Sunday, January 8, 2006
Higher?
I have to admit, the title of this blog is "higher passages", but these entries are quite low. All about politics and what's wrong with other people. Politics is a distraction, a symbol, a source of drama.
Problem number one: election system
We may already have enough smart, aware people in the US, but we are hamstrung by the election system. The other side can rig it. Problems two, three, and four, could be solved if we could elect decent people.
We need:
1. A verifiable voting system. These bogus Diebold voting machines are absurd.
2. Instant run-offs.
3. Parties outlawed. A party is nothing more than a gang. Every man vote your conscience every time. No deals.
4. No corporate involvement in politics. None. One man, one vote. No gangs.
5. Electoral college: gone. One man, one vote.
We need:
1. A verifiable voting system. These bogus Diebold voting machines are absurd.
2. Instant run-offs.
3. Parties outlawed. A party is nothing more than a gang. Every man vote your conscience every time. No deals.
4. No corporate involvement in politics. None. One man, one vote. No gangs.
5. Electoral college: gone. One man, one vote.
Small minds
Which is more significant:
a penny or a dollar?
a penny or 10 dollars?
a penny or 1 million dollars?
a penny or a large invesment portfolio diversified into energy stocks, foreign currencies, hedge funds, and real estate trusts, managed by four different investment houses, and overseen by a personal attorney in New York and an accountant in Houston?
Whoa, you lost me there. Let's talk about that penny.
We all have our limitations. As a thing gets larger and more complex, at some point, it surpasses my ability to deal with it. My mind has to be able to expand to encompass the thing. My mind might not be big enough to comprehend an investment portfolio. But it can handle a penny or a dollar.
Further more, it is hard work to expand one's mind. Given a choice, we'd rather not.
Our rulers have learned that. They create symbols. Small symbols. Small, easily understood , compelling symbols that we can all grapple with. Distractions. They take our minds off the complex stuff. The flag. Terry Shiavo. Homosexuality. Abortion. Jesus. God. Christmas. Osama bin Laden. Sadam Hussein.
What's the matter with Kansas? Why do people vote for harmful things? Small-mindedness. We focus on the small things. And miss the big things.
George Carlin said of yellow ribbons: they're symbols, and I leave symbols to the symbol-minded.
Eddie Izzard says: A murderer we put in jail. A serial killer we put in prison. But someone like Stalin who can kill millions upon millions becomes a hero. It's just too big and overwhelming.
a penny or a dollar?
a penny or 10 dollars?
a penny or 1 million dollars?
a penny or a large invesment portfolio diversified into energy stocks, foreign currencies, hedge funds, and real estate trusts, managed by four different investment houses, and overseen by a personal attorney in New York and an accountant in Houston?
Whoa, you lost me there. Let's talk about that penny.
We all have our limitations. As a thing gets larger and more complex, at some point, it surpasses my ability to deal with it. My mind has to be able to expand to encompass the thing. My mind might not be big enough to comprehend an investment portfolio. But it can handle a penny or a dollar.
Further more, it is hard work to expand one's mind. Given a choice, we'd rather not.
Our rulers have learned that. They create symbols. Small symbols. Small, easily understood , compelling symbols that we can all grapple with. Distractions. They take our minds off the complex stuff. The flag. Terry Shiavo. Homosexuality. Abortion. Jesus. God. Christmas. Osama bin Laden. Sadam Hussein.
What's the matter with Kansas? Why do people vote for harmful things? Small-mindedness. We focus on the small things. And miss the big things.
George Carlin said of yellow ribbons: they're symbols, and I leave symbols to the symbol-minded.
Eddie Izzard says: A murderer we put in jail. A serial killer we put in prison. But someone like Stalin who can kill millions upon millions becomes a hero. It's just too big and overwhelming.
Good leaders, evil rulers
Good men are willing to lead, but not to rule. Evil men are willing to rule.
Many good people are disappointed that John Kerry conceded the 2004 election so quickly. The Bush team was willing to ruthlessly exploit the system to win at all costs. Kerry wanted the system to work, and the only way it will work is if we let it.
The last great leader we had was Eisenhower. In WWII he stepped up to lead. The country accepted his leadership. The country wanted and needed a great leader.
People don't want a good leader right now. People are infected with greed and are willing to blind themselves to the realities.
Many good people are disappointed that John Kerry conceded the 2004 election so quickly. The Bush team was willing to ruthlessly exploit the system to win at all costs. Kerry wanted the system to work, and the only way it will work is if we let it.
The last great leader we had was Eisenhower. In WWII he stepped up to lead. The country accepted his leadership. The country wanted and needed a great leader.
People don't want a good leader right now. People are infected with greed and are willing to blind themselves to the realities.
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Teamwork
There are times when the willingness to submit to something greater is a good thing. A soldier might exemplify this. A soldier who does not know the strategy of his superiors, but does his job the best he can. A team player.
But this same trait also leads to the possibility of abuses.
It makes possible leadership - good or bad.
It makes possible a classed society, with leaders and followers, oppressors and oppressed.
What if humans did not have this trait?
But this same trait also leads to the possibility of abuses.
It makes possible leadership - good or bad.
It makes possible a classed society, with leaders and followers, oppressors and oppressed.
What if humans did not have this trait?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)