The "liberal/conservative" hash

The political polarization we see today is complete nonsense.  The hoi polloi has bought into it much too readily, with no shred of skepticism.  It has proven to be a brilliant move from one "side" to make itself germane, or more precisely, an effort to make conservative "thought" equal to the liberal views. It is simply a sham.

Imagine a circle as large or small as you want encompassing all possible views which might, at least should, no, must be considered necessary to make an informed decision on matters big or small. It would be the whole, or at least an attempt at the complete set of possibilities (and hence, impact) for an answer to any given societal issue. It would not be false (or somehow demonizing) to see this as being "open minded," or dare I utter the word- liberal. It would have, insist on, context. Now imagine a smaller circle which can be any size, but it is, by its very "non-liberal" nature, smaller. It can reside anywhere (its placement could result in as interesting metaphor) inside the larger circle. This is the conservative set of possibilities, always describing a limited and smaller set of solutions. It can't be the larger circle, ever, because it is not purporting to be all encompassing. To be conservative is to be limited and limiting, protective, not risk inclined (creative). So how does this apply? So what?

I am (possibly by genetic make up as we are finding out- oops, that is science, sorry) a so called "liberal" person. I think of the whole all the time. In some writings, it is called global thinking. I can't help it; that is how I am (sometimes it seems more of a curse especially when trying to make a point in meetings). I am not adverse to risk taking. But guess what? I often have conservative "thoughts" and often regard conservative positions as the best. What does that make me socially and politically? I can't say!

To make a general case - I believe in helping others (liberal?) but don't like it if my money wasted (conservative!). Just be as good with my intentions (tax dollars) as possible. Some dollars may be used for things of which I don't approve. That is the price of being a member of a larger society, rather than living under the control and constraints of the smaller tribe.

Or a specific case- I like to save money, live within my means and only borrow when it makes sense and pay it back.  Is borrowing conservative or liberal? I don't know, but it is necessary at times.

In both cases, I need to accept that I can never be completely satisfied that 100% of my money has been used wisely or that my borrowing is prudent. No system is so efficient (science, again) and no loan is really guaranteed. So you have to build in some wiggle room, since there will always  be waste and uncertainty. I know that some will cheat and game the system, that is human nature.

I also know that I have to borrow money sometimes- very wasteful for the borrower if you think about it. A good amount of money is required to live comfortably in the modern world. Since we don't barter any more, we use the banking system instead and pay it back. Is that liberal or conservative? I don't know- but we all have to do it. Some have learned to game this system in a non-productive way- money making money. That is an issue that surely needs to be addressed. But broadly speaking, only those that inherit escape the need to barter (borrow).

But to the point- liberal/conservative, right/left is nonsense... You need both mind sets to function. Sometimes you can be an individual.  Most of the time you are part of a whole.  You need the group. It is how we function as in a "society." Social.....ism.  I read today the notion that government is not a business. I have been making that (obvious to me) statement for some time. We need to get our apples and oranges in a row. Business is about making or providing products or service. Government is about providing structure to the society. You can' t build a scaffold on one side of the building only. The scaffolding needs to surround or encompass the entire structure. It needs to be generous to the point of safety. The structure can't be built otherwise.

I like the  idea of progress, making life better for all, because that will mean it is also better for me. I like thinking about the future more than the past. This requires considering many solutions, the bigger circle, picking some hopefully will work, some that will fail, but ultimately learning and improving. You can't build a better mousetrap by looking at the old designs. The mice are smarter, bigger and more mobile. What is found in the smaller circle has relevance mostly to the past and can provide a reference for the new- but is not going to be the solution for the present or the future.  By definition, it just can't...

The Look Down

I am enjoying the ravine as much as ever, the leaves down and the bare trees allowing for a view up Nail Creek as it winds toward the dam.  To be perched above the creek creates a wonderful perspective on a constantly changing geography.

Would that our leaders perched on high could see the changing landscape as well; or see anything for that matter, other than their personal well being. I mean those anointed leaders of the local woods as well as those in the forest. A basic understanding of the world you are supposed to be "in charge of" would be a minimum requirement, needing some study, true,  and less ideological entrenchment, very true.

But they are in charge- we are not. They know what to do- we don't. They are- we are not...      

Howard Zinn

I have been reading Howard Zinn's People's History over the past month. Eye opening and instructive, it makes one aware of the struggle from inception this country has been engaged in; for all to be treated with dignity and equality. From the relocation or slaughter of the Native tribes to indentured Africans, abused Irish and others not of Anglo-Saxon descent or the upper class, the history is maddeningly sad. It may evoke a surprised response from the newly educated (in hearing a "complete" history), but to those of us on in years we simply acknowledge the repetition, shaking our heads, and cave in frustration at the utter disdain one set of humans can have for another. Why should we believe it will ever be any different?

So history is now.  As I read Zinn's accounts of published opinions and rally cries of the past, I know that they could be and in fact are being written and expressed today. We have made certain progress on issues of acceptance, but the levers of society are still firmly in control of the monied class. The current economic mess is just more of the same. When will we ever learn?

Leaders

It is apparent that the least qualified individuals become our so called leaders far too often. Elections may be the foundation of our system, but the result, the winner, is from a field of the self-selected, not necessarily emotionally capable leaders.  Start with national elections.  When did it become necessary for almost all candidates to be lawyers?  We need problem solvers, thinkers, coming from various walks of life, and not just those financially well off or looking to be. We need them to be in session less, working for a living more. We need less knee jerk ideology and more thoughtful consideration of the big picture.  The lawyers can write the laws as legally required.  Make them work for a cross section of a truly representative congress, not the arbiters of society.

