[Dialogue] [Oe List ...] Wal-Mart and the weapons of mass destruction

[Diann McCabe]

I second your request, George.  Spent 3 hours last night planning for the
next few meetings of Democracy for Texas (Hays County) and we kept getting
sidetracked by very complicated issues that came up, from where we buy our
light bulbs to Carter¹s ideas on Palestine, realizing that all things really
do connect.   I confess that our method last night was one of sitting around
a table with lists in front of us.  Our inability (on the part of all of us)
to gain ³insight into the trends² is frustrating.  Technology to do a
brainstorm website, etc., might be a first start.  Again, I second the
motion but don¹t have a suggestion for now.--Diann McCabe


On 4/10/08 9:03 AM, "George Holcombe" <geowanda at earthlink.net> wrote:

> This string of responses makes me wonder if any one of us out there has the
> technology to do a brainstorm website that could lead to a gestalted chart, so
> we may have some insight into the trends?
> 
> The more I think about our concerns with Wal Mart, it seems to stretch out to
> the world.  I am reminded of Rod Wilson's point, repeatedly made, that rail is
> the cheapest most efficient form of transportation, yet, this nation chose
> shipping by truck, neither cheaper or efficient, has had impact not only on
> the climate, and our roadways (taxes, repairs, etc.), but now plays a big part
> in increasing prices, especially for the 1,000 mile salad greens, and presents
> a threat to continuing the whole system of supply.  The very well planned
> "Disaster Capitalism" which is so entrenched in our thinking, life style and
> politics, threatens to become a house of cards.  With Chinese and other Asian
> workers beginning to strike for higher wages, the source of cheap goods sold
> in the West may be running its course.  The 300% rise in grains is threatening
> both the food supply and economies of many countries, creating what is being
> termed the "World Food Crises."  The faltering middle class, not only in the
> U.S. (I understand it is disappearing in other parts of the world) and the
> hugh gains among the super wealthy, present an imbalance not seen before in
> history.  The very interesting proposal in the U.S. congress to begin a
> World-wide Marshall plan like that after WWII is a new direction in thinking
> of American politics.  The growth and speed of the internet, which is building
> many new consciousnesses and connectivities, is shifting the way we think and
> do things.  The list goes on, and the thing that keeps hitting me is that this
> is not the gradual change of  "business as usual," but more like the falling
> into the sea of the polar bears, something very radical is taking place.
> There are lots of books seemingly about this, but on reflection, I feel like
> they are written by several of the blind reporting on the part of the elephant
> they're touching.  I also notice that sometimes I have a hard time deciding if
> this is economic, cultural or political.
> 
>  Any thoughts?  Even better any ways to gather the input of this bunch into a
> trends analysis?
> 
>  
> George Holcombe
> 14900 Yellowleaf Tr.
> Austin, TX 78728
> Home: 512/252-2756
> Mobile 512/294-5952
> geowanda at earthlink.net
> 
> 
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