In response to Tom Lunde, Arthur Cordell,
Michael Gurstein, Eva Durant, Neva Goodwin and Sherry Martin
Thanks to all of you for your
comments.
I think we do need positive and optimistic
visions as Arthur Cordell and Sherry Martin were posting.
We also need the pessimistic "black"
visions like Michael Gurstein's "Angell Dust", just to know, whereto
it could lead us.
I fully agree with Eva Durant, that more
democracy will bring more chance of conscious cooperation, of free flow of
information about dangers and options. Take the example of the end of the German
Democratic Republic - "We are the People" was the slogan of the
peaceful revolution.
There are a lot of economic and political trends
coming from North America to Europe, but it could be the other way round some
time : take the efforts for a 35hours work week in France and Italy, take the
strike in Denmark for more paid vacation days.
The new social democratic governments in Europe
- far away from beeing socialistic - are still fearing the political impact of a
rising unemployment rate. The creation of labour is their first goal.
Unfortunately there are only few voices who are
asking, what kind of work is needed. Job creation politics has to start - like
energy politics - with an evaluation what kind of work should and could be
reduced.
After that we should discuss ways to achieve a
fair distribution of paid and unpaid work, between men and woman, between
regions and continents.
I would be happy, if based on internet-debates
like our's, we could formulate an international work-reduction programme for the
next 20 years. Let us try a revival of the
strong 8-hours movement in the USA some 100 to 120 years ago.
With best wishes, Robert
Neunteufel
I invite you, to visit my personal website: http://members.EUnet.at/ro.neunteufel
