Systemic Distortion of Information and The "Trouble-Maker"

My intent is to promote discussion on four troubling claims.  First, distortion of information is largely an emergent outcome, a "normal" property of whole human systems not reducible to their parts, i.e., individuals.  Yes, individuals can deliberately distort.  But, their influence is small relative to the persistent influence of emergent systems.  Blaming individuals covers up (hides, distracts from, avoids) a pervasive problem:  organizational systems that distort information while providing contexts within which we each see ourselves as competent and well-intended.  Second, universities are examples of systems that sustain such systemic distortions; this is not a criticism of the individuals within universities.  Third, this systemic distortion has a cumualative influence upon what we take to be "reasonable".  Forth, the consequnces ares serious and potentially catastrophic; our inability to take more effective actions on global climate change is an example.  I will distribute a model on the first claim based on my Plenary Presentation at last year's AFS Meeting in Quebec City.  I will add to this model to explain the additional claims.