Hi, Brad, I think that the human species is undergoing a massive transformation. It is inadvertent, but it is also self-propelled. It is without blue-print, and without automatic assurance that the transformation will be for the better. I think we hang between possibilities: for real systemic problems, or for great systemic improvement and the release of human creativity and energy.
So it is difficult to point to specific reasons for optimism, because everything we might do or try seems to be enveloped in such a massive environmental reality that our influence may seem trivial. Having said this, it is also true that we can be as influential as the next person, and that those who are active will have the lion's share of the influence. The activists will create the transformation, to the extent that it is created. And I would prefer to see it created than left to happenstance, or the inertia crated by individual ignorance and greed of a few. I have no formulae for action at this point, though do have a book in the works that seeks to make sense of this and propose a course of action. Meanwhile, though I live in the heart of the monster and have to deal with the stupidities of Bush and his group every day, I see no reason for pessimism on the evolutionary grand scale. Bush et al will be miserable footnotes soon enough... So I hope you will craft a little faith for yourself at this point; and not give up on the notion of applying your considerable talents to helping build that more beneficial world.... Cheers, Lawry -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brad McCormick, Ed.D. Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 11:39 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: 'Karen Watters Cole'; [email protected] Subject: Re: [Futurework] Bush in Pakistan and Cheney in the bush.... Harry Pollard wrote: > Brad, > > You nattering nabobs of negativity are all the same. > Some "people" (i.e., instantiations of unreflected social conditioning on the hoof as opposed to self-reflective self-accountable human individuality) accuse me of "negativity" -- and also of being against "change". I find it hard to be positive about things that I perceive as threatening the lower levels of my safe grounding in satisfaction of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and I am indeed against change for the worse. I'd really like to be upbeat! Solidly grounded reasons [substantive, not just semantic...] therefor are always welcome, along with their bearers! I once came up with a criterion for "honoring" others: I honor that person who raises me up. Conversely, in the area of theo-cosmology (the hierarchy of heavenly beings): No person rises so high that they cannot reach a hand down to help another up. Well, I've personally known at least two persons who had risen so high that they could not reach a hand down to help their *employees* up! I guess they are now somewhere above the thrones and dominations, and still increasing velocity.... \brad mccormick > (I couldn't find this in my notes. Maybe my ancient memory is > better than I thought - that is, if I got it right.) > > Harry > > ********************************** > Henry George School of Social Science > of Los Angeles > Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 > 818 352-4141 > ********************************** > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Brad McCormick, Ed.D. [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2006 6:01 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Cc: 'Karen Watters Cole'; [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Futurework] Bush in Pakistan and Cheney in the > bush.... > > Harry Pollard wrote: > >> Karen, >> >> As I said a long time ago, It would make sense for Cheney to >> > resign so > >> an acceptable (to Bush) 2008 candidate can get exposure as VP. >> > Most > >> money in an election is spent making the candidate known to the >> > > >> electorate. >> >> > Question: Well, what do you think Mr. Cheney was doing when he > shot > that poor lawyer? > > Answer: He was qualye hunting.... > > O, Spiro [Agnew]! Where are you when your President needs you? > > \brad mccormick > > >> A known candidate saves a bunch of bills. That thinking >> > determines who > >> the parties pick. >> >> Harry >> >> ********************************** >> >> Henry George School of Social Science >> >> of Los Angeles >> >> Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 >> >> 818 352-4141 >> >> ********************************** >> >> >> > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > ------- > >> *From:* [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] *On Behalf Of >> > *Karen > >> Watters Cole >> *Sent:* Friday, March 03, 2006 7:40 AM >> *To:* [email protected] >> *Subject:* RE: [Futurework] Bush in Pakistan >> >> I keep thinking today of all the muslim extremists in the >> > region who > >> would love to take a shot at excising GWB when he