The Democrats regain some seats of power

In the latest elections of this year, 2013, the Democrats appear to have something to promise the electorate: a way out from under the tyranny of populism! Some hope to those of us who'd fallen into despair. Our question: when would the Democrats regain a foothold in the halls of Legislation? Our question: When will the poor, the despised, and the nameless regain some focus of interest on the part of the powerful? I'm not saying there will be a noticeable change of atmosphere. The Randians have worked deeply into the communal psyche, to besmirch virtue, honor and grace. A monster is in our midst: a randy beast, proud and independent, ferocious and implacable, incapable of discernment and compassion. Total independence. Total individualism.

Now, about ideologies...

Now, about ideologies: can we see the ideology of the second amendment for what it is: tyranny? Can we see the ideology of paranoia for what it is: brutality? When will we ever regain a sense of safety in our places of assembly, education, or even entertainment? It seems that there is only just so much we can do, mechanically to "fix" things. Long term, we must get beyond ideologies, to transform hatred, aversion into understanding and awareness. There is a place for hope in public discourse.

Tyranny, brutality:  are these to be allowed in public discourse?

The via media is often the best course.

Course and Discourse - a way and a conversation.

Fear and ignorance have nothing to contribute to the topic of how to repeal the second amendment.

Aspects of Ecology

A few weeks ago, I read about growing controversies in France, around the topic of gay marriage, stemming from the enactment of the Taubira law.  What caught my interest was that some of the critics' point of view stemmed from a critique of the universalising of forms of partnering in terms of ecological concerns.  I must say that putting an ecological twist to the topic of gay marriage had never really occurred to me.  Upon further consideration, it turns out that an understanding of this way of looking at things, comes from the perspective of an understanding of what is in fact our "place of being".  In other words, we are on a finite planet, whose dimensions are measurable, whose contents have been ascertained for the most part, though of course as our technologies become more invasive and particular, we become more aware of that had previously been unapproachable, or exploitable.  So that, when you focus on ethical/moral "contents" of our "place of being", the concept of ecology becomes one of definition of realities, with the goal of examining the possibilities of societal relationships and how they can be exploited for, one supposes, the greater good of mankind. 
This is, I assume a conservative approach to ecology:  reinforcing the reality of finiteness in our world.
I'm not sure I disagree with this position, though I would submit that while there is no doubt as to the finiteness of objective reality to this planet, in the same way that we are, by means of technological improvements, able to access with greater specificity and discreteness, the possibilities inherent in the objective potentialities of core materials, so also can we say that within the potentialities of societal relationships there are, beyond the traditional means of preserving the species, ways of allowing the experience of human intercourse so as to maximise the applicability of virtue - ethical and moral - and eventually universalize sustainable, peaceful, and meaningful relationships.
The point here, is it seems to me is to find those possibilities to minimise paths of difference by allowing all to find "a place of being".  There then would be the full understanding of ecology:  the fruitful engaging of all in a sustainable environment for the mutual benefit of all.

My Fellow Citizens:  Is it not possible to imagine a time when governance of this fair land will not require genocide, environmental degradation, military expansion, subsidies to corporate baronies, and disregard for the well being of poor, aged and physically challenged?  Is it not possible that the next frontier to be overcome is that of communal selfishness?  Is it not possible to imagine a country in which there is equality of education, travel, housing and medical care?  Is it not possible to imagine a country in which the people are not so much consumers as citizens?  Is it not possible to imagine this country's population as free of racism, classicism, and bigotry?  Is it not possible to imagine a government secular, just and righteous?  Is it not possible to imagine a country whose government can intelligently, secularily,  and fairly distribute resources for  education, health, infrastructure, and housing with the clear understanding of the cooperation of all citizens, private and corporate to insure the sustainability of all these responsibilities?  Just wondering...

Serving a Long Course

Serving a Long Course is very similar to being on a ship for a long while:  the same people day in and day out, the same steps to and from one's room.  An apparent similarity, though one must remember that everything is in a flux and a flow.  Impermanence brings us, moment by moment, closer to the end of our time.  The kitchen is merely a temporary setting for the realities of life - the good moments and the painful ones.  Relationships are important.  Harmony is essential, even if it costs a little effort.