A Feather in the Wind

[jsanders]

For a while I had hopes.

Hopes, that we could affect a real difference. The problems that the human race faces are more insidious than most people understand.

But by no means are they insurmountable, nor do I think we will ultimately succumb. But the reluctance of people, even the highly intelligent ones I’ve met here, to confront these problems with the intent of actually making a difference, is astounding.

We have bickered and cajoled each other for our ideologies and political positions, and have accomplished nothing of any substance.

Maybe my expectations were misguided. Months ago I would have said, we will make progress. A grass roots movement is ready to be unleashed. We will leave this place better than we found it.

Truly some of you are among the brightest, the human race produces, yet we make this a joke, and the jokes on us. While we bicker; the over consumption of the resources of the planet go on at an unsustainable rate.

The misery of people around the world continues and what do we do? We deride our leaders, as if only they can make a difference. We must take back control of the planet and make it in to something our antecessors can live in and make better themselves.

We have to create a global culture of sustaining resources and promoting the self actualization of all people.

As long as we continue to blame anyone but ourselves we will continue down this path of destruction. Now, is the time people, to put aside our inconsequential differences and unite to make this world a better place.

I’m hoping this thread will get some positive ideas and not a lot of bickering but as I said earlier, hope is fleeting.

 

[Andromeda]

aww.. that was a really good read.. a very postive outlook in life is what we need right now.. tHank you so much for sharing your thoughts.. I just had a flash back of the movie " Forest Gump" really cool...

 

[Rich]

Fine rhetoric Josey, it just lacks any substance

 

[Len Boorman]

Likewise I agree with the substance but as always a but.

I live in a democracy where once elected MP's will do what they think is best with basically no regard to my thoughts and wishes (until we get close to another election. Emails to Blair do not get an answer.

Basically they have employment and like most employed people are most interested in retaining their jobs. Tha tis the primary interest,

Now for the EU. Again the accounts have been rejected by the auditors for the eleventh year in succession, What company would be allowed to continue to exist under these circumstances.

Consumption of natural resources. Basically there is a buck to be made and there will be someone prepared to make the buck and bugger the consequences. Similarly in lots of areas there are those prepared to turn a blind eye for a backhander.

So apart from a world wide revolution by the good guys I am afraid that we must wait until leaders are elected that are prepared to put there money where their mouth is and stuff the politics and sort out the problem.

Hmmm think this would need some form of autocratic leadership to at least get it started. But who would you trust with absolute power ?.

Me ?.

Len

 

[BarryMK]

But who would you trust with absolute power ?.

Me ?.

Len

Me! or at a pinch Col

Yeah but, no but -- you're right Len, self interest is the overwhelming drive for most if not all politicians. Power corrupts etc....

 

[jsanders]

I’m sorry,
It was not my intent to provide substance, only the whisperings of direction. If indeed we can agree on the direction, then it will be up to people like us to offer proposals that will accomplish the goals.

If we don’t do something, I don’t think waiting for the politicians to do it for us, will result in the discontinuation of the destruction until we (the human race) have no other options left, but to solve it.

That, unfortunately, is the historical path; confronted with our ultimate demise, we choose to take a wait and see approach.

Too busy making post I suspect.

 

[Rich]

Let's have your proposals Josey, let's have 'em

 

[jsanders]

Let's have your proposals Josey, let's have 'em

Well Rich,
You are (at least in your own mind) every bit as smart as I. I would welcome some from you as well.

This is the hard part isn’t it?

The vision I have for discussion groups is one of education. I currently belong to another group where we actually solve technical problems similarly to the highly successful Technical sections of this site.

For some reasons, mostly emotional I imagine, we don’t seem to be able to utilize those methods here.

So the first question is really how do we get several million people to “sign on to a program of benefit to all mankind”? It not going to be easy and I am not great enough to bring it about myself. But I think together we can.

Take something simple, or at least simple in the context of global problems. The destruction of the fisheries for example.

We’re down to the last 10% of the largest fish within a species, the ones primarily responsible for breading. The trend now is for complete extinction of most of the major food fishes (plural in this case, for multiple species, before any of you decide to correct my grammar).

