KH
Or you could be philosophical and note that all governmental institutions
throughout history become throttled by their own bureaucracy sooner or
later. However do Western politicians imagine that tax payers will ever be
able to repay their governmental debts?
REH
Keith, didn't you grow up in the poverty of WWII in England? I was a dust
bowl WW II baby. I grew up in the midst of intense debt both here and in
Europe and it was worse before the war. The war increased the debt but
somehow we entered the most prosperous years in the history of the nation.
Governments ossify (There is a life cycle to all systems that seems to run
from 52 to 57 years times four or seven) The private sector destroys the
poor (losers) every 57 years or so. Both public and private sectors suck
but we need the them both and a healthy competition and balance can make
them both work. The only thing I know for sure is: as long as you have
your land, you have capital. If you don't protect it and develop the
spirit of your people, someone else will invade and take the land and absorb
your people. I'm much more afraid of the magnificent physical society
that China is building with whole cities designed by world class architects
to surround their people and inspire their initiative. I believe the only
choice you have in life is in the environment that you choose to teach you
throughout your life. If the environment is a dung heap then the people's
minds will be manure. Think of what has happened with Brazil and their
capital or India and Chandigarh. That was minimal compared to what is
happening in China. I think America was both changed and developed by
Sullivan and his student Frank Lloyd Wright. But today I see Oklahoma
turning their backs on the ideals and asserting "cost effectiveness" and the
children are suffering.
An enlightened, educated moral population is essential. Those types are
often living from day to day just as Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert and
the Schumann's did. But look at Germany now as a result of their having
shaped the ideals.
Stupid greed is individually debasing. From the beginning of my career to
the end (50 years), that decadence has been built into this system as both
rich and poor become more rich and poor and both dumber in the process.
Did any of you ever read what either of the Koch brothers have to say about
anything? They are not an exception to their class. What I've seen is
the intellectual and moral equivalent of the caste system in other
societies. I've seen white folks get rich and act much worse than the
Indians who struck it rich on oil and then were appointed guardians by the
white majority and eventually killed or just stolen from because:
"They didn't have much use for and
didn't deserve all of that wealth!"
Such nonsense was as you say "rubbish" and I've seen it all my life.
To take refuge in "everyone does it" is to give up your humanity and
personal responsibility. I don't agree or approve of either. My
religion nor my Art allows that.
REH
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Keith Hudson
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 2:17 PM
To: Ed Weick; RE-DESIGNING WORK, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, EDUCATION
Subject: Re: [Futurework] Don't worry and try very very very hard to be
happy!
At 14:31 28/06/2011, Ed wrote:
Some interesting items in our local paper (Ottawa Citizen). One dealt with
a sharp increase in disability claims by federal government employees in
2010. Nearly half of the claims concerned mental health and anxiety issues.
I've heard from a variety of sources that the public service is not a good
place to work now, with the threat of job cuts hanging over people's heads.
Even if your job is relatively secure, you're not sure you're going to be
allowed to do it as it should be done. I know of one case in which a public
servant's job is overseeing government expenditures in another part of the
country. It would be logical, even necessary for him to go and see what his
clients are doing on the ground. But, oh no, travel budgets been cut.
Can't do that. In another case, a friend who is eligible for retirement has
just not bothered going in to work. The atmosphere is just too bad. Who
needs it?
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Another item in the paper dealt with anger among postal employees who had
arbitrarily been sent back to work by the government. They were on strike,
but instead of at least giving things a chance to work themselves out, the
government moved in and sent the strikers back to work. One reason given
was that too many small businesses depended on being able to send invoices
out and get checks back. Well, mmmhmmm, I guess that could be a reason, but
the government should at least have given the collective bargaining process
a chance to try to work things out instead of shutting it off. It recently
did the same thing in the case of an Air Canada cabin crew strike. Nope!
Can't wait for collective bargaining. Service is too vital!
Yet another item dealt with ex senior Cabinet Minister Stockwell Day setting
up a consulting firm in possible violation of the Federal Accountability Act
which requires that public office holders to wait five years before
participating in lobbying. Day says that his firm would be advisory. It
would not lobby or connect clients to politicians or bureaucrats. Oh? Then
what would it do?
Altogether, it doesn't look like a good time to work for government or a
Canadian crown corporation.. But there are other things going on that
should make you happy. Hey, Will and Kate are coming! So elate and enjoy,
and forget about the silly stuff that you normally have to worry about, like
your job, you health or your pension.
Or you could be philosophical and note that all governmental institutions
throughout history become throttled by their own bureaucracy sooner or
later. However do Western politicians imagine that tax payers will ever be
able to repay their governmental debts?
Keith
Ed
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Keith Hudson, Saltford, England http://allisstatus.wordpress.com/2011/06/
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