After reading Ursula K. Leguinn's The Dispossessed, I've been a firm believer in co-operative anarchy as a usable system but they all have flaws. I really like what communism stands for on paper but in practice, it's shown time and again to be horribly corrupt. Socialism's better than communism but humans just can't create a system even somewhat free of corruption. They all reek from the top down. That's why I'd like to see a more accountable form of self-government. Dig the Paul Simon referrence there, BM.

Filmore,my fencin' buddy, bm please. It makes it easier to fit "U" in. Paul is the jewish Dylan.

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Originally posted by Filmore Holmes:
After reading Ursula K. Leguinn's The Dispossessed, I've been a firm believer in co-operative anarchy as a usable system but they all have flaws.

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I've never read this or heard of the theory, Filmore, but how "co-operative" can anarchy really be? I've been convinced by various arguments about the nature of anarchy in terms of the illegitimacy of government (John Simmons argues that no current or past government is "legitimate" in any real sense) but I don't know how anarchists actually try to preach for their preferences. I'm not as big a fella as you, Filmore, but I certainly feel secure in the fact that my house won't be looted and burned whenever I leave it. I can't see how I would feel comfortable in a situtation without any sort of overarching government...

One answer would be to have less crap. Look around the room you're sitting in right now. You don't need any of it to survive. It's all just bolloks to keep you distracted from real issues and to keep you resigned to the current regime. I love my computer and TV as much as most people but it's just stuff. We don't need it but it's more important to us than world peace, unconditional love and true freedom.

The way it's set up in the book, co-operative anarchy is quite plausible. The deterrent for not taking someone elses crap, aside from the fact you don't have much anyway, is social pressures. You work together to feed eachother but if you lie and steal, people know. You can't keep stuff like that a secret for long and so you don't get fed, nobody talks to you, you get essentially run out of town. That and there's no stopping the people you ripped off from burning your shack down. It's a more accountable "do unto others" sort of thing. We capitalists have soooooooooooooo much useless sh*t and it's become more important to us than living. We are meant to be outside working for our own survival not plugging away in a cubicle hoping to get a pair of electric scissors and a musical can opener next paycheque. I can't wait to move...I'm gonna leave so much garbage behind.

Fair enough, Filmore. I appreciate your sentiments. I disagree with them, but I understand where they come from. Do I NEED everything I own? No. But I'm not willing to give up the things I enjoy (like buying music) simply because there are some people in the world who treat others poorly. I do good unto others...I treat people fairly, I donate money to charity, and I help strangers for no good reason other than kind fellow feeling. I don't really feel guilty for being born into a consumer culture...but I do take care to consider my consumer decisions as part of a bigger picture.

I'm enough of a Hobbesian to think that the social pressures against theivery wouldn't work without some sort of threat of punishment that comes from some sort of government, but I'll check LeGuin's book out anyway. Thanks for the tip...some holiday break reading! I was also going to read another LeGuin piece..."Those Who Walk Away from Omelas" was recommended to me by one of my Intro Philosophy students when we were taking on the challenge of utilitarianism as public policy.

If you'll excuse me, I've got to run...UPS is here with my electric scissors and musical can opener! I hope it plays "Take Me Out"!!!!

Nice sentiments, Filmore, all of them. I take "you are what you do" very seriously, and at times like this (the end of the semester) I'm reminded why I teach...I've had one former student ask for a letter of recommendation for med school, got a spontaneous round of applause from one class on another day, and had a former student contact me and thank me for helping prepare her, intellectually, for grad school. Those are good moments and, I hope, indicative of the sorts of things I'll leave behind.

And for you, besides these posts, I'm leaving behind my musical can opener (it plays "Money!")

On a somewhat unrelated topic, I ran into my grade 8 English teacher at a book store today and had a wicked talk. I was such a spaz when he taught me but I'm now able to have an intelligent conversation with him and he had a lot of cool things to say that I never heard him talk about in class. Teachers are cool.

and the teacher travels
asking to be shown the same

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Originally posted by Filmore Holmes:
On a somewhat unrelated topic, I ran into my grade 8 English teacher at a book store today and had a wicked talk. I was such a spaz when he taught me but I'm now able to have an intelligent conversation with him and he had a lot of cool things to say that I never heard him talk about in class. Teachers are cool.

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Those are the moments that teachers live for, I think. To meet up with their past students, all growed up, and have a conversation with them that doesn't involve eyes rolled into the back of your head.

And, for the record, who WASN'T a spazz in 8th grade?

My high school band director was a great guy. He taught us a lot, was laid back enough to have a good time with us, but not so much as to try to be our pal such that we lost any respect for him. There were times, though, when I feel like we took advantage of his good nature. When I was in my mid-20s, I gave him a call and invited him out for a beer. I got to tell him how much of an impact he had on my life. He did, after all, point me in the right direction as a jazz neophyte and introduce me to public radio, which has been my life's work these past two decades. He, in turn, let me know that we weren't nearly as bad as I had feared. It was a good time and pretty rewarding for the both of us.

He did let me pick up the tab, though. High school band director's salary and all that.

Now Playing: "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" Cannonball Adderley Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Capitol)

Yeah, you're right. I'm bumping some interesting threads. I hope it's worth it. Say what you want. Shut up, mark.

