[Winona Online Democracy]
Dear Janet, Dwayne, and others:
You have struck a rich point, in my estimation, about building community and
understanding issues, process, and human nature. I think we lead by example
and teach by example more than any other method. The Victorian Fair is this
weekend - a great way to build community in so many ways - getting
acquainted with new people in the community and spending time discussing and
listening to other people's views, i.e,., what do people think about the
court house situation, etc. The entertainment and good food is wonderful.
Last week was the World Fair, a relatively new event, now in its second
year, was another great opportunity to get acquainted with many great people
in this community and become better informed about the cultures of the
world. Communities are build on trust and trust is only built when
relationships exist. Building relationships takes time. In the end, the
person who gets involved is the one who reaps the most benefit. Some people
don't need to be involved with other people, but contribute in quiet
reflective writings and have rich thoughts for reflection. We need many
different types to build community - the more diverse and inclusive the
community the better it is. Sometimes, the very best community is built by
staying at home and building a solid core there. What we may provoke in
this exchange is a more thoughtful process for individuals to evaluate how
they spend their time. Careers are not everything, but having money for
basic needs is essential. I see many people struggling with two jobs who
simply cannot make it given the wage scale they are paid. One of the
provoking questions I often ask myself, What's nice and what is necessary
to keep my balance with work and play, family and friends. I'd best stop -
this is getting too long.
BTW, if anyone wants to volunteer for helping people who are struggling with
the English language and who work at least 40 hours a week, I'd be pleased
to have your name and contact you personally to see if a match could be made
for these individuals - who really want to learn the language. The
organization called Project FINE is looking for more volunteers to help
people move to a higher level of the English language so they can also
advance eventually from their entry level job to better paying jobs.
Lee Luebbe
-----Original Message-----
From: Dwayne Voegeli <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Saturday, September 16, 2000 2:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Winona] Distractions and Democracy - the time factor
>[Winona Online Democracy]
>
>
>Hello Janet and Others,
>
>I agree with some of your points but I want to point out what I believe to
>be some important points.
>
>1. The "40 hour week" is a myth. How many people do you know that only
>work 40 hours? Most people, especially persons on salaries, work well over
>40 hours. And in many cases, that is not to live a life of luxury, that is
>to pay very basic bills.
>
>
>2. Your time break down left out many important items. Just a few of them
>include, getting ready for work, travel to work, house keeping, etc.
>
>
>3. I worry that so many of us know almost nothing about the histroy of
>work and people's rights in this country. The so called 40 hour work week
>was a major accoplishment that labor activists and union members had to
>fight for and, in some cases, die for. It was intended for ONE wage earner
>to support a turn of the century family size. Today, many times we have
>two parents or partners working to make ends meet.
>
>
>4. I wish people would realize that the way the world is not written in
>stone or has not been determined by the gods. We have the power to shape
>and control our lives. If enough of us dreamed about a better world, if
>enough of us realized we could change the world for the better, and if
>enough of us actually did something to make those changes
>happen,.....things could be changed. All we need are more dreamers,
>empowered people, and do-ers.
>
>
>Having said all that. I do want to state how much I agree with you when
>you warn about the dangers of getting wrapped up in careers. I believe we
>have been led to believe that happiness can be found in money and objects
>and we too easily forget where true happiness lie.
>
>Thank you for your feedback.
>
>Dwayne
>
>---------------
>
>
>>I've been following the discussion about Distractions and Democracy with
>>interest. One point that has been repeated is that we lack the time to get
>>involved. Someone has offered the solution that we should reduce the
>>"average" work week. Why? Look at your week. You have seven days of 24
hours
>>each for a total of 168 hours. Of that, the "average" work week is 40
hours
>>or only 23.8% of your total week. Assuming you sleep 8 hours per day,
that's
>>another 56 hours. If you total the two that's 96 hours out of your 168 for
>>the week leaving you with 72 hours (3 full days) to participate in other
>>activities such as family, government, community groups, recreation, etc.
>>The problem is not the work week, the problem is what we all seem to use
to
>>fill up our so-called leisure time. It all boils down to priorities. If
you
>>think it's a priority to get involved in a group or an issue, you will do
>>so.
>>
>>Perhaps if your "average" work week is too long, you need to examine where
>>your priorities lie. Are you placing more importance on your career and
your
>>job than on the other issues in your life? I've been there. I've allowed
>>myself to get so wrapped up in work and other activities that I didn't
have
>>time for the important things in life - like family and friends. It's not
a
>>good place to be. And it is hard to break that cycle, but it can be done.
>>
>>That's my two-cents worth on the issue.
>>
>>
>>--
>>Janet DeClute
>>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>>
>><HTML>
>><HEAD>
>><TITLE>Distractions and Democracy - the time factor</TITLE>
>></HEAD>
>><BODY>
>>I've been following the discussion about Distractions and Democracy with
>>interest. One point that has been repeated is that we lack the time to get
>>involved. Someone has offered the solution that we should reduce the
>>"average" work week. Why? Look at your week. You have seven days
>>of 24 hours each for a total of 168 hours. Of that, the
>>"average" work week is 40 hours or only 23.8% of your total
>>week. Assuming you sleep 8 hours per day, that's another 56 hours. If you
>>total the two that's 96 hours out of your 168 for the week leaving you
>>with 72 hours (3 full days) to participate in other activities such as
>>family, government, community groups, recreation, etc. The problem is not
>>the work week, the problem is what we all seem to use to fill up our
>>so-called leisure time. It all boils down to priorities. If you think it's
>>a priority to get involved in a group or an issue, you will do so. <BR>
>><BR>
>>Perhaps if your "average" work week is too long, you need to
>>examine where your priorities lie. Are you placing more importance on your
>>career and your job than on the other issues in your life? I've been
>>there. I've allowed myself to get so wrapped up in work and other
>>activities that I didn't have time for the important things in life - like
>>family and friends. It's not a good place to be. And it is hard to break
>>that cycle, but it can be done. <BR>
>><BR>
>>That's my two-cents worth on the issue.<BR>
>><BR>
>><BR>
>><FONT COLOR="#008080">-- <BR>
>>Janet DeClute <BR>
>>[EMAIL PROTECTED] </FONT><BR>
>></BODY>
>></HTML>
>
>
>
>**********************************************************
>
>Dwayne and Denine Voegeli
>
>Social Studies and Science Teachers
>Winona Senior High School
>901 W. Gilmore Ave.
>Winona, MN 55987 USA
>
>Home Voice Mail: (507) 453-9012
>School telephone number: (507) 454-9509
>
>E-mail address: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>Personal Web Page: http://www.jarviscomputer.com/voegeli
>
>High School Web Site: http://wshs.luminet.net/
>
>A Web Site About the City of Winona: http://winonanet.com/home.html
>
>
>
>"Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself."
>
> -- John Dewey
>
>***********************************************************
>
>
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