Power begets power
Just two days after my post, 'Inner workings of capitalism and surveillance' (September 19), front page news stories reveal the federal government's plan to sell off $3 billion worth of Ottawa buildings to generate funding.
Ottawa plans to sell property to fund social spending
http://tinyurl.com/5gjb9
Landlords plan welcome mat for Ottawa
http://tinyurl.com/5nt2y
This should be a big red alert. With governments and big businesses working so closely with one another, where does that leave the average citizen? I'd say, fresh out of luck.
A radical move like this throws people for a curve. On the surface, it appears altruistic, with funds being specifically promised to healthcare and urban development. Yet it's interesting how well this proposed action fits with my theories about US-Canada integration. Indirectly, it may also support my assertion that surveillance and social control methods are being used to both speed up the integration process and shut down social resistance, grassroots autonomy, and public consultation.
Madness, you say?
Running a government is like running any type of organization. Reading a bit about organizational learning these past few years helped me realize this. I wanted to know how we, as a society, might facilitate healthy, holistic learning, and also, how people might become more socially and/or economically empowered through co-operatives and other collaborative endeavours. (See 'Post from the Past...'.)
Conventional wisdom suggests that selling off major property opens up the government to irreversible dependency upon the tides of capitalism, which as we know are seldom kind. The recent carrot-dangling emphasis on healthcare by the Liberals is just as bizarre. Since when has public healthcare become so important to the Liberals? And urban core development? That's never even been a point of discussion. On the other hand, divesting core power, while building up city development, would suit America just fine.
There's much more I could say about all this, but it'll have to wait...
[Edit: I don't generally read newspapers and don't have a TV, so I theorize about politics in relative ignorance. Yet eleven days after my post, this front-page story appeared:"Ontario doctors offered pay hike," Toronto Star (October 14, 2004). In searching for the article link, also came across this story: "Deal could hurt Medicare in long run," Toronto Star (September, 21, 2004).]
Here's an article about the US cybersecurity chief, which I read today. It reminded me that privacy is definitely on the way out, and also raised alarm bells for me in these areas:
- blurring lines between state and private sector
- absolute power should be questioned
- 'cybersecurity' means internet control and privacy invasion
- loss of democratic rights and freedom.
Homeland Security Cybersecurity Chief Abruptly Resigns
http://www.securitypipeline.com/49400256
Ottawa plans to sell property to fund social spending
http://tinyurl.com/5gjb9
Landlords plan welcome mat for Ottawa
http://tinyurl.com/5nt2y
This should be a big red alert. With governments and big businesses working so closely with one another, where does that leave the average citizen? I'd say, fresh out of luck.
A radical move like this throws people for a curve. On the surface, it appears altruistic, with funds being specifically promised to healthcare and urban development. Yet it's interesting how well this proposed action fits with my theories about US-Canada integration. Indirectly, it may also support my assertion that surveillance and social control methods are being used to both speed up the integration process and shut down social resistance, grassroots autonomy, and public consultation.
Madness, you say?
Running a government is like running any type of organization. Reading a bit about organizational learning these past few years helped me realize this. I wanted to know how we, as a society, might facilitate healthy, holistic learning, and also, how people might become more socially and/or economically empowered through co-operatives and other collaborative endeavours. (See 'Post from the Past...'.)
Conventional wisdom suggests that selling off major property opens up the government to irreversible dependency upon the tides of capitalism, which as we know are seldom kind. The recent carrot-dangling emphasis on healthcare by the Liberals is just as bizarre. Since when has public healthcare become so important to the Liberals? And urban core development? That's never even been a point of discussion. On the other hand, divesting core power, while building up city development, would suit America just fine.
There's much more I could say about all this, but it'll have to wait...
[Edit: I don't generally read newspapers and don't have a TV, so I theorize about politics in relative ignorance. Yet eleven days after my post, this front-page story appeared:"Ontario doctors offered pay hike," Toronto Star (October 14, 2004). In searching for the article link, also came across this story: "Deal could hurt Medicare in long run," Toronto Star (September, 21, 2004).]
Here's an article about the US cybersecurity chief, which I read today. It reminded me that privacy is definitely on the way out, and also raised alarm bells for me in these areas:
- blurring lines between state and private sector
- absolute power should be questioned
- 'cybersecurity' means internet control and privacy invasion
- loss of democratic rights and freedom.
Homeland Security Cybersecurity Chief Abruptly Resigns
http://www.securitypipeline.com/49400256
posted by outside the box... at
3:27 PM
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