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October 14, 2009 at 02:20:09

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"They're out to get us!" On trust, distrust, and organizing for change

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By Don Smith (about the author)

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The real, hard question is: how can we organize society and institutions, at multiple scales, to prevent monopolization of power and information by corrupt interests, whether private or public? How can people hold each other and their institutions accountable? Even progressive groups become corrupted. One needs constant vigilance. Citizens need to be involved and informed and willing to take responsibility. Institutions must allow them the chance to take responsibility. For example, domain specialists could take responsibility for a website or part of a website. And progressive groups need to join together in coalitions so they're not in competition for money and supporters, and so they can coordinate.

Self-similar Mandelbrot set: similar structure at all scales

Nationally, elections and the media play central roles. Electoral politics and news media need to be open, accountable, and free from the corrupting influence of money. We need public financing of elections. Publicly financed journalism is also desirable. Either that, or people will have to step up and donate time and money to journalism. (But then wouldn't the most richly endowed journalism still prevail?)

Who should we trust? Well, the cynical answer is: nobody and nothing, because we need to hold everybody accountable. The idealistic answer is: everybody and everything tentatively, because we should endeavor to build institutions and structures -- at various scales -- that, while giving people a chance to prove that they're trustworthy, reward people for working together for the common good.

Self-similar fern: similar structure at all scales

(Fractal images from this wikipedia article on Self-similarity.)

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DFA organizer, Democratic Precinct Committee Officer, writer, and programmer. My op-ed pieces have appeared in the Seattle Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and elsewhere. See http://WALiberals.org and http://TruthSite.org for my writing, my (more...)

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pie in the sky by liberalsrock on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 11:05:28 AM

Maybe but by Don Smith on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 11:36:13 AM

Mr. Smith by Steven G. Erickson on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:18:05 PM

The Conspiracy "De Jour", states that you won't be able to by Pesty on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:33:34 PM

Only one way by Edward Ulysses Cate on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 12:02:02 PM

Indeed, our leaders, in fact do reflect us, so change has to by Pesty on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 2:49:58 PM

People Come in Two Flavors: Good and Bad by Jason Paz on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 1:44:55 PM

Uh-hummm. by Don Smith on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 2:12:08 PM

Trust Government? Of Course We Can!!! by Alice Lillie on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 2:08:24 PM

Oh, but government often DOES work! by Don Smith on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 2:19:17 PM

Your rant,... by John Sanchez Jr. on Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 at 8:40:51 AM

Alice, thumbs up! by roy lutz on Friday, Oct 16, 2009 at 5:20:20 PM

I thought Libertarian were Anarchists by Starla Immak on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 2:25:02 PM

Unfortunately FDR said it very well, "In politics, nothing by Pesty on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:11:39 PM

Throwing the Baby out with the Bathwater by Bia Winter on Sunday, Oct 18, 2009 at 12:49:34 PM

I am STUNNED! by steve scheetz on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:38:23 PM

Government often works! Besides, what's the alternative? by Don Smith on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 5:16:48 PM

Government often works...... Besides what is the alternative by Pesty on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 8:51:19 PM

Trust and Prudence by Richmond Shreve on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:47:56 PM

The term "Paranoia" or "conspiracy nut" have been misused by by Pesty on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 9:18:29 PM

ADDING TO THE LIST by Harvey Solomon on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 4:28:15 PM

While I agree with almost everything you said..... by Pesty on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 9:09:54 PM

Can't trust that by Scott Baker on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 7:24:50 PM

Yes about the bailouts by Don Smith on Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 10:34:56 PM

Capitalism by KMGuru on Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 at 9:02:56 AM

The real, hard question by KMGuru on Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 at 9:31:00 AM

Anti-government bigotry by Perry Logan on Friday, Oct 16, 2009 at 5:48:54 AM