Tell me I'm Wrong

[HCE SuiGeneris]

A lot of agendas. Pissing, moaning and a whole plethora of issues.

There is a butt-load of concerns strewn across the table... all crying for attention. What issue is the most pressing? I mean, really. Which is it?

Sons and daughters dying? Their bodies fodder to shield the oil companies from a potential downturn in revenue?
Moms, Dads -- their elderly parents... turned out into the frozen streets wondering if spring will be a harbinger of better tidings?
Manufacturing plants, retail stores, local banks, the oil change outlet... battening down the hatches for good.

What really gets your goat?

Tell me it's not a politician trying to alleviate some of these concerns.

Let's build something. I mean, really build something. We can do it if we keep the focus honed.

We are so damn good that we survived these last 8 years and our spirit has never been stronger, our resolve has never been more tenacious, our goal... never, ever, been so clear. This is our life. Our children's lives. This planet's life. One step at a time, and absolutely resolute in our progress. No one but ourselves is responsible.

[ColbertWatcher]

1. "What really gets your goat?" That I'm told in a country of 300 million ...

... we can only do one thing at a time.

We better to be able to do more than one thing at a time, otherwise we're really screwed.

On a related note: I hate being told I have to choose between my rights and my security.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

2. We are inundated with shiny objects.

DU is very good at sifting through the chaff. Plenty of energy to keep the important plates in the air.

[RoyGBiv]

5. We can do dozens of things at a time ...

... as long as we're doing them all at the same time. It's when we try to separate them and address them individually without consideration of how all these issues interrelate that we get into trouble.

[ColbertWatcher]

25. Good point. n/t

[RoyGBiv]

3. Everything is connected ...

You ask, "Which <issue> is it?"

That's the wrong question.

If we look at what faces us in terms of single issues, we will fail. If I were forced to choose an "issue," I'd choose the economy, but the economy is a massive issue that involves the environment, war, civil rights, etc. They cannot be divorced.

We will tackle these issues one step at a time and, hopefully, with some grace and intelligence, but if we are to have any hope of success, we must consider them individually as a part of a greater whole.

Lincoln only wanted to save the Union. To do so, he had to eradicate slavery ... and all that this entailed, which was nothing less than a thorough restructuring of the economy, redefining various international relationships and restructuring the social order of the entire nation. This was no small thing, and it was painful.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

7. Roy

You speak to my heart.

The gist of my post was to expose the energy loss in pursuing fractured agendas. There is much to be gained in working together.

[RoyGBiv]

12. Very much ...

If it means anything, in the real world (that would not be here), we're doing a lot of working together, and I think we have enough momentum at the moment to put that energy to great use.

The local groups with which I am involved have remained very focused while still voicing their disagreements. Those disagreements are expressed in an atmosphere of open discussion without prejudicial assumption. At the end of the day, we all know we're on the same side and working for the same goals, even if we disagree on tactics.

As an example, we just managed to get reduced the community college fees (by half) of potentially about 20,000 people. This will be a good thing.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

13. That

happens daily with real involvement.

I applaud your latest gain, sir. Well done.

[RoyGBiv]

15. I have to add this anecdote ...

And it is just an anecdote, one story among thousands, but it meant something to me.

A student came to me about a week ago in a tizzy. She had *no* idea how she was going to pay for school. Her Pell Grant had been reduced, she'd just discovered, and she was having to work fewer hours at her job because of certain classes she had to take that were only offered at specific times.

I pulled up her account ... smiling broadly internally as I saw it ... and discovered she was one of those 20,000. Last semester, with her Pell, she'd taken 12 hours and still had to pay about $500 for her classes, not including books. This coming semester, she's taking 15 hours so she can graduate in May, but because her tuition was decreased and even though her Pell was also decreased, she's got enough to pay all her tuition and fees *and* still has about $200 left over for books.

I told her this, and after the initial shock and disbelief wore off, she started crying.

Awesome moment.

She'll be a registered nurse by summer.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

17. Always,

there is hope. Always, there are those that foster goodwill. Always, there are people that care.

Thanks for teaching them well, Roy.

