MANIFESTO

1. Do not demonize people, for any reason. Especially for their political, religious, moral or ethioal beliefs. We cannot resolve any issues without mutual love and respect.
2. Think your own thoughts. Do not settle for the diatribes of liberal or conservative talking heads. Be wary of populist demagogues.
3. Ideas and issues and challenges are complicated. They need our full attention. As adults, we need to be attentive.
4. The earth is a closed system of limited natural resources. Period. There is no such thing as an inexhaustible resource. It is always informative to look at how countries position themselves in their interests vis a vis natural resources.
5. Socialism, whatever that means, is not the enemy or the opposite of capitalism. Our current economic and political system is grounded in a socialist concern for the welfare of everyone. We are not driven by a purely socialist ideology, whatever that is, anymore than we are guided by a purely capitalistic ideology.
6. We live within systems and networks that are fraught with conflicts and contrary ideas.
7. Contrary ideas and approaches are to be expected -- But people with contrary ideas can and must work together to resolve issues.
8. The intellectual map is not reality. One person's / group's ideology is just that. Our media and reporters treat us an simpletons.
9. The mainstream media is a myth -- it is a creation by those who wish to silence or manipulate their colleagues in the media. Those radio talk show and tv squawkers who berate the mainstream media forget that they are the mainstream media.
10. We confuse news with entertainment. Those who manipulate the media to critique the mass media are entertainers. They do not present ideas fairly nor intelligently. They replace thoughtful, sustained discourse with quick jibes, cheap shots, sound bites.
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