From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2007 #584 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/joni Website: http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Monday, February 25 2008 Volume 2007 : Number 584 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Health Care, njc [] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:24:31 -0800 From: Subject: Re: Health Care, njc Hi David, I agree with what you are saying for the most part. The problem I see (not with you but in general) is that "government" is swayed by the politicians who are elected to represent us. The older I get the more disgusted I am by most of them. They pander to a nauseating degree, promising to make everything a new world and perfect utopia. They have done this for years and yet no utopia ever comes into being. Many elected and appointed officials ARE truly corrupt and/or in it for themselves and for power and money and inside deals, etc. That is why I become horrified when people want to automatically turn it all over to them, thinking they are some big daddy savior for their lives that will fix everything for them. Isn't it better to teach, encourage or inspire people to stand up for themselves and realize their own individual power against oppression, whether it be from the boss, "the man" or from their government? When people band together to try to get things done at the grass roots and have confidence in their own power, lots more gets done than leaving it up to some anonymous and amorphous "government" entity. Kakki I believe that many people fear and suffer under "interference" from more powerful fellow citizens: those with comparatively overwhelming money, status, influence and the will to control by exerting these. For many people, government is seen as a protection against malign authority---but not "authority" in the sense of having been elected or appointed. The authority that concerns, frightens, oppresses many is the informal but no less real power of some of those who are the "winners" in our society. Competitiveness is part of human nature, but if there is, alongside it, any innate inclination toward restraint, I believe that too is worthy of respect, even reward. I think this is why I'd classify myself as a liberal. I know that elected and appointed officials can be just as corrupt and malign as a rapacious neighbor. But I think the elected and appointed are likely to be scrutinized and, if necessary, exposed sooner. ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2007 #584 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------