Lessons learned.... -- WASHINGTON BOARD

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Date Posted: 21:32:39 02/12/02 Tue
Author: Donk
Author Host/IP: 105.indianapolis-17rh15rt.in.dial-access.att.net / 12.85.0.105
Subject: Lessons learned....
In reply to: Grumpy� 's message, "Re: What are the responsibilities of Citizenship?/" on 20:54:47 02/12/02 Tue

Couldn't we again teach the basics while finding reasonable compromises in the way we execute our business? I don't believe we arrived here by design, but by evolution and perceived needs; pure in conception, slightly distorted in fabrication, then sometimes disfigured in long term use.

It is possible that recent political events were engineered. The capability certainly exists and perhaps we were naive' to think somebody wouldn't put it to use. If true, it raises ethical questions, but they are academic because, like the ills Pandora unleashed, the capability isn't going back into the box.

What is disturbing about the possibility of an engineered outcome is the question of motive. When I propose that we have a right to be left alone, I think I mean we have the right to assume that the people we elect are of one heart, although with different aims and ideals of how we should manage our affairs. But, overarching is the notion that they embrace the full scope of who and what we are -- so we think they can't stray too far afield. But, they can. If somebody wants it bad enough to engineer an outcome, then they are so vested that they must achieve some agenda which may or may not fit our overarching assumptions.

A first concern is to understand how government became the government and is that what we want?

A second concern is effective involvement. Has the system become so structured that it enables only involvement which is compatible with its assumptions. When protestors are delegated to back streets and corraled their, are they effectively involved? Does any representative know and understand the concerns of their constituents?

A third concern is to understand where we are practically versus where we think we are. Global trade and economics seem inevitable and a game we need to learn, but if globalization amounts to a few garnering complete economic control of the world, then we have a problem of major proportions because we are left with only an illusion of where we stand in the world.

Tell your representatives to tell you what they are going to do to address your concerns and never, never hold back your concerns for any reason because if you have them, others have them and if others have them, they need answers.

I'm not sure that freedom is easy or obvious to everybody, but a first step is to share its concept with others. Maybe we're at a point where they take over -- maybe Ayn Rand was right on target, but maybe not.

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Replies:

Re: Lessons learned.... -- Grumpy�, 22:18:24 02/12/02 Tue
- Re: Lessons learned.... -- Grumpy�, 22:21:54 02/12/02 Tue