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

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Troops deployed in quake-hit Chile

from Al Jazeera. Isn't it interesting that the first priority in capitalist countries after a disaster is to rush in troops to secure private property (life saving food and water from nearby stores), rather than to rush in food, water, medical supplies, and physicians. What would you do if your area was the scene of a devastating natural disaster and you were hungry, thirsty, cold, and injured and there was a nearby store (damaged also) with all of the provisions necessary to take care of these dire needs? Perhaps you would stand patiently in front of the store waiting for it to re-open for business?