What is the Status Quo? -- wisegeek.com
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The status quo is easily recognized in the realm of politics. In a democracy, people will often continue electing the same leaders, despite displeasure, rather than vote for an unknown quantity. A politician who is an “outsider,” even though numerous people say that’s what they want, tends to be met with suspicion. One who does not enjoy name recognition is generally also seen as suspect.
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Political strategist says voters at 'breaking point' with status quo
by Bill Salisbury, St. Paul Pioneer Press -- Sep 18, 2015
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People throughout the western world are angry with their political leaders and institutions, prompting the rise of radical parties on both the left and right, Weber said in an address at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs in Minneapolis.
In the U.S., he said, recent polls show that three-fourths of Americans think their political system is dysfunctional and more than 70 percent believe it's fundamentally corrupt.
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Among the reasons Americans are angry, he said, are income disparities, stagnant incomes and a lack of social mobility.
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Status Quo -- wikipedia.org
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The social movement is an example of the status quo being challenged. The phrase frequently refers to the status of a large issue, such as the current culture or social climate of an entire society or nation.[4] When people are seen as supporting the status quo, it is generally seen in a negative way, and they are often portrayed as being resistant to societal progress.[5]
Politicians sometimes refer to a status quo. Often there is a policy of deliberate ambiguity, referring to the status quo rather than formalizing the status. Clark Kerr is reported to have said: "The status quo is the only solution that cannot be vetoed", meaning that the status quo cannot simply be decided against; action must be taken if it is to change.
Status quo can also refer to a situation that people find mutually undesirable but the outcome of any changes to it may be overly risky; at the same time they recognize that eventual change will occur, and openness to the potential that a better alternative solution may emerge over time.
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Quotes About Status Quo -- goodreads.com
“One day everything will be well, that is our hope. Everything's fine today, that is our illusion”
― Voltaire
“Yesterday's adaptations are today's routines.”
― Ronald A. Heifetz
“Status quos are made to be broken.”
― Ray A. Davis
“Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
― Rob Siltanen
5 Characteristics of a Change Agent
by George Couros -- Jan 26, 2013
Change Agents
– People who act as catalysts for change…
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1. Clear Vision – As mentioned above, a “change agent” does not have to be the person in authority, but they do however have to have a clear vision and be able to communicate that clearly with others. [...]
2. Patient yet persistent – Change does not happen overnight and most people know that. To have sustainable change that is meaningful to people, it is something that they will have to embrace and see importance. [...]
3. Asks tough questions – It would be easy for someone to come in and tell you how things should be, but again that is someone else’s solution. When that solution is someone else’s, there is no accountability to see it through. It is when people feel an emotional connection to something is when they will truly move ahead. Asking questions focusing on, “What is best for kids?”, and helping people come to their own conclusions based on their experience is when you will see people have ownership in what they are doing. Keep asking questions to help people think, don’t alleviate that by telling them what to do.
4. Knowledgeable and leads by example – [...]
11 Insightful Quotes About Change
by Peter Clemens -- thechangeblog.com
“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.”
― Keri Russell
“Change is inevitable. Progress is optional.”
― Tony Robbins
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
― Maya Angelou
“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.”
― Jim Rohn
Changes happens ... sometimes for the good; sometimes for the bad.
And far too many times, and for far too many of us -- Change happens barely at all.