Re: [statecom-discuss] Re: [adcom] Endorsement? Please respond
Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com
Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com
Tue Feb 20 12:34:59 EST 2007
Adam - I read your piece - there are entire fields on culture change - which
I have been exposed to as paradigm shifting - you might want to also resource
feminist texts like Mary Daly's work. Friere and some of liberation
theologists.
I don't know anyone with politics that does not tell the story of democracy
as the US Constitution being about the founding of a "republic" in which only
white men (christian) with property were supposed to participate - and
reference the many pieces by the framers about how they distrusted the masses and the
negative impact including them as decision-makers would have.
so while it is not what the schools teach - most of us are clear about that
line.
What I wrote was about building power - I can look up the article I wrote
that was the most theoretical about a paradigm shift that comes with somewhat of
a systems theory analysis if you want it -
Grace
In a message dated 2/20/07 12:12:18 PM, adam_artist at yahoo.com writes:
> Dear Grace -
>
> What you're saying flatly contradicts history. It's a cultural delusion.
>
> We could lift your rhetoric out of broadsides going back decades and
> centuries. And here we are, hamsters on the treadwheels, dutifully saying (and
> thinking) the same things. Why? What is the power that controls us to the
> extent we think we're thinking our own thoughts when we're just mass-produced
> copies, tumbling out of an ancient mold, following an old script that works
> beautifully for the ruling class, which graciously allows "diversity" and "freedom
> of speech" from time to time?
>
> Believing in legislation is like believing in The Lord - no matter what
> happens, we keep praying in the faith that it will come out our way eventually.
> And then, when some little crumb randomly falls on our plate we say, "See, it
> works!"
>
> As far as I can tell, the only change that will be meaningful, and without
> which all of our efforts are futile, is a change in the culture, the way we
> see ourselves in the world. When it comes to climate, which is my primary
> focus right now, we simply cannot "preserve our way of life," as Deval Patrick
> stated (which we discussed in a previous thread). We have to take the huge and
> difficult step of changing the way we think, rebuilding the matrix,
> discarding the antiquated template that is so powerful we don't even know it's
> there.
>
> I'm working to bring this on the ground in Lexington, through community
> activism and political campaigning. I don't know much about how to do it, but
> there is as yet little to go on, so I'm learning as we go, with no promise of
> results. I can only say with assurance that what we have done to date does
> not work!
>
> Our think tank, the Public Outreach Project, is addressing this challenging
> issue of culture change. The most important aspect of the work of
> re-thinking is acknowledging that it is not obvious. Our cultural buzz obfuscates and
> confuses, it prevents us from thinking outside the box because we can't even
> see the box.
>
> Until we go back to square one in our thinking, recognize and discard our
> cultural assumptions and start building new ones, we will be stuck in the
> invisible box.
>
> Adam
>
> P.S. - As I've mentioned before, should you care to contemplate and engage
> in discussion about what culture change might mean, our proposal is at:
>
> http://www.constitution411.org/thinktank/pop_proposal.html
>
> Anyone in the GRP is welcome to join us, next meeting Saturday, March 3rd,
> 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Just drop me a line (offline).
>
> Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com wrote: Actually, creating a higher base level -- across
> the board -- of workers
> rights is a movement builder and could create the unity in ways that do
> create
> fundamental change. Criticizm is not enough. We have to file
> legislation,
> put together outreach plans, create a dialogue with other leaders in these
> issues, integrate the different forces that can work toward fundamental
> change,
> develop a message, create a grou prepared to take that message out to lots
> of
> different constituencies, let the elements shift as necessary keeping the
> goal
> ever in sight and create the base necessary to fuel the change and burn
> through
> the opposition-
>
> It's why I asked what legislation you had filed (if you are going to create
> the change at the state level) and what the concrete steps wre from here to
> there. Without that there is no vehicle(s) for change and no constructive
> camp
> aign - Love, Grace
> In a message dated 2/20/07 10:15:10 AM, adam_artist at yahoo.com writes:
>
>
> > Bill -
> >
> > I'm not sure what you're getting at other than a pot-shot (please explain
> -
> > if I am mistaken I apologize), but I can only say that we are headed off a
> > cliff on the horse of "practical" politics. The "progressive" efforts of
> the
> > last half century are clearly an abject failure (yes, I know, the Charles
> > River is cleaner, which is a good thing).
> >
> > For starters, we have to tell the truth as well as we are able. That's
> what
> > I'll do at Town Meeting, and we'll see what that brings, if anything.
> > Supporting a half-truth (such as the fantasy that ending sweatshops will
> make a
> > difference in the ills of corporate globalization), as well-intended as it
> may
> > be, keeps us from fundamental change. So it becomes the same-old same-old
> > progressive/liberal tokenism.
> >
> > And as we take the plunge off the cliff, we imagine that our horse is
> flying
> > . . .
> >
> > Adam
> >
> >
> >
> > BillCunningham wrote: Adam,
> >
> > It will be interesting to see what kinds of proposals you will be able to
> > support when you are a member of the Lexington Town Meeting!
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > >From: Adam Sacks
> > >Sent: Feb 20, 2007 8:36 AM
> > >To: "Green-Rainbow Party (GRP) Administrative Committee" ,
> > statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
> > >Subject: [statecom-discuss] Re: [adcom] Endorsement? Please respond
> > >
> > >
> > >I demur - I think there are very serious concerns here - we are still
> > supporting a system of international trade that is inherently
> exploitative. Even
> > if the clothes are made in kinder, gentler factories, what about the
> cotton?
