A New Political Organization

 Communication, co-operation, organization, working together with common understandings through dialogue practice.

 

                The title of this blog begins with the word governance. For me, governance is about taking care of ourselves. To take care of ourselves takes co-operation. To be effective, cooperation takes organization.

Co-operation and Organization

                A new political organization is much like an old political organization. It takes people to organize, but many of those thinking to organize are new, not old. It's good that new people often can learn fast and well, because there is a lot to learn.

                An organization is made up of individuals; it's a group of people. A group of people is often a mess. A mess of people is a pretty poor organization. There is a lot to learn about organizing. To become an organization there are many things a mess of people can do. They mostly do it one thing at a time, but but sometimes nearly all at once. They do it with a bit of togetherness called cooperation.

                We already know a lot about cooperation, but there remains much to learn. For the moment we can begin by remembering that cooperation begins with operation. The heart of operation is work. By the way there is no law about work being fun or not. The "co" in cooperation means ''together." So, it is good to remember that cooperation is about working together.

                There is much to learn about politics and about organizing. It helps to know much about individuals and much about society. Still, one need know very little to make an important beginning. The less we know the more mistakes we are likely to make. Each mistake may be a great learning experience; a chance to enhance our understanding and effectiveness.

                One can try to find out how we have organized in the past. It is helpful to consider the nature of a successful organization. For exampled, the quality of communication may me important to the success of an organization. 

                I am about to begin a new blog called Dialogue With RCS It can be an aid to the oral communications of an organization and to the process of organizing.

                                                                    rcs

We Raise Hell

Governance With RCS: When we war we raise hell.

                 Men may be well justified in warring to protect the lives of their women and children.
Still there are most often more just ways of doing so.

                War causes strife. It makes life worse and confuses people. It increases quarrel and contention in the world. It is a state of active contention and antagonism. War is a state of prolonged armed conflict the purpose of killing people and destroying their resources. In war we kill and maim people. It makes those who live, angry and vengeful. 

                With war we destroy puppies and kittens. We destroy libraries, schools, and children. We destroy ponds and baby ducks. We destroy farms, pigs, and farmers daughters. We cause men to kill women. We cause men to kill other men's loved ones. Making war makes enemies.

                War is made on people, by people.

 

When we war we raise hell.

 

                                                                rcs

Little "d" democrat

                In the distant past there were democrats. There were democrats in the recent past. There are still some democrats. A democrat might be thought of as a person who believes in people and in their ability to learn and do. I know little about what democrats are doing at the moment. I do have a sharp memory of that which some democrats did in my lifetime.  

                Democrats have tended to promote certain doings. Some of  those doings tended to be definitive of their beliefs.

Democrats have promoted:

~ enhancement and protection of democracy among us. 

~ the study of legislation affecting democracy.

~ vigorous ongoing education about the use and doing of democracy.
~ improved communication among political parties and within them.
~ development of widespread leadership rather than super leaders.
~ enhanced education for participation in governance.
~ cooperative self-governance.
~ willingness to thoughtfully and promptly change a bad law for the better.
~ strong respect for our laws.
~ inclusivity  and diversity in public life.
~ cooperation within and among groups.
~ knowledge of the history of democracy including it's  limitations and advantages.
~ respect for the varieties of democracy around the world.
~ our Constitution and it's Bill of Rights.
~ our national Bill of Rights.
~ loving care of each and every child.
~ respect and honor for the individual, the family, and the neighborhood.
~ more nearly equal opportunity for access to healthcare for each person.
~ strong support for public health.
~ respect for and support of the position of minorities.
~wide, ongoing educational opportunities for all.

                The above could suggest planks for the platform of a present party or candidate.

 

 

                                by Richard Sheehan = RCS

What's to Like in an Organization

Governance With RCS organization: Organization creates the power to do. Our co-operating begins that power

 

 

                Organization increases our power enormously. We know that our organization can informs us and educates us well.

                We are capable of forgetting the pleasures and satisfactions of organization. I expect the pleasures and satisfactions I am recalling just now will not be the same as yours. Even so, among mine you may find one or two of yours.

                I have an interest in ad hoc organizations and those of longer term. Below are are many of my personal likes, of the moment, in organizations. Among mine you may find one or two of your own.

An organization which attracts me often has:

~ members who feel connected, involved, and respected.

~ the motive of helping me an others to thrive.

~ a clear understanding of costs an benefits.

~ members who promote widespread participation and responsibility.

~ members who embrace reality and who are willing to approach the truth.

