RSSA Few Words about Action on Global Warming
There's some sense to saying people should be doing something to change what's wrong in the world instead of just talking about it. Blogging isn't action in that sense, but it is something.
I'm a vehement centrist in politics, and that extends to just about everything, from social programs (or lack thereof) to economics.
I think it's common sense that the government is an essential function of our overall society, but its role needs to be balanced by and overseen by the governed. I believe that government is simply an extension of the individual: they represent our common needs, enforce the laws, and basically take on projects too big for us to do ourselves.
An issue like global warming is one of those projects; I believe someone called it the most important issue facing humankind. While we should be cautious not to overreact – after all, society needs to keep running – we have a responsibility to do something about it soon.
Compare global warming to Katrina. You think these clowns in the White House are going to act responsibly?
I think Lee's right: I'm just complaining. But American fascism has hit home for me. I have always voted against big-ears in every election since 2000. I wish there was something more I could do about it.
Labels: centrism, Global Warming, politics
I got the impression you were a bit more liberal than I am, but we've generally been in agreement on most of the issues I've raised. Personally, I view both the extreme right and extreme left as dangerous, because extremism clouds thought with dogma, discourages rational discussion, and resists compromise.
Centrism is a political position that acknowledges that both sides of the political spectrum have something important and useful to offer, and seeks to incorporate aspects of both into a workable compromise. This is a much saner way of reaching decisions than the either/or nonsense we have now.
Then again, as there are less central things to be fought over too, we can also talk about divisions such as liberals, enviromentalists etc.
I for one, am most probably what you would consider dangerous. I don't believe that capitalism can ever be humane (never has been), can't see any other true form of democracy than absolute/direct democracy of economicaly equal people...
Still, I'd really like to discuss this with you...
Socialism also has its problems on the opposite end of the spectrum (look at the Soviet Union), and can never achieve its goal of true equality for all.
So where does that leave you? Somewhere in between. America was founded on the idea that the government had to have some hand in regulating the economy while trying to also let competition and free enterprise thrive. It's a delicate balance and will never be perfect, but we have to try.
I also think that a direct democracy would be preferable to the representative sort of democracy we have here. And with the advent of the Internet, maybe this will become a reality some day. In this situation, the government can truly concentrate on doing what it is supposed to do: taking on jobs too big for the individual and supporting the individual in their efforts to live happy and productive lives.
As for the Soviet Union, well it did get a wrong turn, but remeber that socialism (in stark contrast to capitalism that constantly needs to expand) is by nature a passifist system that had to endure 2 World Wars, the cold war and a bitter Euro-led civil war. And as Nietzsche would say, the USSR by fightinf monsters eventually (i.e. Stalin) had to turn into a monster thinking it could thus survive. Silly idea really.
BTW, have you read anything by Marx? Visited Cuba perhaps?
Cheers!
PS Oh, and the internet sounds like a nice idea, but a miniscule percentage of the worldwide population has access to it. And the young USSR did manage direct democracy through over 150.000 soviets almost a century ago (albeit for less than 25 years)
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