I'm really feeling depressed about the state of the world this morning. Can't really talk to much about the specifics of the situation, because the people involved don't want the details disseminated. I doubt anyone will read this at all, never mind anyone who would know who and where I'm talking about, but on the off chance, I'll refrain from outlining the whole sordid mess. Anyway, I never in a million years imagined something like this could happen to someone I know--never mind the particular person in question, who is quiet, gentle, and working to make the world a better place--and it's extremely depressing. Even worse is that the institutions that should be working to help this individual, the organizations we set up to ensure citizens' health and safety, are abandoning ship in droves. So who does one turn to when all else has failed?

The whole thing reeks of something I've encountered again and again in the past three years. Namely: a society that seems hell-bent on avoiding responsibility and accountability at all costs. How did we get to the point where so much of our energy is put into avoiding liability? I, and most of the people I know, work hard to accept the full burden of personal responsibility for our lives and our actions. We do this with the expectation that the people we work for, and the goverments and agencies we pay for with our taxes, will reciprocate. And all anyone is worried about is dissociating themselves from people that are in trouble, and shutting out those who truly need help. Because gods forbid that these people should ever be held accountable for anything. Or ever have to look beyond anything other than their own comfort, their own personal profit, and that of their friends. And if people's lives are destroyed in the process? If their lives are uprooted, or they lose their jobs, or they or their families are hurt? Well, you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, can you? Better change your inner-tude and figure out where the cheese got moved to before the dancing elephants make off with it.

Okay, I'm sad and pissed off and not even making sense anymore to anyone who can't follow the MotivationSpeak. So that's all for now.

ds7.5.2003