[Mind_your_head]

10. Roy this should be it's own thread. Please start one (you're so right-on with this) eom

[RoyGBiv]

19. Well, thank you ...

I hope I'm right, mostly in believing that in the larger world we are, in fact, working together for a purpose.

I'm a student of 19th century politics. As they say, there is nothing new under the sun. We've seen all this before and will see it again. Every day I read the headlines and am reminded of something that happen a hundred or so years ago and how all that was addressed.

As difficult and tragic as it was in moments, we, to borrow from Robert Wuhl, got through it. And we will again. We get better at it as time goes along.

[Sherman A1]

21. Agreed

We must look at the whole board, because so much is interconnected. Fixing one problem such as energy independence can supply good jobs, which in itself fixes a whole bunch of other problems.



:toast:

[madeline_con]

4. Never mind

It seems I'm wrong whatever I post lately. :cry:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

8. Missed the point.

Shame on you.

[RoyGBiv]

9. No it isn't

[HCE SuiGeneris]

14. Not to worry.

Attitude runs in linear fashion. Best to be on the positive track. Just switch trains. B-)

[RoyGBiv]

22. Dunno if you'll see this ...

(responding to the edit)

But I just want to say that it's understandable.

DU, as a group, sits on the edge of a knife these days, which is tragic, but expected. We are empowered now, and with that power comes both a great desire and a great reckoning. We desire to do great things. We will be forced to reckon with the fact that none of it will be as easy as we want it to be.

And that will lead us down odd paths.

It's not about whether we as individuals are right or wrong. We'll be both, and we'll get through it.

[PurityOfEssence]

6. Withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan and make quick moves on the economy

These are linked, if one can balance a simple checkbook...

We must specifically and unequivocally state that deregulation and private greed is what brought about our financial disaster, and we must enforce transparency on ALL forms of investment. We need to address the changing world, drastically reduce our energy consumption and re-tool for a sustainable future. Our recent past has been one of squandering: plundering the future and leeching off the past. We need serious public-works intervention, and this looks like it will happen and happen where it is most needed.

We are teetering on a brink of financial ruin here, and all efforts should be bent to keep from toppling over the edge. Still, I hope we have the fortitude to stop the further encroachment of religion, but times of uncertainty bring more of this silliness, and it doesn't look good.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

11. "Our recent past has been one of squandering: plundering the future and leeching off the past."

You are correct. It has been a free-for-all... but only free in the respect that we have strip-mined the planet.

The good news is... together, we have the wherewithal to not only ameliorate the damage, but the temerity to make it happen. I say, there is no better time than now. Enough whining. We can do this.

[RoyGBiv]

20. The Temerity to Make it Happen

I *like* that phrase.

I will be appropriating it.

[fla nocount]

16. Food, shelter, water for everyone..let's work from there.

Secure those and then think of higher things. First concern is now, next is today, then there's tomorrow and before you know it you're planning and securing a future.

I sometimes think that the point we too often forget is that all of us will get out of this together or none of us will get out at all.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

18. 'zactly

:thumbsup: :hi:

I'm off to bed.

May peace find us all.

[quaker bill]

23. Reduce the violence

all of it, here and abroad. The violence of our military, the violence against our environment, the violence against civil dialog, the violence against the poor, the violence against same gender orientation, reduce all of the violence. It is everywhere and we could use a great deal less of all of it.

[zeemike]

24. What is the most important thing?

To stop the divisiveness that has been in place for decades.
We are a divided nation and that is by design and not an accident.
Already the GOP are planing Clinton II...and they have started by dividing us up into warring groups each thinking that theirs is the important goal and each thinking that they are right and are justified in fighting with each other.
We allow the GOP to control the dialog and the media is more than willing to stir the pot for them.
And that is why all attempts to reconcile our differences must be stopped by pointing out that the other side is the evil one, and we never negotiate with evil, never speak or listen to them and always oppose anything they say.
There is a way to stop this and it is called turn the other cheek.
And the ones that want to fight will say that turning the other cheek and not striking back is cowardices but the real truth is that a coward would run away or fight back...it takes real courage to stand your ground and not be drawn in to violence. Gandhi new this and so did MLK and both were successful in their attempts to reach their goal.
My hope is that Obama understands this and has learned the lessons of history, because if he has not history will repeat itself.