I am a "liberal" globally and a "conservative" locally. That is, I believe at the federal level the interests should be the broadest, inclusive to a fault the goal being balance. We are a capitalist democracy (assuming the two can coexist), with the supposed emphasis on democracy. Let the feds raise revenue and fund those areas that capitalism denies, those areas of society that are not "needed" to survive day to day, or that are not sustainable by the individual alone but are just as important to the quality of existence.

The main function of forming a government is a recognition of and response to the need for society to organize in the first place, as, do we all agree (?) anarchy will not sustain a species. Government should be rather easy to define and simple- security and health for all people and the support of culture or in our case cultures. In the contemporary ideological mosh pit the response to this notion is a din of phony or ignorant cries of socialism (ironically from those who have no problem with the government financially aiding profit seeking and hence, capital ventures) or most stupefying- communism. Socialist or communitarian ideas must be the very foundation of a government. What is organizing about?

You want the market, but let it work or fail- especially for the big boys. Better yet don't allow them to get so big! I thought we had laws that prevent this, for good reasons (one wonders what happened to antitrust enforcement). The mergers have long been a way around competition. Help the small entrepreneur, not the big guys! Capitalism! But to let all things become profit commodities is harmful to the good of the whole. Railroads, energy, food are examples of how the model went awry.

As for government's role it seems all peoples in history form a coalition of some sort for some very good reasons.  We are best able to defend, build infrastructure and promote our best interests as a community much more efficiently than as individuals. Any individual's money does not represent the best interest of the community as a whole. We are seeing a return of the cycle of great individual wealth which is again leading to great upheaval in the economic systems. We are an upside down pyramid with no balance- precarious and leaning.

Security, health and culture, the very reasons to organize, are best served when not in the profit seeking markets. One model, the private solution, simply doses not fit all aspects of life.

As for local government, we would be best served using a city management system as some small cities and villages do.  Elect a group of councilmen to pick a qualified, well educated person to run the city!  What we have instead is the good ol'e boys giving gifts of positions to those who have helped in the election.

The solution to a problem like that of my favorite ravine should be the result of knowledge and experience, not based political notions, but intellect. Instead we get hollow declarations that something will or is being done. Until the next election when little has changed. 

Pass the Buck

The local leaders are not letting things get out of hand. No, they are taking action! By dredging the ravine at its source (South Woods) and where the ravine goes underground (the real problem) at Genesee St. downstream of a debris catching dam.  Just above of the dam, and on our property, the ravine silts in with shale over time or after heavy rainfall.  The city used to clear the ravine of debris regularly and lightly dredge before the dam.  This worked fine because it was done often during the rainy season.

Now, we have to use large machines to do the job that a few hours of manual clearing would accomplish if done regularly.  And, of course, the problem is the fault of the suburb where the ravine sources.

The  problem needs the expert opinion of a geologist or scientist who specializes in rivers and streams.  I can say that even an 8th grade class in earth science suggests some simple solutions.  Meandering streams never quit meadering! The men and there machines actually made the situation worse! They pulled away the shale bed from the away side of the meander and dumped the debris on our property.  The result:  the banks on the other side are already eroding which will eventually pull down the trees making the debris worse; shale has silted in above the dam already; the base of the trees on our property were buried in shale thus eventually kill them, adding to the problem.  So much for the smart leadership we so need.

By the way, "the leaders" want someone else to pay of course.

I am spending time each day digging he shale out from around the tree bases. Hard work for what I hope salvages something from this fiasco.

Welcome to the Ravine

Living in a small city in upstate NY has its advantages.  The countryside, weather (seasons!) and proximity to just about any cultural or recreational venue is well known and certainly appreciated in these parts.  It is also a place of very, very slow progress. Excruciatingly slow! Entrenched, good ole' boys, too many friends, slow! I will use this site to muse about the good and the sad- how we take care of our basic needs in society, locally and globally. The micro and the macro.  And, sadly, the utter lack of leadership and accountability on the part of our so called leaders.

I should say I am "liberal" in thought (I am not sure how anyone can be otherwise) but mostly "conservative" in acting.  But that begs the question of what these words actually mean. I think we, as a community, should have an all encompassing, broad societal view, but be careful and smart in the implementation and conservation of resources.  That creates (apparently) nuances that some just don't have the means to handle. That is our society's fundamental problem...

Ironically, as I am writing this, the city is dredging Hallacks Ravine (the correct spelling? I have seen it spelled various ways- I am going with what looks good to me).  This is after Hurricane Irene posed potential flooding to a main street (Genesee, as many in cities upstate N.Y. name their key artery).  Having happened a few times in recent years, the politicians, who previously took the heat, are now making sure that flooding will not happen again, at least while they are in office. The solution is mind boggling.

As I watch the dredging, I can help but think of how little sense it all makes.  It will just silt in again as it did from an earlier spring dredging. My wife and I predicted the repeat of the situation as we watched in June. The problem was not solved. And worse, as I look at the work being done this afternoon, the result is most likely to destroy the natural beauty of this city's natural treasure.

And there is the rub. This is a theme in our politics these days; probably has always been that way. But this condition comes from a lack of education, no clear sense of community and the paranoid need for politicians to look good (like they are doing something) rather than truly solve problems.  Many good people work hard to make improvements, no doubt. But good leadership is missing in all too many cases. The very workers (contract, not city) who were dredging the ravine today to "solve the problem," actually left their empty coffee cups behind in the ravine, trash as it were. Who do they answer to? So who cares????

If you look for "happy talk," this won't be the place.  That kind of cheerleading leads to more of the same. A critical eye and predisposition is necessary. It is not being negative as the "leaders" would have you believe. Just the opposite. Nothing ever improves or progresses when the closed or uncritical mind is at work.

I am not a politician. I don't have the demeanor or lack of shame to play that game.  But I will speak.  If your are listening, let me know.

So welcome, please feel free to respond.  The community needs it.