Got to remember the polarities in the field
Friday 19 December 2014
Sunday 12 October 2014
A Balm for Sense. A Challenge for Humans.
There is something about this book that feels so familiar. Piketty's exposition is like the confirmation I have been seeking for the argument I have been meaning to make but have not had the language to communicate!
Piketty is not only someone who sees through the emperor's clothes but is doing so from inside established power hierarchies. This gives me some hope that there is potential for his arguments to influence change. Unfortunately I cannot see his ideas promoted by any political party bar green issues based pressure groups that don't have credence with the majority. I have no one to vote for who will give me the satisfaction of knowing that they are going to act radically enough to make a difference. Maybe one day? I am as subject to the need for immediate gratification as the rest of us.
Piketty is not only someone who sees through the emperor's clothes but is doing so from inside established power hierarchies. This gives me some hope that there is potential for his arguments to influence change. Unfortunately I cannot see his ideas promoted by any political party bar green issues based pressure groups that don't have credence with the majority. I have no one to vote for who will give me the satisfaction of knowing that they are going to act radically enough to make a difference. Maybe one day? I am as subject to the need for immediate gratification as the rest of us.
How do we encourage our fellow human's participation in something that appears to be so far removed from our everyday reality of food, sleep, work, entertainment (Society as Spectacle)?
Given the short attention span and need for immediate gratification at the expense of long-term sustainability of us human animals "it is easier to imagine capitalism collapsing than the elite consenting to [Piketty's solutions]." And if it collapses? Will that mean violent bloody revolution? Perhaps we deserve it?
My view is that we are worth more than that. I get a lot of pleasure from my fellow human beings too! As Mr J Lennon said "There's no separation. Were all one. "Give peace a chance," not "Shoot people for peace." "All you need is love." I believe it. It's damn hard, but I absolutely believe it."
"You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one"
Saturday 19 July 2014
Tuesday 6 September 2011
Animal Racing
What are we doing? Good ol' Richmond Town, Staten Island, NYC hosted its traditional annual country show with snakes, punk dunking, carni rides, all sorts of meat to eat, deep fried Oreos, red hook beer and dancing girls.
To cap it off a special attraction for all the family: PIG RACING and DACHSHUND RACING (complete with hot dog buns strapped to their sides!).
Feel free to comment.. for I have lost my power of speech.
To cap it off a special attraction for all the family: PIG RACING and DACHSHUND RACING (complete with hot dog buns strapped to their sides!).
Feel free to comment.. for I have lost my power of speech.
Auto-Baby
Seen in a shop upper east side NYC. You no longer have to trouble yourself with intimate contact with your child! A baby comforter that takes the humane out of human. Good luck children everywhere.
Friday 18 September 2009
Homelessness in San Francisco
I seem to be hooked on this at the moment. Extracts below.
4.45 am here in fog town and sleep aint an option. Terrific couple of days trekking the hills of San Francisco, Alcatraz, Union Square rich shopping and joining in a protest at city hall in support of the tribes of homeless people who inhabit the streets. Amazing what happens when you walk out without a strict itinerary and go with the flow. A mixture of free and liberal California as you expect but ruled it seems by a system that discards its sick and poor to fend for themselves.
Homelessness in SF is compounded by the city hall 'homelessness tsar' lack of systems thinking - why analyse the problem in any depth when you can quote the amount of money its costing you to run a 'pony' system!
We are visiting SF for the first time and are shocked at the tribes of people living on the streets. It does not appear on the surface as though SF has a health and social care system that works to care for its citizens. When I questioned the "homelessness Tsar" at City Hall he turned petulantly to me and quoted the amount of cash spent on the programme, saying that I needed to do my homework! Obviously he equates cash with success rather than using his eyes and looking at the waste of money he is overseeing on a system that does not work. I would have liked to have had a chance to debate with him but he stormed off. I suppose he had just come away from our visitation of the mayors office to demonstrate against the relay system of people being handed from one office to the next all over town, often finding 'no room at the inn'. I guess he had enough of the polite pretence of listening. Good luck with the campaign.
4.45 am here in fog town and sleep aint an option. Terrific couple of days trekking the hills of San Francisco, Alcatraz, Union Square rich shopping and joining in a protest at city hall in support of the tribes of homeless people who inhabit the streets. Amazing what happens when you walk out without a strict itinerary and go with the flow. A mixture of free and liberal California as you expect but ruled it seems by a system that discards its sick and poor to fend for themselves.
Homelessness in SF is compounded by the city hall 'homelessness tsar' lack of systems thinking - why analyse the problem in any depth when you can quote the amount of money its costing you to run a 'pony' system!
We are visiting SF for the first time and are shocked at the tribes of people living on the streets. It does not appear on the surface as though SF has a health and social care system that works to care for its citizens. When I questioned the "homelessness Tsar" at City Hall he turned petulantly to me and quoted the amount of cash spent on the programme, saying that I needed to do my homework! Obviously he equates cash with success rather than using his eyes and looking at the waste of money he is overseeing on a system that does not work. I would have liked to have had a chance to debate with him but he stormed off. I suppose he had just come away from our visitation of the mayors office to demonstrate against the relay system of people being handed from one office to the next all over town, often finding 'no room at the inn'. I guess he had enough of the polite pretence of listening. Good luck with the campaign.
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