[MD] Contents of Moq_Discuss Digest, Vol 21, Issue 9

[ryanm mooney]

Marsha,

I've been thinking the same way about government for a long time &
one of my favorite quotations, "the dead float with the stream, only the
living
can go against it", i cannot remember who said it or even if thats the exact
quotation
but its the gist of it.

I've thought of entering politics but the same problem keeps arising: i
don't know
how to articulate to the voters that government needs fundamental change
without sounding like Eugene Victor Debs. However wherever i end up
i most certainly will teach Quality, and quote Pirsig as often as i can.

This is completely theoretical, but i've always wanted to study and apply
MOQ
in our judicial system--most specifically in prisons, madhouses & courts
(MOQ, while
vital everywhere, would not be so interesting in the dissection of traffic
police & speeding tickets,
the classical knife of education can be put to so many better uses)

What are you thoughts on that?
politics aside, do you think it would be worthwhile to look at our system of

crime & punishment under the lens of MOQ?

Recently after i finished reading LILA for the second time, I watched
"Apocalypse Now,"
and other than being completely spellbound by watching two of the best
actors
in cinematic history (Brando & Sheen), i was compelled to re-examine the
movie
through the lens of MOQ...this is another topic, however, but i'm very
intrigued by it.

As always,
Ryan

Ryan,
>
> I have no answers.  I just don't know.  There are good arguments made
> by both parties.  But their words often ring hollow when it comes to
> action.  And even if a person with principles did win, the system is
> so murky I'm not sure she/he's principles would survive.  I don't
> believe this country is the best country that ever existed, and I
> certainly don't want this country to be the most powerful country.  I
> would like to see this country become a 'good' country.  Right now it
> seems we've strayed far off that mark.
>
> Education and transparency in government would seem an answer.  Not a
> job related education, but a classical education that would promote
> thoughts of quality instead of consumerism.  I am sick to death of
> evaluating the world through a lens of economics.  And if there is to
> be government participation, the citizens need to be able to know
> what it's representatives are doing.  I don't care a mouse's bottom
> about a government official's personal life, but I do care what
> decisions there enacting and why.  If they're cross-dressers I don't
> care.  If they are representing drug companies rather then the good
> of the country, I do care.  If they are undermining the Constitution,
> I want to know about it.
>
> I try to stay informed, and write, call and email my Senators and
> Representative.   The last subjects I wrote about were earmarks and
> lobbying reform (transparency), ending the war in Iraq, and
> impeachment.  I think the Dems are improving the access to education,
> but much, much more needs to be done.  Education is much more
> important than "things".  Personally I am still working on my own
> education, and staying close to a group of people who are trying to
> promote a worldview that puts quality first.  But there is another
> side of my thinking that knows 'things are as they are', and the flow
> of the river is never wrong, so I also just paint.
>
> Well, for what they're worth, there are some thoughts.
>
> Are you thinking about entering politics?  If so, I hope you will
> promote the MOQ.
>
> Marsha
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 08:26 PM 8/4/2007, you wrote:
> >Oh Wellstone is one of my idols. I live in minnesota and whenever i see
> an
> >old car
> >with a "Wellstone!" bumper sticker on it i remember that there have been
> >good politicians
> >in my lifetime. On the note of civics class, my history teacher did an
> >amazing job of stressing our
> >civic duties as the next generation. This last year we held a mock
> election
> >for the Minnesota Senate,
> >letting each student vote for someone who was running in the race. This
> is a
> >pretty normal exercize
> >in highschools now, but my teacher replaced the names with #'s, and
> removed
> >the political parties, and
> >gave us all a sheet with the canidates stances on current issues. I ended
> up
> >voting for someone from the
> >constitutional party. Theres a meaning in there somewhere...a
> >moral...something that says we should step back
> >and take a deeper look. Thoughts?
> >
> >Ryan