October 10, 2010, part 2. From 6-7 pm this evening I was interviewed by Mike Ruppert on his “Lifeboat Hour” on internet Progressive Radio. (Listen to our conversation here.) I talked about the differences we’d seen in localization activities between our 2006 and 2010 tours: many more activists, groups and projects, especially more happening at the neighborhood level. Local investing networks, emergency preparedness bringing neighbors together, shared gardens.
At the end Mike asked if I were president of the U.S., what would I say to the people? My mind raced. Tough question!! What I’d really want is for the president to dismantle the monetary system, remove personhood and strip power from the corporations, and massively downsize the war industry.
But what could a president realistically do or say — and still push the edges that way I’d want her to? As best as I can recall, I said that the American spirit was needed for the coming times, citizens working together in their locales to take care of themselves and one another. Not to expect governments to do all they have done, because the American empire is fading.
How would you answer that question?
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I’ve been reading a bit about kensyian economics and the idea that a functional and sustainable government policy should *balance* private spending, not mimic it. In times of prosperity the government scales back, stops spending and starts saving (or pays off the debt). If they go too far and things start fading, it then has the ability to re-infuse real value into the system and has the funds to loosen the reins and create opportunity. At least I think that’s how it goes. Maybe the problem isn’t O’Bummer spending as much as that he’s too late to the party: we’ve had 30 years of spending during high times when we should have been saving up. I don’t think jumping in with a countercyclical economic policy in hard times when there IS no reserve is going to work. If we’re going to have politicians running the money, at the very least we need some agreement of how to manage it that doesn’t change every four years.
I’m actually a nut for self-sufficiency, tiny government, deep ecology and restoration of community power: a reasonable life, as Ferenc Mate would call it. But if we are doomed to a life of political bloat, at least let there be some consensus about how to screw us so we’re not … well, totally screwed.
Janaia, it was wonderful to hear your voice again and I am so happy I tuned in at just the right time. What would I say if I were president?
“Folks, capitalism has brought us undreamed-of prosperity, but now we have reached the limits to growth. It is time to implement a planned economy. We have the super computers that can make it work. We will program them for maximizing everyone’s well-being, BUT LIMITING FOR SUSTAINABILITY. We will design incentives to work and to save. We can do this now, while we still have the time and resources to do it right, or we can just wait till we experience a train wreck and don’t have any choice…”
At this point my own advisers would probably yank me off the TV and kill me.
I do wish Ruppert wouldn’t spend so much of the show’s time patting himself on the back and plugging CollapseNet and focused more on the guests. I think you did a great job diplomatically steering the show back on-point.
Janaia – I’d vote for you to be president any day! )Of course I wouldn’t wish that job on any of my friends – smile). Love, Llyn
P.S. Great interview!