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>From: "Brad McCormick, Ed.D." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: Durant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Re: The Ecology of Eden
>Date: Sat, Jun 19, 1999, 1:08 PM
>
> Durant wrote: Actually I wrote this (thomas)
>> >
>> > We need a council of elders to listen to the cries of the human tribe. Not
>> > Phd's and career climbers, but rice farmers and single mothers and lovers
of the planet.
Durant wrote:
>> You mean a decent democracy, not the mock-version we have?
Thomas:
No Eva, I was not suggesting a democracy. My thoughts were more in line
with an oversight committee. A group chosen for their demonstrated wisdom
rather than their professional training and yes, some Phd's even reach that
stage, probably about, in the same ratio as those who did not benefit from
a mis-education. These people, would not be those who decide but those who
listen and reflect and then put forth their answers as guidelines to balance
the special interest groups, politicians with their agenda's and the needs
of people and the planet to reach compromise and balance. In Canada, this
is supposed to be performed by the Senate but it has become an old age home
for services rendered in most cases.
Brad commented:
>
> Why not *both*?
>
> At least the PhD's -- not *all* of them are
> bad. Conversely, rice farmers and single mothers can have
> as "selfish" motives as career climbers (*some* of whom
> might not be as greedy in a more humane
> society?).
>
> If "love" was
> enough, then the cliche that the road to hell is
> paved with good intentions would probably never have
> been coined. E.g., what about the people who
> love "the planet" (Gaia, etc.) so much that they
> put the interests of lower life forms *ahead* of
> the wellbeing of persons?
Thomas:
I was not suggesting "love" as much as I was suggesting a group who sought
balance between a variety of groups but without the onus of supporting one
view over others. Rather a place of our accumulated wisdom which would
include words like love and equity and sharing and survivability and defense
of the needs of future generations. And yes, I think that we must put
"lower" life forms ahead of humans in many cases. We co-exist on this
planet with a wonderful diversity of species and most of them are part of
providing nutrients, soil, protection against other forms of life that are
not favourable to us and yes, even the mosquito has the right to live and
exist.
>
> But I agree about our having only a mock democracy.
> In a real democracy (irrespective of how good or
> bad it would be...), the big issues would be
> decided by the people and not by a few CxOs
> (be they "capitalist" or post-Soviet or whatever).
>
> \brad mccormick
>
> --
> Mankind is not the master of all the stuff that exists, but
> Everyman (woman, child) is a judge of the world.
>
> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 914.238.0788 / 27 Poillon Rd, Chappaqua, NY 10514-3403 USA
> -------------------------------------------------------
> <![%THINK;[SGML]]> Visit my website: http://www.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/
>
