We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Posts I especially recommend for today: Wednesday, October 23, 2019

  • Who lost Russia? Part 1 and Part 2. By William H. Warrick III who is a physician practicing in Florida. Clearly this doctor knows history, but I can't agree with all of the minor details he mentions and the emphasis he puts on these details. From A bird's eye view of the Vineyard.
  • Tipping Points: Could the climate collapse? from Skeptical Science. (Two points: As most people know who follow my weblog, I believe we humans have already moved Earth's biosphere beyond some tipping points and we are destined for extinction. But what do I know? Granted I've been following reports from scientific sources for the past 50 years, but I am no expert. Secondly, I know that all of you will not find any humor in this piece, but I am posting it because many people find it unthinkable to contemplate thoughts about human extinction, and a humorous take on it can influence these people.)