Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Thursday, January 11, 2007
The People's Republic of Me
Very good question, what would my micro-state be like…
1. It would be small, very small, the smaller the better. I know that that is redundant being that we are talking about a MICRO-state but one of the problems, as I see it, is that size really matters. In any large organization the mechanisms that should control abuse of power are not effective. Take the judicial system, for example. It has grown to be so large and so complex that the concept of Justice is lost. In large school systems (I have worked in big ones and small ones) the concept of educating the individual student is lost to complexities and administrative red tape.
2. Respect for all human beings would be an important element of the micro-state. Under the current system, there is overt disrespect for those from other countries. We display a level of arrogance that leads us to believe that we are so superior that we must teach those in other countries how to run THEIR country.
3. No military that could ever be used for offensive operations. Self defense is great. The invasion, exploitation, and occupation of any part of the world should never be tolerated and any country that has ever used weapons to kill civilians should never again be allowed to have any.
4. Eliminate all corporations.
5. Eliminate Capitalism and replace it with “Peoplism”, a system which would place the needs of human beings before the needs of capital.OFF topic: I really liked the President’s speech. There was a lot to agree with there...the Chavez Inauguration speech. What a contrast to that other speech that was broadcast last night. Looks like we are being primed for attacks against Syria and Iran. Predictable, we need a “war” that can help us save face and appear as “winners” now that we have lost the Slaughter in Iraq. Hummmm, I am not hearing anything about the 650,000 corpses that we created since March 20, 2003...talk about mass graves, picture a burial site with 650,000+ bodies in it. That’s what our tax money bought.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 01/11 at 09:08 AMOkay, this made me laugh so hard: “Instead of a nuclear bomb,” she said, “why can’t the kid have a girlfriend, like in Napoleon Dynamite.”
Great interview!
My micro-state would be much like the way the assemblies ran in Argentina around the 19th and 20th of Dec. 2001, and maybe still do. or at least what I’m reading of them right now. horizontalism. no hierarchies, just communities working together, sharing life. If something needs to be done, we do it together. (and my captcha word is, rather appropriately, “simple")
RMJ - in response to your question yesterday - I haven’t read the “confessions” book, but I have heard good things about it! I’d complain about all these books on my pile to read, but really my complaint is about not having the time to do justice to this ever growing pile!
Posted by Deb on from NoVa 01/11 at 10:01 AMMorning RMJ, Deb and Mick. Sounds like a cool book…
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 01/11 at 10:16 AMHello Expendables...from chilly but sunny Astoria. I like what RMJ and Deb say but what about everyone else? Surely there’s no shortage of ideas on this topic, is there?
As for me, the first thing that comes to mind is this quote from Chomsky: “If it is correct, as I believe it is, that a fundamental element of human nature is the need for creative work, for creative inquiry, and for free creation without the arbitrary, limiting effects of coercive institutions, then of course, it will follow that a decent society should maximize the possibilities for this fundamental instinct to be realized.”
So, I’d have that...and there’s always the vegan thing.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/11 at 12:55 PMI don’t know if I could improve on that, Mickey.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 01/11 at 01:11 PMThis can be filed under “The Crime of the Day”...The usa has invaded the Iranian consulate in Iraq and is holding 6 captives. That is a crime against International Law. My guess is that the usa wants to provoke an “incident” so that the masses in the usa will not get too upset when we bomb Iran. On second thought, nothing upsets the usa masses. Just look at the reaction or non-reaction to the 650,000+ killed by usa bombs and guns...just a little detail that might not even make the footnotes in history books. Oh well, maybe as a nation the usa has a bad case of “Slaughter Fatigue” otherwise known as “No Conscience Syndrome”.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 01/11 at 01:14 PMThe collective personality of the US is that of a psychopath, RMJ, not that I am telling you anything new:
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 01/11 at 01:19 PMKilling thousands of brown people in faraway lands has never seemed to disturb more than a handful in the land of the free. But if O.J. agrees to a TV interview or a baseball player is accused of taking steroids, the populace is up in arms. We Americans have our priorities in order.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/11 at 01:23 PMHave I mentioned what a sexy-looking guy you are, Mickey? I’m sure Michele would agree ..
And Rosemarie, my micro-state would look like yours.
A warm ‘hello’ to Deb and JOS as well - from a very warm Daylesford.
Take care, all of you.
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 01/11 at 05:52 PMThanks, Helga. It’s all part of my mission to bring sexy back to the blogging world.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/11 at 06:45 PMHi JOS, Mickey, Helga....
I just received an e-mail, as did thousands of others I am sure. It was from Ted Kennnedy telling me that I had NOT signed his petition. This techno age is really something. They now know who has NOT signed. I went to the petition. Would have signed it except for the usa arrogance in part of the statement copied below.
“... Iraq has become George Bush’s Vietnam, and it’s up to every American to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself any longer. The Iraqi people need to take responsibility for their own future. But our only hope for change over there is if we, the American people, take control of our own destiny here at home....”It seems to me that the Iraqis ARE taking responsibility. They are fighting against an OCCUPATION.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 01/11 at 07:27 PMInteresting, RMJ. If America wants the Iraqi people to take responsibility for their own future, they have a funny way of showing it. They bomb and starve the population...then invade and occupy. As for the Vietnam comparison, the American elites won that war. The threat of a good example was squashed and now, all these years later, the children and grandchildren of the hated “gooks” are making our sneakers for a few pennies an hour.
America doesn’t care if Iraqis are miserable as long as the oil flows and profits rise.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/11 at 07:43 PMH’lo, ev’bodee...from the Microstate of Me. No rap allowed within 250,000,000 miles of my borders without provoking a nuclear response. It’s the only article in my constitution: Thou Shalt Not Mumble, Groan, Nor Use The Word “Nigga” on pain of DEATH.
Apaprt from that, knock y’all’s selves out.
Posted by Mudge on from Austin, Texas 01/11 at 08:44 PMThere’ll be no rap in Mudgeville tonight.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/11 at 08:52 PMI agree with Mudge. No rap. Also, No going somewhere to “work” All work is to take place in your community. Everyone working together kind of like a hippie farm but in this case it’s a hippie community. Free Medical care. Isn’t it about time? No money allowed.
Back to reality. We’ve got a war to win!
Posted by David Waddle on from Louisville KY 01/11 at 09:13 PMI’m the King of Rock, there ain’t none highah!
Suckah MCs should call me Si-ah!
To forge my kingdom, you must use Fi-ah!Fi-ah, Fi-ah, Fi-ah....
Sorry man, I’m from Queens, too, so have to give my props to Run DMC, gods rest Jam Master Jay’s soul. That, and my Sartre/Existentialism book club just left, and I had to get a little Hollis, Queens rap out there.
As for the only article in my household constitution: Thou shalt NOT think outside the box. That’s another cat joke, see?
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 01/11 at 09:48 PMDavid and James: You two tend to arrive after I’m asleep so I wanted to say hello this time.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/11 at 10:06 PMthat was awesome, James. Brings back memories of the old days.
this is pretty incredible:
Posted by JOS on from Oak Park 01/11 at 10:33 PM
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