Corporate, and/or governmental bureaucracy is merely a structural device to deliver whatever is supposed to be the offered. Bureaucratic structures arise out of impulse to efficiency, and can serve our interests so long as they are open (transparent) to our understanding, and so long as we can – as need arises – re-direct policy. So this turns out not to be about “bureaucracy”. The point of defining it was to call attention that it can be corporate as well as governmental. This 3-part article is really concerned with “cartel like behaviors”.
I’ve already suggested we have to ‘get real’ and accept that both inter-corporate cooperative behaviors, and also government-corporate cooperation, develop out of natural human practices.
Secondly, we have to recognize (‘get real again’) that a second normal human practice, motivation to accumulate power and wealth, is a historically proven phenomenon, unlikely to disappear. (Level of motivations for this varies with individuals).
Third, (another ‘get real’ moment), we have to recognize that assorted strategies and ploys are used by those motivated toward power and wealth; that the average citizen/consumer is an “object” to be manipulated toward that end; and that (back up to remedies one and two) this is all normal behavior, well represented in thorough study of individual and group psychology.
Fourth, we have to keep remedies 1, 2, and 3 in mind at all times. These first three remedies are essential. If we do not have understanding of these, we are “sitting ducks”, “easy prey”, “easy pickings”, …! The first three might remind us of a vigorous shrub or tree : we can accept it’s habitual ways, but also recognize that it will bring down the house if we do not keep its potential in check and eradicate if necessary. (Some vining plants on walls, and some trees growing too close to a foundation, can do this. Sometimes they need pruning, sometimes total eradication.)
The Fifth ‘remedy’ kicks in when we decide, based on “getting real” in our thoughts, that we have power in our own choices of behavior: a) treat one another with full citizen respect by rejecting ‘enemy’ ploys; b) demand transparency (and investigation where warranted); c) listen when fellow citizen/consumers tell stories of irresponsibility by Big Money/Big Power operators. Remedies 1, 2, and 3 above suggest there may well be truth in the stories. We do not have to accept the citizen/consumer accuracy, but we owe respectful listening, have responsibility to ask intelligent questions, and responsibility to release pre-awareness biases that interfere with individual, independent, capacity to value in another citizen. d) Look for, and expect, there may be ‘patterns’ of Big Money/Big Power at work.
Our power is in “getting real” and in supporting one another, and in “staying real” in our perspectives.
Democracy is based on a premise that individuals make thoughtful choices that support both individual and common weal. A “country” is a “nation” to the extent that citizens agree there are ways for citizens to use government on behalf of shared interests. Democracy is not intended to create great disparities in resource availability; its primary purpose is not to create “haves and have-nots”. The whole point of “shutting down a fully functioning monarch, czar, dictator, emperor, oligarchy, or fascist regime is to provide equitable resource distribution, and allow “the people’s voice” to judge success!
The whole justification for a people (collection of citizens) to exercise voice is to give direction to their democratic government (manage resource distribution equitably, and fairly)!
Citizen and consumer intent to keep “Big Money, Big Power” honest, is the most powerful personal intent we can hold – that, and checking ourselves out for our own inclinations toward “manipulating” those less aware for the sake of our own power/wealth accumulation, however modest it may be in comparison to those “Big Players”.
Those ‘pesky proven human tendencies’ to want to accumulate wealth and power, to want to keep power and wealth controlled in order to further accumulate both, to manipulate the less aware to this end, are ever present – so far at least.
Stand aware, stand tall, stand strong, stand ready, stand together! – MaggieAnn
Thoughts From The Well 