> > The elastic? The furniture and machinery? What about the egregious waste
> > of fossil fuels and concomitant CO2 pollution for shipping supplies and
> > finished product?
> > >
> > >The underlying problem is that we want to continue our profligate ways,
> > albeit with a clear conscience. It is our way of life that causes the
> > sweatshops in the first place - changing the sweatshops, as important as
> that is, just
> > addresses a symptom and, like the black hole of recycling, derails our
> > efforts at desperately needed fundamental change.
> > >
> > >We need to re-learn how to make clothes locally for good living wages,
> IOW,
> > restructure our entire economy. The Age of Bandaids is over, whether we
> do
> > it thoughtfully on our own or nature does it to us.
> > >
> > >Why should we endorse anything less?
> > >
> > >Adam
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Daniel Melnechuk wrote: No concerns that i can see. In fact this is a
> > great idea!
> > >Dan Melnechuk
> > >
> > >On Feb 19, 2007, at 8:11 PM, Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com wrote:
> > >
> > >> hi, everyone-
> > >>
> > >> endorsements should be fast and easy - if not we can take them up at a
> > >> meeting but please respond now whether you have any concerns or
> > >> not? Many thanks,
> > >> Grace
> > >>
> > >> DATE
> > >>
> > >> Dear ORGANIZATION,
> > >>
> > >> If Massachusetts is like other states, most of the apparel,
> > >> textiles, and
> > >> other products that it buys are made in sweatshops.
> > >>
> > >> But that can change. A growing national movement of students, workers,
> > >> unions, faith-based groups, and community organizations is
> > >> organizing for sweatfree
> > >> purchasing to build market demand for sweatfree products and political
> > >> momentum for a just global economy. Six state governments, 45
> > >> cities and counties,
> > >> 120 school districts, and 164 colleges and universities have
> > >> adopted policies
> > >> requiring their apparel products to be made in fair labor conditions.
> > >>
> > >> Help us make Massachusetts sweatfree! Through our collective
> > >> effort, our
> > >> state can ensure living wages and decent working conditions for
> > >> those producing
> > >> goods for us.
> > >>
> > >> Governor John Baldacci of Maine has written to all governors asking
> > >> them to
> > >> take an important step for workers everywhere. Join us in asking
> > >> Governor Deval
> > >> Patrick to sign on to Baldacci's resolution calling for multi-state
> > >> collaboration in sweatfree procurement. Governors Rendell of
> > >> Pennsylvania and Corzine
> > >> of New Jersey are already on board. Other governors have expressed
> > >> interest and
> > >> will sign on soon. In addition, local campaigns are hoping to get
> > >> their
> > >> cities to come together with the Governors' initiative to form a
> > >> State and Local
> > >> Government Sweatfree Consortium to coordinate enforcement of sweatfree
> > >> procurement policies.
> > >>
> > >> While working to gain the Governor's support, we will campaign for a
> > >> sweatfree procurement law in Massachusetts, which will include the
> > >> following
> > >> provisions:
> > >> o A sweatfree manufacturing code of conduct: All vendors,
> > >> contractors, and
> > >> subcontractors with the state must adhere to the code of conduct
> > >> which includes
> > >> respect for local laws and International Labor Organization standards;
> > >> above-poverty wages; rights to assemble and bargain collectively;
> > >> non-discrimination; ban on child labor; and safe working conditions.
> > >> o Disclosure of factory locations and wages: To qualify for a bid
> > >> vendors
> > >> must disclose locations of factories and wages of workers producing
> > >> goods to be
> > >> sold to the state.
> > >> o Collaboration with other states and independent accountability:
> > >> Join other
> > >> public purchasers nationwide by pooling resources to investigate labor
> > >> violations and monitor factories, coordinate enforcement, and buy
> > >> jointly from
> > >> sweatfree factories.
> > >> o Community involvement: Creation of a community advisory
> > >> committee composed
> > >> of citizens and worker rights experts to ensure that good
> > >> intentions are
> > >> translated into good results.
> > >>
> > >> To officially endorse this important effort to improve working
> > >> conditions
> > >> locally and globally, please fill out the attached endorsement form
> > >> and send it
> > >> to the Massachusetts Sweatfree Campaign
> > >> (sweatfreemass at sweatfree.org). You may
> > >> also endorse online at www.sweatfree.org/mass. Your endorsement
> > >> also signals
> > >> support of the national campaign for a State and Local Government
> > >> Sweatfree
> > >> Consortium.
> > >>
> > >> We invite you to join our campaign coordinating committee and to
> > >> help us
> > >> organize. For further information on ways to get involved, please
> > >> contact Liana
> > >> Foxvog at 413-586-0974.
> > >>
> > >> In Solidarity,
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> AdCom mailing list
> > >> AdCom at green-rainbow.org
> > >> http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/adcom
> > >> To email Administration Committee members: adcom.members AT green-
> > >> rainbow DOT org
> > >>
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >AdCom mailing list
> > >AdCom at green-rainbow.org
> > >http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/adcom
> > >To email Administration Committee members: adcom.members AT green-rainbow
> > DOT org
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >statecom-discuss mailing list
> > >statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
> > >http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
> >
> >
> > Bill Cunningham
> > _______________________________________________
> > AdCom mailing list
> > AdCom at green-rainbow.org
> > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/adcom
> > To email Administration Committee members: adcom.members AT green-rainbow
> > DOT org
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > statecom-discuss mailing list
> > statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
> > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
> >
> >
>
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