Re: A Society?

Tom,

I've just finished reading all your "ramblings" since May 7. I can't believe that there have been so few comments - ONE, I think. Is everyone on Vashon Island an ironic snark like you, or what? I ran across your blog via WAGREENS newsletter. I like what I hear you saying. The local GP went off life support over here (Spokane) a couple years ago.

Over here it seems we'll need to amp up the pain quite a bit more before the Peasants wake up, smell the asphalt being rammed up their noses, and get out in the streets with their pitchforks sharpened.

I've been paying scant little attention to the "health care" debate in DC. I've been about two-years-riveted to the greater-global-peak-oil story, and have, thus far not managed to look up from the texts of all things "peak" and "shrink" related. It might just be time to come back to life, and start trying to figure out how my wife's grandson's cohort might be able to eke out a sustainable existence. Between you and Dennis Kucinich, I think there are some interesting possibilities being hatched. Unfortunately, as you've noted, most of the Peasants - Vashon included - aren't yet filled with enough pain to be able to hear "Chicken Little Sings Cassandra!"

I'm pretty far up ( or down - depending on how you run the scale ) the cynicism ladder. I was born a pessimist, and haven't made much progress yet, after a little more than 60 years. I've been wondering for over 20 years just when this depression's trap door was going to drop. Even though I knew that we were chewing and burning through the planet at a rate guaranteed to deliver disaster eventually, I was still a bit amazed when the peak oil blowout smacked me in the face. Armageddan ( can't spell it NO way ) opening up in my lifetime!

I've written most of us off (perhaps a little prematurely) since reading Bill Catton's blood curdler - OVERSHOOT:The Ecological basis for Revolutionary Change. I do still think life on the planet, as a whole, will be far more viable when 99+ % of Homo arrogantus leaves the building. On the other hand, part of me thinks Jan's grandson deserves some chance to live a (more considerate) life, himself.

I like you musings on local Kwh currency, and on local Single Payer BASIC health care. Can't remember - was it you or Duff who talked about the current system being not a care system, but rather a profit system. It's not so hard to believe that capitalistic insurance companies have gamed this thing till it's dead. Trouble is - a society that pretends to be viable for 300,000,000 people manages to leave a bit too much room for anonymity. Vashon's 10,000 ? --- maybe that could work a little better.

OK, I think i'd better admit that I don't have an original thing to say tonight.

Thanks for offering evidence of intelligent life out there somewhere. Your ramblings read well.

Dan Treecraft
Spokane