[Fredkc]

Sigmund Freud once said
"Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility"

I carry another one with me, by Paul Craig Roberts, a PhD in economics, and an adviser to Pres. Reagan. He has spoken out about our self-made financial ruin, and our wars based upon lies, from gitgo. It has cost him many friends, allies, and a good deal of his writing career.

"It may be that the American people are no longer educated, or interested enough to sustain a free society."

God I was mad when I read that! "How dare he (one of my fav. financial writers) say something so pessimistic, and hopeless about our/his country?"

He and I had corresponded before on his articles. I steamed and fumed for about three days, looking for the perfect way to phrase an email, that kept coming down to a simple, "You Jerk!"

And then came the "Aha! moment". I wasn't mad at him, at all ! What I was upset about was the fact that, having agreed with, and having written myself for years along the same lines as he, I actually agreed this was a distinct possibility. I just didn't like it - didn't want to admit it.

Sadder yet is, despite the growing number of "points of light" amongst our population, it seems truer by the day.

The fact is that, while the American people are easily led, we are also "slow to anger". This appears to be one of those cases. I don't think you will see the majority here angry over what has been wrought, until that majority finds itself alone and hungry in a world they've "allowed" to be brought to them.

Still I hope for better. We can do better.

___________________________

Many moons ago (1987), I spent 3 weeks in Karachi Pakistan, on business. The number of warm, friendly people I met really did floor me.

I spent 4 years in South America, so until that time, I thought I had a pretty good handle on what "poor" meant. I had NO friggin idea!

It was February. The trees that lined the streets, though devoid of leaves, were beautiful. They appeared to be strewn with multi-colored little clouds, or puffs of cotton candy, on every limb. We had hired a man, named Baluch (actually his nickname, as he came from the Baluchistan province) and his car to shuttle us around town.

I finally asked Baluch what they were. "Those are all the belongings of workers. Each day they bundle up their worldly possessions, and put them high in the trees before they go to work, to keep thieves and kids from fooling with them. At night, they come find their bundle, and then go find somewhere to sleep." Imagine a working populace that can't even afford an apartment.

One of the most lasting memories I have, occured while waiting for a red light to change. At the corner sat a man, his wife son, and daughter. They had "squatted" on an abandoned bus stop. In a lean-to, made from one piece of corrugated metal, sat his wife, and daughter. They were cooking. Out in front sat the man with the tools of his trade. A hammer, screwdriver, and tin snips.

Strewn about him were piles of empty cans, rusted out mufflers, and steel wool. An independent businessman, these were his "stock in trade". He would take a muffler, snip away the rusted parts, then clean out the rusted interior. After replacing that with mounds of steel wool, he would cut up and fashion a cover for the hole from an old Pepsi can, then using hose clamps, joined together, cover the hole with the formed Pepsi can and... Voila!

One repaired muffler, ready for sale!

Imagine an economy where even a rusted out muffler is STILL something too "valuable" to throw away. For a moment, put yourself there. Imagine having three hand tools, no home, no job! How would you provide for even yourself, let alone a wife and two children? Now that is true faith, and bravery!

It has been 20+ years since then. I sometimes wonder about that man, and the son he was training in the family business. Is he still alive? Did/was his son forced to carry it on, to keep family fed? Or did he somehow "change his stars"?

I am also struck by the question:
What kind of paranoid thinking does it require to presume our position in this world is made one iota better, or safer, by making war on this man?
Who could call it "just"? I know we can do better.

Give me a few minutes, and I'll type up another one. I want to post this one before I somehow lose it, or exceed the post size limit.

Fred