Every thread and member drifts from time to time, common on other websites, particularly if a post solicits or provokes a response or is misunderstood. More annoying than harmless banter is name-calling, rudeness, peevishness and imputing motives where none is intended. Bill and Michael saw political in my response to a member's notion of elites. While nearly everything is political, one way or another, my post was simply another notion of elites and civic responsibility.
In the same way, a couple days ago, I contributed to a discussion among Alaska pilots about strategies to oppose a looming top-down, poorly consultated tax that will militate against public and private services throughout the state:
“Listening from the other side of the continent, George's approach appeals to me. Resisting unwarranted bureaucratic and technological interference in public affairs is my day job. Aviation is a major part of your economy, Alaska wouldn't be viable without it. Whoever said all public services should pay their way. That's not how our countries were built in the public interest, which is what people would choose if they saw clearly, thought rationally and acted disinterestedly.
“What I think you're leaving out is the fight. It's not the size of the dog in a fight, it's the fight in the dog. Or, as Stalin said when the pope's name came up at Yalta when the Allies were divvying up the spoils, "How many divisions has the pope?" The key to fairer public policy is organizing, making alliances, collaboration and cooperation. Petitions, private letters to the big bugs hasn't cut much ice in my experience.
“Another often overlooked strategy is providing public managers with ideas and options along with an industry-wide consensus. The organization of which I'm president was able to make our Province abdicate all its private lands responsibilities to our association, arguably the most radical institutional change on the continent. There's enough good ideas and energy above to perhaps make your protest a part of a general regulatory overhaul. Think big.”
King Brown. Saving the world one province and state at a time since 1943.
Tamid is likely having a case of the fantods after that diversion.
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He’s your countryman Tamid.
