Sorry, Merle, but I must disagree with your assessment that I miss the point. The issue is not whether some organizations (or people) are good or bad. The issue is whether in a particular case an organization (or person) takes actions that are good or bad. This viewpoint is central to the functioning of a society, which I view as important. (Perhaps anarchists would rather that a society not function?) So when Coca Cola devotes overwhelming resources to defeating two policies that are of real benefit to the community, I find that bad (And in a quasi-democracy, I am entitled to express my opinion). When Coca Cola contributes to the educational mission of Emory University, I find that good. You may feel that crowd-funding is the only way to go in implementing public policy goals, but I do rather argue that socially desirable goals are achieved through the proper use of money, power, politics, and, if you will, elite organizations. How else do we provide health care to the poor, public education, and a host of other community functions?
George Duncan Emeritus Professor of Statistics, Carnegie Mellon University georgeduncanart.com See posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Land: (505) 983-6895 Mobile: (505) 469-4671 My art theme: Dynamic exposition of the tension between matrix order and luminous chaos. "Attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion." >From "Notes to myself on beginning a painting" by Richard Diebenkorn. "It's that knife-edge of uncertainty where we come alive to our truest power." Joanna Macy. On Wed, May 3, 2017 at 4:36 PM, Merle Lefkoff <merlelefk...@gmail.com> wrote: > You're missing the point George. This isn't about good guys and bad > guys. This is about money, power, politics, and elite organizations. No > crowd-funding there. > > Happy to send you information about how Pre-K is actually moving forward > in Santa Fe with the public's tax money. > > On Wed, May 3, 2017 at 4:18 PM, George Duncan <gtdun...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Hey, Merle, I don't remember forgetting where the money for this >> campaign came from. According to the AP, >> >> Campaign finance reports show New York billionaire Michael Bloomberg >> contributed $1.1 million to a pro-tax committee. The American Beverage >> Association spent $1.3 million against the tax. >> >> Also, relevant is what organizations were for it and what organizations >> were against? Again according to the AP, >> >> Spending by rival political committees pitted the American Beverage >> Association and allied local businesses against soda-tax backers including >> Bloomberg, teachers unions, the American Heart Association and the Roman >> Catholic Church. >> >> Interesting allies to a "political mafia". >> >> Yes, we do need pre-K and now with this defeat I see no path towards >> getting it. >> >> >> >> George Duncan >> Emeritus Professor of Statistics, Carnegie Mellon University >> georgeduncanart.com >> See posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram >> Land: (505) 983-6895 >> Mobile: (505) 469-4671 >> >> My art theme: Dynamic exposition of the tension between matrix order and >> luminous chaos. >> >> "Attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may >> then be a valuable delusion." >> From "Notes to myself on beginning a painting" by Richard Diebenkorn. >> >> "It's that knife-edge of uncertainty where we come alive to our truest >> power." Joanna Macy. >> >> >> >> On Wed, May 3, 2017 at 3:18 PM, Merle Lefkoff <merlelefk...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> You forget George, that the political Mafia that runs Santa Fe city >>> government not only put together a stupidly doomed proposal, but also >>> brought in outside money that MATCHED the amount of money brought in by >>> corporate interests. Some of you may remember that $250,000 of outside >>> money also came into the Mayor's race after the City Council had passed >>> legislation to insure a citizen-funded municipal campaign. As it turned >>> out, the Mayor would have won without the extra money that local power >>> brokers brought in from outside. Another loss for local democracy and >>> getting money out of politics. Cry the Beloved City. Because we really >>> really need pre-K. >>> >>> On Wed, May 3, 2017 at 10:29 AM, George Duncan <gtdun...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Anyone like to bet that we will now address these issues "rationally" >>>> so that there will be either funding for Pre-K or disincentives for sugary >>>> drinks? I will take the opposite side of that bet. >>>> >>>> We now see the power of those corporate interests who will provide the >>>> millions of dollars needed to defeat any tax proposal that might hurt them. >>>> Some how I do not expect them to be funding Pre-K education by any means. >>>> Also any new proposal to tax sugary drinks will prompt their money to be >>>> put into opposition. Further note what our Governor said in response to >>>> yesterday's defeat about the public mood to increase taxes. >>>> >>>> Yes, elitists may well think that Pre-K dominates cheap soda. And, yes, >>>> elitists don't drink Coca-Cola and instead like Perrier water. So District >>>> votes hardly surprising. >>>> >>>> Duncan >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> George Duncan >>>> Emeritus Professor of Statistics, Carnegie Mellon University >>>> georgeduncanart.com >>>> See posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram >>>> Land: (505) 983-6895 >>>> Mobile: (505) 469-4671 >>>> >>>> My art theme: Dynamic exposition of the tension between matrix order >>>> and luminous chaos. >>>> >>>> "Attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It >>>> may then be a valuable delusion." >>>> From "Notes to myself on beginning a painting" by Richard Diebenkorn. >>>> >>>> "It's that knife-edge of uncertainty where we come alive to our truest >>>> power." Joanna Macy. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Wed, May 3, 2017 at 9:54 AM, Owen Densmore <o...@backspaces.net> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Oh, and Elitism? Culturalism? >>>>> >>>>> Well the south side districts overwhelmly trounced it: 69% & 73% Even >>>>> the most liberal districts were 50-50. >>>>> >>>>> -- Owen >>>>> >>>>> On Wed, May 3, 2017 at 9:45 AM, Owen Densmore <o...@backspaces.net> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Voters smack down mayor’s beverage tax proposal >>>>>> >>>>>> http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/voters-smac >>>>>> k-down-mayor-s-beverage-tax-proposal/article_3971faf0-2f9c-1 >>>>>> 1e7-8374-532a52cd354f.html >>>>>> >>>>>> Now maybe we can focus on health, pre-K, etc rationally rather than >>>>>> tying them together idiotically. >>>>>> >>>>>> Quote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Opponents resisted the proposed tax as an unfair overreach by city >>>>>> leaders and not the best way to fulfill a recognized need for expanding >>>>>> access to preschool programs. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Amen! >>>>>> >>>>>> -- Owen! >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ============================================================ >>>>> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >>>>> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >>>>> to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com >>>>> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ============================================================ >>>> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >>>> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >>>> to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com >>>> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Merle Lefkoff, Ph.D. >>> President, Center for Emergent Diplomacy >>> emergentdiplomacy.org >>> Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA >>> >>> Visiting Professor in Integrative Peacebuilding >>> Saint Paul University >>> Ottawa, Ontario, Canada >>> >>> merlelefk...@gmail.com <merlelef...@gmail.com> >>> mobile: (303) 859-5609 >>> skype: merle.lelfkoff2 >>> >>> ============================================================ >>> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >>> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >>> to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com >>> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove >>> >> >> >> ============================================================ >> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >> to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com >> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove >> > > > > -- > Merle Lefkoff, Ph.D. > President, Center for Emergent Diplomacy > emergentdiplomacy.org > Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA > > Visiting Professor in Integrative Peacebuilding > Saint Paul University > Ottawa, Ontario, Canada > > merlelefk...@gmail.com <merlelef...@gmail.com> > mobile: (303) 859-5609 > skype: merle.lelfkoff2 > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com > FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove >
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove
