Our world, or whats left of it

[ragani]

Reading Brezsny today left me feeling frustrated.
Do you have a forbidden fantasy? Is there some adventure you wish you could let yourself have, but you lack the money or spunk to attempt it? Have you been nursing an impossible dream that is no closer to fulfillment now than it was when you first conjured it up years ago? If so, Taurus, the time has come to resolve your relationship with it. Either renounce it and forget it forever, or else take a bold, practical step toward making it come true. P.S. You have more courage than you realize.

Sometimes I feel my dream of creating a self-sustaining community is an impossible dream. I don't think I can renounce the overall dream, although the specifics of how are somewhat negotiable. There were a couple of posts in my friends list in tribe that tie-in with this dream that perhaps were the reminder I needed to refocus, although they sure do not leave me with warm-fuzzies; more of a sense of dread and helplessness.

First is a personal rant from my stepfather, and the second is posting in the politics community by my friend Porter. Both are talking about the problem, which I know can get people's blood boiling. But when I see posts about solutions, which is rare, there does not seem to be nearly as much interest.

Do you even care out there?

Are we all so wrapped-up in our day-to-day drama that we cannot spend some time securing a future that is not reliant on depleted resources that will no longer be around? Are our blinders on so tight that even looking forward is impossible? Do we really need to wait until the disasters are here before we prepare for them?

Comments

[terpsichoros.livejournal.com]

But when I see posts about solutions, which is rare, there does not seem to be nearly as much interest.

Most of the time I see people proposing "solutions", I see either fantasies which indicate that the proposer has no grasp of either the science or the sociology of the solution, and frequently is ignorant of both. (Making everyone live in solar-powered communes is the classic example of ignorance of both.)

Even when the proposal does not violate the laws of physics or require a change in human nature, it quite often comes with a consequences which are rather unpalatable, and likely unnecessary, or the proposal is so incremental that it's hard to get excited about.

[ragani.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That is so very helpful. Lets reject the ideas that some people propose that are not perfect because that will encourage people to come up with fully developed perfect plans instead.

If you are noting a tone of sarcasm, you would be right.

I am aware that I personally do not have enough knowledge or background to know what to do as a solution, but if I let that stop me from dreaming about possible solutions, well, then nothing will happen, and I am defeated before I even start. If a solar-powered commune is not </>the solution, perhaps it is a starting point to come up with even more potential approaches. A brainstorm does not contain one complete perfect idea. By examining what does and does </>not work in a proposed idea, there is an opportunity to develop a better plan.

[terpsichoros.livejournal.com]

I was more trying to explain *why* people don't have much interest in most proposed solutions - either the solution is a bad idea on its face, or it's too big, or it seems trivial. A 20c gas tax might do a significant amount of good, especially if it's dedicated to some particular environmental or transportation program, but it's not something which excites or motivates people. A proposal that says we should all live in solar-powered communes is bad, but a proposal to start a solar-powered commune, with specific people in a specific place, is something which should excite some people. (Not me, by any means, but there are people who I know who should be excited by that idea.)

Dreams are fine, but unless there's some acknowlegement of the way things (and people) really are, translating those dreams into reality is hopeless.

Don't let the bastards get you down.

[inside-edge.livejournal.com]

What you need is a partner in crime who was raised living and working in the kind place you want to create. I have just the person for the job and he's excited about the idea of helping others build such places. I don't think its my cup of tea you know, but drop me an email and i'll hook you up.
Visionaries always see what others can't. Perhaps the road doesn't lead where you think it does but the journey is worth taking.