passes >> > through > >> Pakistan tomorrow. I can't imagine that there won't be at least >> some attempt, though one might expect that high security and >> > secrecy > >> should foil them. What might be the result if they succeeded, >> > though? > >> Cheney in charge, the US in a state of hysteria... >> >> -Pete V >> >> This is similar to the trip to S. America last year. Taxpayers >> > making > >> sure that Dubya and not Dead Eye Dick is on stage front and >> > center. > >> * * >> >> *Guarding Bush Abroad*: About *5,000 personnel* including >> > snipers, > >> commandos and U.S. marines using helicopters, bomb detectors >> > and > >> electronic jammers will protect Pres. Bush during his visit to >> > India > >> this week, officials said on Monday. The personnel would be >> > part of a > >> 3-ring security cordon around the U.S. president and First Lady >> > who > >> are due to arrive in New Delhi for their maiden visit to the >> subcontinent on Wednesday. >> >> >> > http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&story > ID=2006-02-27T101045Z_01_DEL115154_RTRUKOC_0_US-INDIA-BUSH-SECURI > TY.xml&archived=False > > <http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&stor > yID=2006-02-27T101045Z_01_DEL115154_RTRUKOC_0_US-INDIA-BUSH-SECUR > ITY.xml&archived=False> > >> In fact, this nightmare scenario of having Cheney as President >> > keeps a > >> damper on talk of impeachment. However, should Cheney face >> > those > >> charges himself for the Libby defense (just following orders to >> > leak > >> classified data, the Ollie North defense), the fear factor of >> impeaching Bush is gone. Rove knows this, that's why you can >> > already > >> find items like this in the MSM (mainstream media). >> >> (The GOP-friendly Washington Times [aka Moonie Times] online)* >> > * > >> *Insight reports that Cheney is expected to retire after 2006 >> > midterm > >> elections, *an increasing liability for the GOP. "Cheney's next >> > crisis > >> could take place by the end of the year, the sources said. They >> > said > >> the White House was expecting Cheney to defend himself against >> > charges > >> from his former chief of staff, Lewis Libby, that the VP >> > ordered him > >> to relay classified information. Such a charge could lead to a >> congressional investigation and even impeachment proceedings. >> > "Nothing > >> will happen until after the congressional elections," a GOP >> > source > >> said. "After that, there will be significant changes in the >> administration and Cheney will probably be part of that." >> >> Bush, the sources said, has rejected the advice from circles >> > close to > >> his father, the former president, to dismiss Cheney. They say >> > Mr. Bush > >> has long regarded Mr. Cheney as the experienced hand in >> > national > >> security, as well as being trusted by the conservative wing of >> > the > >> GOP. "/The Libby case is far more lethal than the hunting >> > accident/," > >> another GOP source said. "If the heat gets too much, Cheney >> > might say > >> his health requires him to leave office. Whatever happens, the >> president will make sure it's handled delicately." >> >> http://www.insightmag.com/Media/MediaManager/cheney3.htm >> >> ALSO SEE 25^th Amendment of Presidential, VP succession >> >> > http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment25/#f1#f > 1 > >> After the 25th was amended and Gerald Ford became the first >> > appointed > >> to replace a sitting VP, it leaves open the possibility that >> > Bush > >> could appoint a VP who would enjoy front row status for 2008. >> > Two > >> names that have been mentioned are Jeb, who is termed-out in >> > Florida, > >> and Virginia's Sen. George Allen, who has White House >> > ambitions. > >> Rove's choice would be to weaken McCain's rear guard assault on >> > the > >> White House. The media continue to describe McCain and Hillary >> > as the > >> front runners, but believing the MSM on this analysis is >> > dubious at best. > >> George Allen is a former state football hero, son of a >> > prominent > >> Virginian, photogenic, a lightweight "political suit". But the >> > RNC is > >> keeping him in reserve status. That's the funny thing. >> > According to > >> the media, the only turmoil ahead is in the DEM party. Unless >> > they've > >> already picked who, when and how, the GOP/RNC is going to face >> > some > >> real seismic events from the policy consequences Bush has >> > created. - kwc > >> > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > ------- > >> _______________________________________________ >> Futurework mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework >> >> > > > -- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21) <![%THINK;[SGML+APL]]> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------------------- Visit my website ==> http://www.users.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/ _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
