Collapse

I'm reading the book "Collapse" by Jared Diamond, he also wrote "Guns, Germs and Steel", and I am truly enjoying it. Why? People like me want to understand why the world is so crazy...and books like these speak to us and are appealing because they lay out a complex answer. I love complex answers! Complexity must open the door to creativity and creativity is so satisfying. There is out there in our society/culture the idea that our nation, like the Roman empire, either has or will get too big for its britches and will collapse. Diamond's book is definately designed to appeal to that slant and in a immensely round about way tries to, through historical case studies, suggest that we can avoid collapse...if we take a hard look at our actions. My body of work that this blog references is really doing the same thing. I certainly can't predict the future, but I can see and hear the many voices that wonder if we are headed toward collapse. As art should, I'm joining in the chorus and trying to play my part in the eternal process of self-fulfilling prophesizing that is, essentially, the way that society and culture are formed.

Hillary is in...

I've heard Hillary speak in the past and she gives me hope. I believe that she is sincere and dedicated toward fighting for prosperity through fairness. I am ready to work with her in trying to figure out the right end to the war in Iraq. That concept, "the right end" is exactly where we need to place ourselves today. The first question we have to ask ourselves is what should our relationship be to dependence on foreign oil? Do we need to control those resources at any cost? Can we exist independent of those resources?

The next question we need to ask ourselves is what role should our military play in the world? Should it only defend our country in times of imminent attack? Should it go to the rescue of societies that have broken down into chaos and genocide? Our military has within it an incredible reservoir of motivated, brilliant, talented leaders. It is a crime in my mind to see these individuals die in a conflict whose reasons for existence has become more and more morally questionable. Yes there is evil in the world, but is it really an "us vs. them" scenario? We can't shy away from conflict but we need to take a hard look at their causes and create international peace coalitions that can reccomend military action only when it is unavoidable. We need to take an active role in helping to control weapons proliferation and distribution throughout the world. I believe that this weapons economy can feed and foster conflict on its own.

This brings me back full circle; jobs at home. How can we build economies that are fair and prosperous, that do not depend on or require pre-emptive military enterprises? That "basic bargain" that Hillary speaks of; jobs, healthcare and environmental responsibility is something that I believe is surely attainable. I'm encouraged that she has begun her exploratory committee for the presidency with this idea of beginning a conversation. Her detractors will voraciously try to ridicule and put us on the defensive. We need to keep focused on what we need to do from this point forward. George Bush's strongest point was that he took action, rather than taking no action at all. It was the wrong action, and the time is ripe for our better plans to be heard, loud, clear and succinctly.

A Set of Expectations

I'm sitting here listening to the morning news and just clipped that phrase from the talking heads. It of course is in reference to Iraq. Here is some more: "We all share a vision of a free market in Iraq...the commitment to a free market is something we're all passionate about." Read "Collapse" by Jared Diamond...see what happens when a society expands beyond its limits. We need to find solutions that do not involve military take over...at least until we've figured out how to create our own perfect society in our own country.