future. However, there are decisions that are of a larger magnitude that are extremely crucial to what happens in the future. The present is irrevocably tied to the future, for any action or decisions made in the present ultimately affects the outcome of the future. Therefore I am in concordance that decisions made-whether made by government, by a corporation or by an individual- must take into account future conditions more than present conditions.

Provisions are often made to buffer for the future. Examples of such measures are rampant on an individual, corporate and government level. An individual sets a certain amount of his monthly salary aside for his pension fund. The reason? To provide a sufficient income for life after retirement. What about companies making changes in their usual short term marketing strategy?To build a larger consumer base and reap higher profits in the future. Government implementing higher income tax policies in order to fund projects to better the country. All these are but few of the sample illustration of how different entities take into account future conditions while making decisions.

Present conditions, while important, is less crucial than the weight of future conditions in the process of decision making. While putting a higher emphasis on present conditions can solve immediate needs and issues, it could be detrimental to the overall benefits provided in the long run. For example, in the name of progress, many societies have industrialized their processes; bringing newer technology in, changing labor laws, building more necessary infrastructure. However, there are many future problems that occur with industrialization as well despite its apparent benefits. Industrialization brings pollution, higher separation of social classes, lower wages due to competition, and depletion of the nation's resources. If the focus was mostly placed on immediate conditions without making provisions for future conditions, the results could be potentially disastrous for it could lead to economic inequality, social strife and the decay of the environment.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my agreement with the topic statement: Any decision-whether made by government, by a corporation, or by an individual person-must take into account future conditions more than present conditions. This holds true for by taking into consideration future conditions over present conditions, necessary provisions can be made for the long term. Though focusing on present conditions can serve immediate needs and wants, it could be detrimental to the overall benefits in the long run.

No comments: