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Just what is really in the National Interest? For that matter who determines what's in the best interest of our neighborhood, our town, our county, our state, our nation and mankind as a whole? Hell what's in the best interest of our family and friends? Who determines what the national, state, county, city or neighborhoods best interest is any how?
More and more since World War II it has been so called experts that make the determination. For the most part these so called experts are a narrow range of military and other such who have a vested interest in deciding what is in the national interest. I long ago learned the best definition of an expert is to break the word down. Ex means out of and a spurt is a drip under pressure.
Who then should be determining what the best interest of our neighborhood is, a so called expert or the people living in the neighborhood? The people who make up the neighborhood right? Then why the hell are we allowing some so called expert to decide for us and allowing politicians who supposedly represent us to listen to them? When was the last time you sat down over coffee with your neighbors and talked about what is needed in your neighborhood? When was the last time you and they brought your representative to the neighborhood and said this is what we as a neighborhood need, now go get it for us? After all as your representative that's what we hired them to do, represent us.
When was the last time the citizens held a round table to see what was in the interest of the people of your town or city? Most such are held by politicians to tell you what they and the experts have decided with no input from the people most affected. Why do we allow this sad state of affairs to go on? I know of a bunch of ghost towns that have resulted from listening to so called ex spurts. I know of many other towns and cities that have bought the idea of unlimited growth. Unlimited growth, that is, except in resources that they can exploit. The only resource that really counts is the people living in the town or city. What educational, and other resources including housing, transportation, utilities and even local sources of food and goods are needed to make your town, city or county thrive. Who best to determine what is needed an outside ex spurt or the people who live there and interact with each other every day?
What about the needs of the people of the region, who determines what is done region wide and why? Politicians who have their own interest at heart or ex spurts who have done some study and impose their predetermined plan on the people of the region or do the people get together and work out what their interest are? I hope it's the latter but almost every region that I know of end up with a political compromise, or a ex spurt determined master plan that serves very narrow interest in the community or region.
How do we change this being beholden to some ex spurt or politician for the decisions that affect your life and that of your friends and neighbors? May I suggest going next door and discussing what I have to say and how it affects you and them, then sitting down and making a list of things needed in the interest of your neighborhood? Next take that list and go tell the politician who has been so eager to spend your tax money on his pet projects and say this is what we as a neighborhood have determined is in our best interest, support us or resign your position and we will find someone else to serve us. Not by political party, not by what they say, but only by if they will listen and act on our behalf. It goes without saying that that goes up the line to the state, the Nation and the world. Either those who govern are responsible to the governed or they are dictators of some sort.
Above all get in touch with others who think the same from where ever and share ideas, hopes, failures and wins so that next week, next year, next whatever keeps getting better. I have a few ideas on what is in the best interest of the people and the Nation This is just a starting point and can be expanded by almost anyone. First let's develop real education depending on the ability and interest of the individual. Not just educating people from K-12 but from cradle to the grave. Then find a way to use that education for everyone's good. In other words create full employment not just to make money for a corporation but to serve each other. Next provide food, shelter and healthcare not as you can afford it but as you need it. These four things are in the National interest because they affect everyone equally. What else can you come up with , what is your list and how do you justify it?