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Originally posted by LinnTate:
My high school band director was a great guy. He taught us a lot, was laid back enough to have a good time with us, but not so much as to try to be our pal such that we lost any respect for him. There were times, though, when I feel like we took advantage of his good nature. When I was in my mid-20s, I gave him a call and invited him out for a beer. I got to tell him how much of an impact he had on my life. He did, after all, point me in the right direction as a jazz neophyte and introduce me to public radio, which has been my life's work these past two decades. He, in turn, let me know that we weren't nearly as bad as I had feared. It was a good time and pretty rewarding for the both of us.

He did let me pick up the tab, though. High school band director's salary and all that.

Now Playing: "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" Cannonball Adderley Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Capitol)

My high school experience in band is very similar to yours LT.

I had two remarkable band directors in high school—the kind of people that show you so many different things that go way beyond music. Not only did they infuse my love for music but they were able to connect life lessons through everything they said.

They were also particularly cool guys. You could always talk to them about literally anything. We had conversations/banters about life, family, politics, religion, music, school and of course girls! You could always joke around with them; heck they sure joked around with us. I remember being in high school when the Cowboys were a really bad team—after they won their three super bowls but before Parcells got there. Every Monday morning I dreaded showing up to band for 6:45 morning rehearsal if the Cowboys had lost the day before. I was the biggest Cowboy fan and they sure knew it; the mockery that I suffered at their sly hand was certainly dreadful. But that was how they were—really cool, funny, genuinely good people that just happened to be terrific teachers. They were masters at motivation and were inspirational to all of us. This was evident because as a band we were one of the top three bands in town. They taught me so much and I am blessed and grateful to have had them teach me for four straight years of my life.

Unfortunately, I have never taken them out for a beer to express my gratitude. Maybe I should do that soon.

Sorry for rambling on for so long!

When I first started workin', I was a very hard worker, but nobody else was. So after a few months I started finding ways to get outta working. I would hide in the back of the store chit chatting with another employee who was working & when the boss came around I'd pick something up & act like I was helping. I would also grab a broom & stand around & talk with people & when the boss would yell at me to get to work, I'd hollar back, "I'm sweepin'!" Then I'd swipe the broom across the floor a few times, until he stopped payin' attention & then go back to talkin' again. It was kinda funny because EVERYONE knew I never really did anything, even the boss, but nobody really cared. For some reason (unknown to me at the time) it was okay for me to be this way, but no one else. My wife found this out the hard way. When she started working there, she saw how I behaved & actually thought she could get away with the same things that I did. My boss pulled her to the side & told her that they only needed ONE of me. I later learned that the reason I was untouchable was because I was the "token black guy". I met the quota for the number of minorities the store needed. I always wondered why he never even called back my black friends, but hired my white ones right off the bat! What a racist jerk !

I hate slackers because… I’m jealous of them. I’ve never had a job where I could hide. I want one of those jobs.

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Originally posted by Monkey_Boy:
I later learned that the reason I was untouchable was because I was the "token black guy". I met the quota for the number of minorities the store needed. I always wondered why he never even called back my black friends, but hired my white ones right off the bat! What a racist jerk !

I know that you were probably offended when you found out that was the reason you were hired but the way you worded that was hilarious M_B. I don't mean any offense and I am sorry if you are offended but it was funny, reminded me of Not Another Teen Movie.

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Originally posted by FragileKidA:
I know that you were probably offended when you found out that was the reason you were hired but the way you worded that was hilarious M_B.

Of course, I'm not offended! I'm a goofy guy & it comes out in my writing most of the time. Just the way my brain works ! I wasn't even really offended when I found out the truth, either. More shocked & appalled, than offended. I was just lucky enough to slip in under the radar. After they hired me, I noticed that they had me listed as "white" & I corrected 'em. At first they tried to get me to quit, but after awhile, I guess it became apparent that if they kept me they wouldn't HAVE to hire a FULL black person. Actually, it was pretty nice to be able to be the laziest employee without fear of getting into trouble.

My job itself--my required duties and such--is not challenging in the least, and even though I do the vast majority of what I'm supposed to do, it still feels like I'm slacking.

I'm probably in the minority but I think this isn't a good thing! I've been searching for a job that requires a little more thought, responsibility, ambition, etc.

The most difficult part of my job is dealing with the Machiavellian politics that go on there. I pull into the parking lot coming back from my lunch break, decide to sit there for 30 seconds and finish the song I'm enjoying (and my cigarette), and go inside...of course, I was sitting in my car because I didn't want to walk to the building with someone who arrived at the same time, who I didn't even notice, who I actually like. Which leads to remarks, rumors, etc. God, I always thought adulthood would be free of that shit, mostly, anyway.

But yes, the actual job is ridiculously simple.

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Originally posted by Commontone:

The most difficult part of my job is dealing with
the Machiavellian politics that go on there. I pull into the parking lot coming back from my lunch break, decide to sit there for 30 seconds and finish the song I'm enjoying (and my cigarette), and go inside...of course, I was sitting in my car because I didn't want to walk to the building with someone who arrived at the same time, who I didn't even notice, who I actually like. Which leads to remarks, rumors, etc. God, I always thought adulthood would be free of that shit, mostly, anyway.

After spending the last 10 years or so floating in and out of university education and random jobs i have finally completed something that would get me a 'proper' job, and as such starting working for the government a few months ago. I was really surprised at how little gets done in those places, and really you could just slack off most of the day as long as you looked like you were doing something. However, as it was stated above, i do like to work as it makes the time go faster, but it still enables me time to look up metacritic during the day.

The politics are the same at my work, commontone. There is so much gossiping, backstabbing and bitching it is like high school all over again.

This has been a great topic, i really have enjoyed reading this one. The prospect of leaving the city behind and becoming self sufficient is an attractive concept at the moment!