I'm going to go out on a limb here and say "I think the state of the world we're in is pretty bad. The world doesn't need to be changed it needs to be potty trained."

If everyone agrees that things are not going well, what can we do to change that? Right now, to me, the future looks bleak. We have the 2012ers talking about armageddon. We have that astro/scientist Gonzo saying that it's all over but the debris. 

 I find it interesting that so many cultures around the world have this 2012 symbolism, don't you? And Dr. Gonzo says a meteorite will hit in July of next summer. Well, we just had a spectacular one hit the other day and we're all still here. 

I would like to hear (read learn) what everyone else thinks about this end of the world thing. Honestly.

A better world is one where there is enough stability for people to live. That's my opinion.

How do we get there? It all starts with us and within us.

And what about the people that don't care or are irresponsible? Forget about them and focus on the people that are responsible.

Those are the first steps in my opinion.

I think that as long as there have been humans there has been talk of the end of the world.  

The world as they knew it ended long before 2012 for the Mayans.  

I'm curious what you think Larry?  What would make the world a better place and what do you think needs to be done for that to happen? 

Lupa, I would love to answer your question right now but it's going to have to wait until morning. I can't see or much less think clearly right now. Please forgive my absence but I will be back on it in the morning. It's 11PM here right now, give me 10 hours and I'll be back. Have to let the dog out, first, though...

Oh no rush.  I'm off to sleep shortly myself and it's a busy week at work for me.  I can't groom dogs and type so I'll stop in again when I can.  

Eh. There's never going to be a "better" for many people. It is what it will be, I think.

I'm not a doomsday-er, I just think that humans in this state of evolution will always be prone to lamenting about the past. 

I was reading on cnn.com about "global currency" and that makes a lot of sense. I think things like this are going to be FORCED to happen (pluto) with all this debt (in capricorn?), and people might get discriminatory, and defensive of their countries and whatever else. But I think with the Dollar so weak against the Euro, it's going to be used as a model over and over. There's no way the U.S. can solve the debt alone. 

There's already been a big article by the New York Times - we can't/won't be able to ignore debt anymore. (coinciding with the leave of the trio in Aquarius?)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/business/23rates.html

Whether this is "better" or not remains to be seen, you know? someone could just as easily say this sounds like Orwell's 1984 with massive country blocks being the new world order. 

Although, the more people you try to control over the greater landmass, the harder it is, right? 

I have learned the hard and fast rule "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" but there is a saying going around which is "Don't Glow Over the Global Grrrappp". I am dealing with the world's issues in a micro-cosmic way, re-cycling, loving my family and smiling at the postman. I sure can't work with having the world's issues on my shoulders every...single...day. I am hoping that the Keynesian multiplier effect works micro-cosmically and many smaller actions can affect on a macro level. I don't think it can hurt anyway. 

"The world doesn't need to be changed it needs to be potty trained."

I love that imagery! Tantrums, shit flying everywhere, sounds about right...

I grew up in a town called Dearborn, Michigan, the home of Henry Ford. We had a mayor, Elbert J. Hubbard, one of the world's greatest (infamous) racists. But his motto was "If everyone cleaned their own doorstep, the world would be clean."

I agree with Lynn, who put it in a much more creative way than I, if we take care of ourselves and our own, we have done the world a service. I don't know from the Keynesian multiplier effect - I barely got out of high school with my ass intact - but I understand the reasoning. One spirit is a spark, 1000 spirits is a bonfire.

I've dealt with the system on so many levels and when you try to effect major change on your own, you wind up in the hospital, bruised and beaten. But, if you get a coalition going, one plus many, you can make a difference. But to change the world? I don't know, it's going to take some divine intervention.

Keep it in perspective. 

 They did not even invent penincillin until WWII, and I don't know about you but I would be dead about 4 times over if it was not for antibiotics.  They did not even endorse the washing of hands before delivering children until late last century http://www.hygenius.com/history.htm and a lot of women - a whole lot of women died in childbirth.

http://www.hygenius.com/pres.htm

The bulk of the masses in the USA can expect to live to be close to 80.  That is new in human history.

<font color="#800080">http://www.thubtenchodron.org/InterreligiousDialogue/index.html</font>

<font color="#800080">my thinking about a lot of things changed when I met this teacher - she believes that your thought sets up an energy field all around you - and that the greatest service you can give to the world it to simply clean up your own corner and try to be a calm loving person.  Her take on it (Buddhist Nun works closely with the Dalai Lhama) is that the world simply is - and as westerners we ethically try to impose our standards on others - but that the world itself is not going to change - it simply Is...</font>

Honestly, I'm back and forth about the "end of the world" thing. Problem for me is that it makes scientific sense. The specific details I've seen/read about all add up in my head in terms of science and logic and probability  - but...it's the LIKELIHOOD that you've got to focus on. Just because something is possible doesn't mean it's probable.

I don't know if the world IS going to end, but it certainly seems like a really rude awakening is coming. I do think that the Earth has been raped beyond belief. I do think that people don't take the damage we've done seriously and I do think that it's effecting everything that sustatins us.

Every time I see yet another plot of Earth torn up so another shopping mall go in, yet another grocery store across the street from three others already there....I think of all the plastic that's not only sitting on those shelves, but also already there in landfills...just...sitting...it spirals from there and starts to make me panic.

On the other hand, I'm a total hypocrite. Because I recycle and try to be green so long as it's convenient and when it's not I sigh and do participate in the damage, myself. 

For instance, I tried to use tampons with cardboard applicators to save some unbiodegrable waste, but ended up hating them and switched back to plastic...and I feel guilty. But I don't change it (except now I probably will because it's gotten me going, "You know, just...deal with it and use the cardboard, damn it!")

Anyway. Long rambly post is long and rambly.