I wrote to my friend John:
> > The problem of health, commodities, the left vs.
> > the right, or the mental models that we bring to
> > these discussions seems to be making people angry
> > everywhere . The future of work is an
> > interesting thought except everyone only seems to
> > want to discuss the future of their work or their
> > favorite philosopher/economist.
> >
> > Is there any hope for a discussion on what work
> > means and what kind of multiplicity there must be
> > to create a humane, happy future together? Well
> > probably not, but maybe the following will be of
> > interest.
> >
Durant wrote:
> You can work out your futurework aims real well, but if you
> don't pay attention to the social/economical conditions that
> are able to supply your noble aims, you might as well
> don't bother.
Eva, this is obvious. Why would you think that those of us who
have worked with people in both public and private sectors all of
our lives, including as private impresarios, would not pay
attention to "social/economical" and cultural issues? We would
have starved long ago here, unlike the musicians who have state
jobs in the socialist countries. I have experienced that as
well when I was a singer in the White House Army Chorus where we
were paid salaries. It was a regular six year job.
Nice, but I prefer creating my own work and developing my own
audiences even though I don't have the health care or retirement
plan and my daughter will go to school as I did, paying her way
and earning scholarships.
I said:
> > John you assume a hell of alot about their ability
> > to understand, don't you think? After all there
> > were all of those circles on "Another World" in
> > the Soaps of the 1950s-60s and they didn't get it
> > then. If it's too hard for the soap operas to
> > teach then what hope is there on the net?
> >
> Eva said:
> nothing teaches better than a good helping of experience...
> people are able to get understanding in 24 hours as they did
> in a lot of historical events.
I believe that experience is the only developer of real
knowledge. Do you all have soap operas on the television in the
UK? How about "Another World" with all of the inter-connected
circles opening the program?
> I said:
> > I'm having a terrible discussion with a H C who
> > lives in England on another list. You would think
> > she was a right winger or something. No
> > practicality anywhere, just "make work" to prove
> > that the lack of a need of workers is not
> > real. Anyway, you are one smart fellow and
> > much more optimistic than myself in this
> > instance. I couldn't even bring myself to reply
> > to At on the last post and that must mean I'm
> > depressed.
> >
>
Eva surmised:
> I hope you are not describing me here, I have never
> argued for "make work" and I am immensely practical...
I have observed that people both on the left and right politically
on these lists advocate "make work." Most work in the private
sectors in Capitalism is like the fat on a good sirloin. On the
other hand I believe Jay's complaint about Democratic Socialism
being bureaucratic is accurate as well. I think the problem has
to do with an addiction to competition and speed in the workplace.
Rather than high quality workmanship in either case we often get
shoddy products that are merely acceptable and use up precious
resources. There is a problem in the practical workings of
all of the human systems thus far with quality and creativity.
Neither Capitalism, the world religions, the various Socialisms,
or even Science are very comfortable with radical change.
I will give you an example from my own background. I was a
researcher for an educational library being developed for the
teaching of children. We were far more capable of developing
radical educational procedures, with their requisite materials,
than the teachers, parents, publishers and administrations could
absorb.
They wanted stability that they could feel comfortable with, we
were interested in pedagogical progress. The students loved what
we did, and were highly successful in the performance of it, but
we were terminated by the University because we were too
aggressive in our enthusiasm and because they couldn't afford to
change the publishing on a yearly basis as well as train the
teachers to teach the new material. The head teacher/researcher
moved out into the community and started a school with 300
students the next year.
She has been very successful but now does not recommend that
students study the piano as a living. She feels that the society
is uncomfortable with the Arts and that their lives would be
miserable so she teaches them for their growth and enjoyment but
does not encourage them in it as a vocation. The society
claims to be interested in change but is locked in the mud while
she taught change and the children became alienated from their
parents. The same is true with children who are computer
hackers. These highly innovative children would not be welcome
in any of the political societies that have been suggested or
produced thus far in large situations on this earth. It seems
that Democracy works best in "Costa Rica" as does Socialism.
Ray Evans Harrell, artistic director
The Magic Circle Chamber Opera of New York, Inc.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
