Submitted by carl on Fri, 2006-07-14 10:17.
Daily Dialogue Blog Entries
It's funny how dialogues work: forums (and threads) are sometimes not quite the same as the truly dominant themes. That's what I'm finding here. Alongside formal forum topics such as "Overall Response to the Material Domain Principle" and "Approach as a Whole," other themes are surfacing as axial points of the discussion. Here's today's list of such themes:
Consciousness-raising. Janos Abel notes that there are "powerful influences in positions of influence who ... are prepared to resist any serious change in [the] status quo. With 'serpent-like wisdom' we have to discern the false legitimacy on which their power rests ..." This follows on Portlandio's earlier critique of LAWCAP (lawyer-capitalism) as a "reality tunnel" that embraces scarcity, to our disadvantage.
Effectiveness. This theme is cropping up a lot. Buckyfan writes: "The fundamental question for me is 'How do we get there from here?' We can write and post in an articulate fashion, however, at some point, direct, positive, concerted action needs to be taken." Carl, a fellow with whom I am passingly familiar, seconds this: "I applaud this dialogue ... but without translation into the world of action it will only be oxygen in the closed system of the noosphere."
Spirituality. Mark Peterson recommends that we tap into the Universal Intelligence using a visioning process developed by the Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith. He also applauds the premise of "humanity evolving from the secular 'me" to the spiritual 'we' because it honors the oneness of nature and all life processes."
Feasibility. I guess this is what has been referred to elsewhere as the "despair question." Can sustainability really be achieved? Or, perhaps better framed, how radical must the transformation be in order for sustainability to be achieved, and what are the odds of that happening? For Janos Abel (and I hope I've captured his meaning correctly), there can be no sustainable economic behavior until and unless a basic subsistence income is made available for all.
Entropy. Paul Arnold proposes redefining the Material Domain principle as follows: "Harnessing the flow of energy and resources (toward increasing entropy and disorder by increasing the syntropy and order in whole systems) contained within natural and ... economic systems by increasing efficiency and synergy of these systems to the benefit of all mankind."
Bad Puns. A new theme, but one in this case that warrants mention. Morgan notes that "this discussion was initiated on the July 10th full moon," which he says is known as a Buck Moon ... he then makes mention (forgive him though he knows precisely what he does!) of the "July 10th Buck-Moon-Ster Fuller!"