Yet the fishing pressure is actually increasing because the lack of quality catches is driving the individual fishermen in the fishing industry to produce more.

One answer may actually come from the market. Fish and aquatic farms are sprouting up all over the place. But a big problem in America is mercury, 80% of our fresh water fish are contaminated past the point of safety for pregnant women.

So, as you can see, even the simple ones are not so simple. The answer here is that the congress should get 40,000,000 emails telling them to get up off their lazy asses and fix this.

For all you Bush lovers. During the Clinton administration the EPA had several power companies under criminal indictment; after QWB got elected they were summarily dismissed.

Yes the answers lie with the elected officials but the real power lies in organizing millions of people to force them to carry our wishes. This will mean involvement during off election years as well as the current, cursory involvement during them.

And it will also require people like us to spend time forcing this to continue, over and over again. The momentum is against success in this endeavor, both personal and public.

 

[jsanders]

aww.. that was a really good read.. a very postive outlook in life is what we need right now.. tHank you so much for sharing your thoughts.. I just had a flash back of the movie " Forest Gump" really cool...

You’re absolutely right, I am a little simple.

Life to me, is a box of chocolates.

 

[Rich]

Well it's a noble sentiment but it isn't going to happen under your current leader. (I've deliberately ommited his name so as not to frighten younger members of the board)
Therein lies your answer call out the National Guard and have him removed from office.

 

[jsanders]

Haven’t you heard? The pen is mightier than the sword.

And millions of “pens” can be mightier than any one person, even a misguided world leader.

 

[Len Boorman]

The fishing industry in the UK has taken a severe bashing basically at the hands of the EU.

So a suggestion of a solution

Listen to what the fisherman say firstly.

Then declare 200 mile zone around UK in which no foreign fishing boats are allowed.

Realise this takes in a bunch of the French and Irish mainland so sorry about that and providing you speak English or something close you will be allowed to fish in your own lakes and rivers covered by the 200 mile zone.

Sounds crazy.

It is well known that a number of our EU partners (huh) totally flout all EU regulations regarding quotas and limits. The totally daft situation whereby the mesh size undersize fish are caught that must be put back. The point that the fish are now DEAD seems to have completely eluded the powers that be.

As I said previously it needs somebody with a bit of spine to take control and do a bit of hard sorting.

How do I get say 17 million people of their apathetic bums to install me for 5 years as the democratically designated autocratic ruler of the UK. ?.

L

 

[Rich]

How do I get say 17 million people of their apathetic bums to install me for 5 years as the democratically designated autocratic ruler of the UK. ?.

L

Offer them a bribe
oh by the way, Iceland has managed to both control and maintain its fish stocks

 

[Len Boorman]

Offer them a bribe

Bugger

Didn't think of that.

L

 

[jsanders]

Offer them a bribe
oh by the way, Iceland has managed to both control and maintain its fish stocks

Unfortunately for them evidence suggest that the migratory habits of fishes, are leading to a global decline, even in areas where local remedies are in effect.

 

[jsanders]

the only real answer is aquatic farms, the sooner the better.

 

[Rich]

Unfortunately for them evidence suggest that the migratory habits of fishes, are leading to a global decline, even in areas where local remedies are in effect.

Because of global warming? and we all know where Chump stands on that issue

 

[Rich]

the only real answer is aquatic farms, the sooner the better.

but it's not that simple, farms lead to various forms of infestation that has to be treated, more chemicals down our throats

 

[jsanders]

but it's not that simple, farms lead to various forms of infestation that has to be treated, more chemicals down our throats

The problems are too numerous and the details of them are beyond the scope of this prose.

Thank you all for participating in the spirit of this trial.

Now I have a couple of questions.

Do you think it’s possible to actually start a grass roots movement? For decades people of free nations have gotten together in the local pub, barber shop, of coffee house, to discuss and change their local politics. Well now the whole planet is local.

Doesn’t if seem fitting we could still change the local ones?

Sorry I derailed my own thoughts.

So, the first question.

Can it be done?

Second. How do we do it?

 

[jsanders]

By the way Rich.

I would love to start a thread on the fishing industry. Complete with research and real facts.
Would you like to help me sir?