Re: Bitter comment (my ramblings)

Walter Hart wrote (on the federal-debts list):

> I read the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin as a child many years ago.
>  "A penny saved is a penny earned." 

First, let me say that I believe it was Mr. Strong
who 'voted' to keep this list mostly on S.S., as,
in particular, he (and others) have appreciated the
fine work by Mr. Davis -- a level of data and accuity
that he valued.

Second, in renaming this list, I only somewhat broadened
its focus, to include matters of US obligations, including
S.S.  I particularly had in mind Mr. Catherwood, as
he has a charge from his FEDERAL FISCAL POLICY FOUNDATION
to address all manner of federal taxation, deficit, obligations
and liabilities.

S.S. is secure, only to the extent that it is either
truly in a "lock box" or, if politicians continue to
spend excess contributions, then S.S. is subject to
all demands on the federal government.

In that none of us know which, I hope that we can
maintain discussions here that directly address S.S.,
and discussions that have implications for S.S.

As all of you know, I have flung my doors open to 
looking at all debt (aka credit) and try to embrace
federal, corporate, government (federal), government (other),
and household, and matters that directly affect the
magnitude of those, and matters that indirectly
affec the magnitude of those.  (It is either a blessing
or a curse that I, myself, tend toward broader scopes.)

So, with regard to my debt interests, I have curbed my
broader interests to posts of my newsletter.

***

Now, comes Mr. Hart.

I have seen Mr. Hart ask very good questions to the
"Concord List" (continued here).

And, in his last posting, he says:

"I have this sense that we have lost the principles that 
kept us, as a nation, safe ..."

***

Indeed, as Mr. Krugman has a "best seller" partly on
this topic, and as I have witnessed a wildness of
spending and a lack of thrift, I quite agree, and
I am afraid for this country.

Is this general concern appropriate for this list?

I would simply say, all things in moderation.

I also wish to see messages that mainly address S.S.
and whether S.S. can be protected, regardless of other
forces.

***

Mr. Hart asks, "What do we do?"

1.  We need our knowledge and perspectives to inform
the Concord Coalition.  I have invited Mr. Zeeve, their
primary analyst, to join this list.  (We are also trying
to resurrect more prior subscribers, but after hard
nudging, the ball is back at Yahoo, and I will follow up
on Monday.)  I, in personal messages, have stated that
I wish this list and the Concord Coalition not be a
"we vs. they."

2.  What becomes of our hard work, here, otherwise?  I
know that we educate each other, at the very least.  Does
our collective wisdom reach further?  This is very difficult
to answer.  To the extent discussion here, informs me, and,
to the extent I embody that information in a newsletter, and
disseminate that newsletter to a wider audience, there is
that path.  And, by the theory of "6 degrees of separation,"
there is the possibility, but certainly not the plausibility
that our wisdom reaches everyone  :)

Can we do better at dissemination?  Always.  If you see
a posting here that may either interest another list or
someone in your addressbook, then, by all means send it along.

3.  Now, specifically replying to Mr. Hart's question, there
are two ways in which this nation is "self-correcting."

        I.  Top-down -- we elect presidents, senators, and
                representatives who listen to the issues
                we, the people, wish to be heard

        II. Bottom-up -- grassroots efforts have always been
                important in this country.  So, write letters
                to local papers, find some aid associated 
                with a local Rep., etc., and get his/her
                e-mail address or fax number.  Be aware
                of what government committees either your
                State reps. or Federal reps. belong to.  This
                reveals their interests and their influence

                Publish.  Mr. Catherwood got an article into
                an accounting journal!  I cite that in my
                "debt summary."  Mr. Catherwood does mailings.

                Identify someone who might be a patron to
                pay for press releases, expenses of writing,
                etc.  I had a patron last year.  It gave me
                the freedom to buy hundreds of books on
                money and finances.

                For $10/mo., you can go to the Foundation
                Grants web page and identify foundations
                in your geographic region that have funded,
                for example, economic development:

                        http://www.fdncenter.org/

                Perhaps one of you might step forward and
                pay for one or two months.  The application
                can be in the name of "Concerned Citizens
                for the Federal Debt," and we may then post
                the id/password to our list.  I would be
                pleased to provide some tips about how to
                fill in the "search form" -- where the only
                "variable" is putting in your own State
                or City.

Sincerely,

Curtiss
                
-- 


           W. Curtiss Priest, Director, CITS
   Research Affiliate, Comparative Media Studies, MIT
      Center for Information, Technology & Society
         466 Pleasant St., Melrose, MA  02176
   781-662-4044  BMSLIB@MIT.EDU http://Cybertrails.org