Challenging Conventional Wisdom

Based on my recent reading into conventional wisdom in business and some conversations over at Americablog, I'm starting to reconsider some of my position regarding fringe candidates on both sides, specifically Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich. One represents the far right (although you can't convince most of his supporters of it) and the other, farther left than most want to go. Ron Paul would be a disaster for the country, Kucinich less so but the beauty of their candidacies is that neither of them have a chance, freeing them to talk about concepts we all hold dear.

Neither of them are bound by the "conventional wisdom" it takes to win in today's politics. Conventional wisdom is a two-edged sword. In stable environments, it assures that things go according to plan. Our political system today is hardly stable and it is in precisely unstable environments that conventional wisdom breaks down. An example from business I like: The inventor of Scotch Tape was literally ordered by 3M executives to cease all development efforts because the product would never sell. Most unconventional ideas die, as I predict will happen to the Paul and Kucinich candidacies.

Some don't, though. Another business example from 3M: The adhesive used in Post-it notes was originally thought to be a failure. A Kucinich presidency might surprise us in ways we don't anticipate. I wouldn't anticipate many pleasant surprises from a Paul presidency, a Dodd presidency might be nice but one thing as progressives to remember: Our children and grandchildren can't afford another Conservative presidency.

So vote in the primaries with your heart but then, in November, vote with your head.