[Dialogue] A Witness [Sort of]

[George Holcombe]

Yes, to all of this.  A piece that I don't see is what is happening at the local level somewhat removed from the spotlight.  The villages we worked in that I know about, and those Wanda and I worked in in the 80's and 90's are doing fairly well.  All around them are local organizations that weren't there in the 70's that are working on everything from how to deal with climate change to health.  While poverty has grown, and the industrialized nations seem to be ignoring it, there are shifts in attitudes in the 3rd world.  Even here in Austin where unemployment is not as bad as in other spots in the U.S., shopping local is getting a big push, local farmers' markets are growing, even the big grocery chains are trying to grow local and buy local.  We attended a local Women's business group in our neighborhood last Friday night, there were around 8 women in start up mode or established mode selling products they make or are distributors for products.  There are lots more glimmers of changes under the radar that I suspect will shape our future.

George Holcombe
14900 Yellowleaf Tr.
Austin, TX 78728
Mobile 512/252-2756
geowanda at earthlink.net

"Stay hungry, stay foolish"  Whole Earth Catalog via Steve Jobs

On Nov 28, 2011, at 10:36 AM, Bill Parker wrote:

> You are right. The economic power left unchecked destroys the economy! We have seen this played out over and over. It is not a simple question of who has what, but rather what is sustainable, or if that word is worn out as I believe it is, what is going to achieve equity in the process. An inequitable system is a corrupt system and has built into itself its own demise.
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wayne Nelson" <wnelson at ica-associates.ca>
> To: "Colleague Dialogue" <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
> Cc: "Order Ecumenical Community" <oe at wedgeblade.net>
> Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 9:51 AM
> Subject: Re: [Dialogue] A Witness [Sort of]
> 
> 
>> 
>> 2 things that seem pretty clear to me about the Occupy movement
>> 
>> The economy dominates society and it is creating it's own economic, political and social problems.  Duh. Our work in the late 60's and early 70's told us much the same thing the Occupy movement is saying now.  We recognized it in the protests related to racial equality and in the protests against the war in Vietnam and etc and etc and etc as well. Governments think their task is to expedite the will of those who control the movement, flow and distribution of resources. The details can be enumerated and have been over the years, but the details are not the point. It is the system itself and it's orientation that needs to be addressed.
>> 
>> The understandings that form the operating  foundations, structures, systems and the functioning mythology of our society are actually creating deeper problems rather than resolving them. Social contradictions have institutionalized and accepted as the normal way of doing things. Nearly every institution we'd  call a pillar of  "the establishment" has revealed itself to be corrupt, incompetent or both.  After a cascade of scandals and catastrophes, the implicit social contract lies in ruins, replaced by mass skepticism, contempt and disillusionment.
>> 
>> \\/
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> - - - - - - - - - - Wayne Nelson
>> wnelson at ica-associates.ca
>> O - 416-691-2316
>> M - 647-229-6910
>> 
>> 
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>> 
>> 
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