Plus ça change (plus c'est la même chose).

Have you seen it all before or do new things develop by revolution or evolution? I was on a course recently and part of the agenda was about managing change. I also managed to get to the theatre and see a Chekhov play. This is a play set in pre-television days and two of the characters had a debate. How often do you see that nowadays? The debate was about change and one argument went along the lines that nothing changes. Just watch the birds fly south. They do this every year. There are definitely climatic cycles and similar human characteristics are seen throughout history. Others will argue that times are changing and if we could stand still we shouldn't. Technology is changing every week or even every day.

So do we learn from history and improve or do we keep making the same old mistakes. I think there is a strong case for making the same old mistakes and that is why it becomes more and more important to provide checks and balances in our society. I like the idea of greater public involvement and Rousseau's belief in direct democracy can be achieved with the help of technology. If we really want to evolve then technology may just be able to help if we use it wisely. Maybe we will change.