cs1@oddjob.UUCP (Cheryl Stewart) (04/10/85)
Taking any political stance, publicly defending it with some rationalized argument, proposing that the government solve some particular social, or political problem in some particular manner (yuppie-granola, republican, or otherwise) is a sincere but superficial approach to social change which attacks the symptoms, not the roots of evil in an unhappy world. The government a people choose, or choose to tolerate, is a reflection of who those people are, and who those people choose to believe. It is only by changing the hopes, fears and dreams of people that governments can be improved. Simple examples: people are afraid of being blown to smithereens by Russia, so they vote for uncle Ron, who promises to protect them; people hope to maintain a high standard of living, so they vote for uncle Ron, who promises to let them. Now, WHAT IF all those people actually believed their own religious beliefs, and actually believed that a life of poverty and a life of virtue are quite compatible, and that after a life of virtue it doesn't really matter whether or not you're blown to smithereens by the Russians? Where would uncle Ron be then? Probably making Granola ads, that's where. Now WHAT IF everyone in the world was a deadhead, and would rather watch people play music than play politics? WHAT IF THEY HAD A GOVERNMENT AND NOBODY CARED? WHAT IF THEY HAD A WAR AND NOBODY CAME? Hey, if you get confused, listen to the music play.