dougabaird@earthlink.net

“New Book” – “Flow Chart Poetry 2”

It may be pointless bureaucratic chatter to you, but for them; it’s money in the bank – and traditional “Quid Pro Quo” politics. It may be wasting your time – but they’re being paid to waste your time: and the tip they’ll receive is to insure their career longevity.

The real power of public meetings is in the ability of those in charge to delay and deflect important matters with unimportant questions, quibbles, and investigations – and postpone the vital issues that you came to hear and comment on for a month, or two, or six . . . until they can be short-circuited, reimagined, or reformulated.

Unimportant matters are the grit in the wheels of public participation — a grit that’s never allowed in the smooth running machine of power.

“New Book” – “Flow Chart Poetry 1”

It’s all about the process. Whether it’s “Flow charted” or “Templated” – if your ends are relegated to the completion of assigned tasks; you lose half your humanity. And if those tasks can only be undertaken by following pre-designed paths, and through pre-designed forms; you lose the other half.

Work and play is what people do — Art is what people are.

“New Book” – “It’s the wind that prevails” Bumper sticker

In our authoritarian society; it’s all about force – whether it’s doctrinaire or regulatory, social or emotional: everything and everyone must be made to conform — or be destroyed.

“New Book” – “Releasing predators” Bumper sticker

Whether it’s wolves and sharks; or drug dealers and murders – the elite are ensuring right of predators to roam the communities of poor and undefended prey.

Protected by privilege and law; they see human lives and suffering as only one part of a bigger picture — their bigger picture.

“New Book” – “Emerging Technologies: in a race” Bumper sticker

Is it a coincidence that we now have world destroying technologies at the same time we have technologists eager to play with them? And it gets worse . . . we have authorities willing to overlook any consequence — as long as they can solve desperate problems; while keeping business as usual.

Black holes, Nano-technology, Gene splicing – “why not.”

The human race has become a plaything for those in power; and as for the world — if they can’t have it; no one can.

“New Book” – “There are only two categories of people” Bumper sticker

Which category are you? Since that decision is made at a higher level – we’re all disposable; aren’t we?

“New Book” – “Knowing what they’re not; Is enough” Bumper sticker

In a time when actions are disguised with doctrine – and profiling stereotypes, and discriminatory policies are defended as tools of change – knowing what people are not doing and how they are not acting; is a way to pierce the smoke screen of self-righteous arrogance that hides their intent.

If their actions directly contradict the lives and beliefs of everyone we respect as leaders in the fight for human worth and equality — knowing what they’re not; Is enough.

“New Book” – “Climate Change is what you expect” Bumper sticker

Even when admitting to the existence of Climate Change; politicians present the big picture — one that doesn’t include the people.

Global temperature changes are what they debate — death and destruction is what we get.

The climate in Congress is definitely chilly.

“New Book” – “Inactivism – Global Warming” Bumper sticker

Just being self-righteous and blaming other people has never been enough to make a meaningful change in the world. As is exampled in the 2021 “White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy” report — a government that is still covering up for the polluters; is a long, long way from addressing an already desperate situation. An efficient electric train network for moving people and merchandise is a solution that can be achieved by upgrading and adding to the existing infrastructure. Don’t accept the “we will make a difference tomorrow” foot-dragging of powerful truck-car-union-fuel interests; there may still be a crack in the door: Today. Tomorrow: it will be shut.

“New Book” – “Everything is Doctrine” Bumper sticker

Have you ever examined a government policy and found out that it doesn’t make sense? That’s because it doesn’t need to: the ‘reasons,’ ‘causes,’ ‘fact finding studies,’ ‘statistical tables,’ and ‘sociology’ are just backfill – a sales campaign that undercuts any legitimacy or benign intent.

Doctrine is Everything — and everything else is made up to support it.