Marianne, I like your idea that we need another Teddy Roosevelt to get us back to democracy and away from our oligarchy that's been certified by Citizens United! It seems to me we need to focus right now, all together, on figuring out the most important concern or factor that needs to be conveyed and resolved in order to truly start restoring our demcracy; then, let everything else fall into place. Otherwise, it seems, we all keep regurgitating what's wrong but solutions seem remote, even with short, middle, and long-term plans: meanwhile, time for life on Earth is running out--compounded by a reluctance of those with global power to truly address our climate emergency! (I've been pondering this for months: what's truly crucial to focus on in this moment of our global history to set things on a better path to thrivability.)
Thanks Marianne. I really enjoy those video chats where you get someone like this guy or a while back Nancy Maclean who really know how to analyse what is going on in society and get a good perspective. It is so easy to get swamped by all the disasters reported on by newspapers which are motivated by sensationalism. Of course we do live in an age of global emergencies but the best thing to do in an energency is fight the urge to panic and perspective is vital.
One thing I would say as a resident of the UK. You talk about there is more of a balance between government and the private sector in Europe and that may be the case on the continent but much less so in the UK which as you know has withdrawn from the EU. Since the economic crisis the government has brought about massive cuts in public services especially health and things like control of water supplies. I used to be a social worker but the kind of services I used to work in simply don't exist any more. As you know we in the UK tend to carry the USA's coat-tails and market rules OK just now.
All the more important to get as I said some perspective. Thanks once again.
What a great conversation! Thank you, Marianne and Donald Cohen. I’m looking forward to reading The Privatization of Everything for all the reasons discussed in your conversation, especially for the steps we need to take to turn our “Ship-of-State” (thanks, Joan Halgren for this term) AWAY from the Iceberg!
Marianne, I like your idea that we need another Teddy Roosevelt to get us back to democracy and away from our oligarchy that's been certified by Citizens United! It seems to me we need to focus right now, all together, on figuring out the most important concern or factor that needs to be conveyed and resolved in order to truly start restoring our demcracy; then, let everything else fall into place. Otherwise, it seems, we all keep regurgitating what's wrong but solutions seem remote, even with short, middle, and long-term plans: meanwhile, time for life on Earth is running out--compounded by a reluctance of those with global power to truly address our climate emergency! (I've been pondering this for months: what's truly crucial to focus on in this moment of our global history to set things on a better path to thrivability.)
Thanks Marianne. I really enjoy those video chats where you get someone like this guy or a while back Nancy Maclean who really know how to analyse what is going on in society and get a good perspective. It is so easy to get swamped by all the disasters reported on by newspapers which are motivated by sensationalism. Of course we do live in an age of global emergencies but the best thing to do in an energency is fight the urge to panic and perspective is vital.
One thing I would say as a resident of the UK. You talk about there is more of a balance between government and the private sector in Europe and that may be the case on the continent but much less so in the UK which as you know has withdrawn from the EU. Since the economic crisis the government has brought about massive cuts in public services especially health and things like control of water supplies. I used to be a social worker but the kind of services I used to work in simply don't exist any more. As you know we in the UK tend to carry the USA's coat-tails and market rules OK just now.
All the more important to get as I said some perspective. Thanks once again.
What a great conversation! Thank you, Marianne and Donald Cohen. I’m looking forward to reading The Privatization of Everything for all the reasons discussed in your conversation, especially for the steps we need to take to turn our “Ship-of-State” (thanks, Joan Halgren for this term) AWAY from the Iceberg!
Exactly! 100%