~ members who value honesty and justice.

~ a mission I find valuable and pleasing.

~ plenty of talk in which all participate.

An organization which pleases me is one which:

~ which keeps me in the information loop.

~ most members feel well connected with leadership.

~ makes very clear who pays how much and who gets what.

~ moves in the direction of democracy.

~ tends to be inclusive.

~ tends to safeguard that which I value.

~ includes those who study and promote actions good for me and others.

~ advocates and protects people and processes important to me.

~ promotes dialogue which leads to appropriate action.

I find an organization congenial when it includes:

~ teaching the process of organizing.

~ the process of advocating and protecting me.

~ objectives very like my own.

                I am interested in hearing of your likes and values in organizations. I hope to live long enough to post in related topics, such as dialogue skills. Also I expect to post more on organizing and organizations here.

                Right now and just below were it says "comments," note a like of your own or question me on one of mine. It is easy to do so anonymously if you so wish.

                                                                            RCS

A New Political Organization (with a little update)

 Governance With  RCS: A New Political Organization, with 3 people you can have one

                A new political organization is much like a old political organization. It takes people to organize, but many of those thinking of organizing are new not old. Its good that new people can learn fast because there is a lot to learn.

                An organization is made up of individuals. It is a group of people. But a group of people is a mess. A mess of people is not an organization. There is a lot to learn about organizing. To become an organizations there are many things a mess of individuals can do. They mostly do it one thing at a time with a bit of togetherness. Co-operation may be the best second step.

                Now tell me how ought a good new political party look? What ought its main goals be? Sorry, you can't answer these questions here because Google has eaten the ''comments" app for this blog site.

 

 

                                                                                            RCS

Our Wars

Governance with RCS: Our Wars, our history,  our future

 

                The following is an introduction to my intention to write about some of our less known wars.

                As I write our union has lasted about 244 years. I find that of those years only six have been free of war. I also find that in a great many of those years we have fought more than one war year. I our 238 years of warring many of us have been killed and we have killed many. If we do not hold the record for average number of wars per year, we may soon do so.

The years we have not warred are 1935 through 1940 and 1897. It may well be worth while to learn more about these years.

From 1899 to1934 we had mostly just "Banana Wars;" mostly not only. People of our neighboring countries of Central America may object to my word "just." Those Banana Wars were among the most traumatic happenings in their entire history. In those wars we stepped on their labor movement hard. The people of those republics have found it difficult to laugh about what we have called our Good Neighbor Policy. 

When taking a close look at historic near the U.S. it seems we have hated the people of Haiti the most for the longest time. That we have invaded Mexico only 13 times since 1837 makes it look like we love Mexicans more than we have hated the people of Haiti; but I digress. These doings mostly count as wars.

There are doings related to our wars that are curious and peak my interest. For it is curious why we insist on killing one another when we could be arranging to protect ourselves from comet and asteroid rains, various virus, plagues, solar flares, rising sea levels, and the like. When I have said "we' here, I not only refer to you and I, our fellow citizens, and our fore bearers, but also those who find it convenient to war with us. 

My curiosity extends to wanting to know why part of our Civil War occurred at Gibraltar and why Mysore played a part in that same war. I'd even like to know why Sweden was our allie in our first Barbary War. What about the German Coast Uprising in the Territory of Orleans? Just why did we invade Canada? And like that. And you may agree, that our recent wars of say the last 20 or 30 years, have had their interesting points.

I do not enjoy writing about the killing we do or about the deaths of many of our fine young men. In fact it causes me some very unpleasant feelings. I would like to act in an honorable and legal way to minimize early deaths and killings. Not an easy thing to do since so many of us have abdicated responsibility for the war machine we sponsor.

I have a lot to learn but I do intend to be honest and factual as I write. I hope that you will correct any and all mistakes that you find on this blog. You are welcome to do so in the "comment" section just below.

More to come.

 

RCS    

 

Civics For the Brave and the Free

Some "how tos" for civics

Civility is an important part of civics and politics.

 

We can profit by learning:

~ some collaborative leadership.

~ about a deeper level of tolerance.

~ about sources of conflict.

~ how people who are fundamentally different from each other can develop sensibilities that enable them to get along.

~learning about consensus building.

 

We are at our civic best when we:

~ are listening. 

~ are working in partnership with others.

~ lead by example.

~ have the courage to be appropriately humble.

                We have a lot to learn. My old aunt told me that by beginning, we are half way there. After beginning one does ones best by keeping on keeping on.

                                                                RCS