Why is it that every political, economic, or other discussion of social order always has to be judged as falling along a spectrum of…
right, left, or center?
Because either “we” have them ourselves, or simply relinquish control over such issues to “them.”
Of course, that’s precisely what “they” want us to do.
I’m beginning to sound a little too much like Glenn Beck for my own comfort…
I’m not a conspiracy theorist!
But I do have a “theory”, or two, about what might be going on here.
I mean what should be the real question…how should political, economic, or social order ideas and actions actually be judged?
As to the affect they have on us…meaning People and Planet…
right?
So, why do we so quickly apply labels and then, according to the label, either tune them in, or out?
It’s sort of like we’ve been conditioned to do that.
And that’s because we HAVE BEEN conditioned to do that!
There was a proverbial once upon a time, long, long ago, when that wasn’t, at least, as true. That getting involved in such discussions was a mark of one’s civic responsibility…or status as a caring and impactful human being.
That’s before we moved from being human “beings” to being human “doings.”
From being actual players to mere spectators…who let Bill O’Reilly and Shawn Hannity do our thinking for us.
And they want us to label. They want us to tune everything out, but them. Drives their ratings and increases their pay-checks.
In fact, the whole political system is built on the assumption that you will label everything. If you happen to be one of those “centrists”, they’ll spend buko bucks trying to move you in their direction.
In fact, that’s pretty much what entire political campaigns are about, since they already know who’s on their side of the spectrum, i.e., their base.
So, we end up with political, economic and social order discussions that are never really about what’s best for People and Planet, but only about whether they are right, left, or center.
Isn’t this whole concept of spectrum, or continuum, merely an impact blinder that prevents us from arriving at real solutions to the problems we face?
I’d say that, well, yes, it is.
One that doesn’t judge according to the spectrum, but according to the merit of how a given course of action will impact us?
Is this a completely nutty notion, or what?
The two party system that’s so dominated the political, economic, and social order discussion in the U.S.A. for the last 100 years, or so…
might be overdue for a bit of an overhaul.
Now there’s a catch to pulling this off…
You see, this post has been a rant against the incessant impact blinder that I’ll hereby dub as “spectral labeling.”
But in order to pull this off, we have to get out of our habitual zero-sum, scarcity mentality, my prized ox is about to get gored, mode of thinking.
We have to learn to put impact over interest…
and to embrace the concept of the Big Us.
In short, we have to adopt the worldview of impact mindfulness.
In fact, we could call it The Impact Mindfulness Party…but, The People Planet Party is a bit more “catchy”…wouldn’t you say?
So, what do you think?
Who should we nominate to lead The People Planet Party?
Any ideas?
