COOPERATION

I know it sounds naive, but would it be too much to ask, in this year of huge uncertainty, that the word cooperation be revived?

We've gone through four decades of swirling economics, bitter domestic antagonisms, disintegrating social structures, and grand theft, institutionalized theft, on a scale unprecedented in history. All this ignorance (both wilful and unintended) has left us now facing obstacles to our collective well-being that loom frighteningly in every home, every business, every church, every school, and, we hope, every university and secondary school.

It's difficult for anyone - anyone - to fathom the extent of damage done to the social and economic fabric of the U.S. Our presumed leadership - at all levels and all capacities - has been brutally exposed as a cadre of self-satisfied dolts and felons for whom we can only wish at least one blinding moment of self-awareness. Almost in despair, we cling to Barack Obama as a savior of sorts and, if nothing else, this is unfair. Given the level of leadership competition (think Bill Clinton charging $2500 a head to lecture on leadership - is it any wonder we're in this pickle?), it's understandable that we should hold out such hope in one man but perhaps we need to invest in a few new rules of thought if we are to rebuild, re-energize, and re-focus this country. Barack is going to need your help.

We could do worse than emphasize a spirit of cooperation. By that I mean finding a way to work together - much the way neighbors do during a crisis - to seek solutions and implement whatever measures are deemed to be positive. Positive in what way, you say?

If it's possible to render a few goals clearly, goals that are so basic, yet crucial, that no thinking person could disagree, then we can keep things simple and minimize the inevitable bickering that comes from a society that has spent far too long seeing the individual (ME!) as the only important consideration in life.

1. Everyone wants and needs a job that pays a decent (liveable) wage.

2. It's time we thought in terms of working with people, not for them.

3. Taxes can be fair and everyone must pay. It's the price of living without a chain around your leg.

4. Change is inevitable and not a bad thing. We ARE incredibly adaptable and actually take pleasure in achieving things we had not thought either possible or part of our lives.

5. The losers and abusers are in the minority. Let's stop worrying about their beyond-the-pale behavior and concentrate on recognizing the honest effort of most of people.

6. If something isn't working, scrap it and find something new.

7. Comprehensive health must be made available to everyone. And it must be affordable.

8. Government IS you. Don't let anyone tell you different.

I guess it all boils down to attitude and, without sounding pollyannish, we can, without destroying individual initiative, work together to rebuild our shattered nation. The time to jettison the nasty partisanship and smug selfishness is long overdue. One can still be a success without acting like Sammy Glick. We need to work with our governments at every level to scratch and fight our way back to hope and prosperity. It's a trite but true idea that Americans are both resilient and creative. Let's get working.

And, if some of what I've said smacks of socialism, then so be it. Socialism for the rich has been the hallmark of the past forty years. If you don't already know this, the big boys rarely, if ever, lift a finger to act unless there is a government incentive, grant, tax break, depletion allopwance, or backstop propping up their capitalist charade. It's time we spread our wealth around.

RAD