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

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Fire BP, Remove Them from the Crime Scene and Let a Team of Experts Fix This Mess on BP's Dime

from Washington's Blog. 

As a starter this is an excellent, sensible recommendation to making things right. I would add that criminal charges be brought against those who violated or ignored regulations governing deep-water drilling practices. But, of course, that won't happen because these people own our legal system, the legislative system, and our executive branch. 

Nothing can be done to truly prevent such catastrophes from happening again until people wake up and take charge of their economies and governments by nationalizing such vital industries, and taking true democratic control of their governing institutions. Otherwise, the wealth and control addicted people will continue to rule and ruin everything.