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It Takes a Planet
Author: BobR    Date: 12/23/2009 12:19:07

In her book "It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Our Children Teach Us", Hillary Clinton wrote that people outside of our nuclear family have a role in - as well as an impact on - our children. The reality of course, is that this is true for all of us. No man is an island, the saying goes, and for good reason. We are all humans and we all interact and create impacts in various ways on those around us.

I was reminded of this over the past weekend, when the DC area got nearly 2 feet of snow, breaking a December record. In our little "village", people were out shoveling snow, helping one another. Our next door neighbor helped us and we helped them. The people of the neighborhood were all shoveling a part of the road that the snow plows hadn't cleared. It was an amazing display of people working together for the common good. The younger and healthier helped those that were older and less able to do physical labor.

Sometimes, though, it takes more than a village; sometimes it takes a city. Most cities have some form of mass transit, most likely buses. Some larger cities like DC, NYC, Atlanta, Chicago have subways. This type of convenience and traffic-reducing benefit would be impossible or absurd at a smaller village level. Through taxes and fares, the people of the city pool their money to provide a service that benefits everyone that lives there.

Sometimes, though, it takes more than a city; sometimes it takes a whole county. This is especially true when there are several small cities or villages in a county. The people of the county can pool their resources via taxes and fees to provide county libraries and school systems for their residents. They can provide for a county sheriff system to intervene when disputes occur between cities.

Sometimes, though, it takes more than a county; sometimes it takes a state. At the state level, the money collected via taxes can provide for state programs like colleges. It can maintain interstates that span multiple counties. By pooling resources at the state level, the wealthier counties can help carry the weight of the poorer counties for the benefit of all. This is especially important for areas where certain industries have been the main source of income, and those industries are no longer viable. When properly managed, the state can provide a cushion for those poorer areas.

Sometimes, though, it takes more than a state; sometimes it takes a whole country. This includes the obvious like resolving inter-state disputes, and regulating inter-state commerce, but it includes maintaining the health and welfare of all citizens in the state. The health care bill is a prime example of this. If everyone in the collected states chips in what they can, then everyone benefits. It would be impossible for every state to provide the same level of coverage for health care. It would result in a patchwork of coverage levels and costs, varying from state to state. Instead, everyone in the country gets access to the same blanket of coverage. Despite the ideology of libertarians and conservatives, the basics (such as food, shelter, and health care) are too important to leave to the states, because some states are unable or unwilling to manage this for the good of the states' citizens. Therefore, the country as a whole must collect the monies and manage the programs.

Sometimes, though, it takes more than a country; sometimes it takes a whole planet. This became clear after WWII. Various groups (like NATO and the UN) were created to help prevent wars from escalating to that scale. Financial aid to poor countries, or countries devastated by climate changes or events, or war could not be done effectively without countries working together. The recent pollution control pact reached in Copenhagen is the sort of thing that requires the various countries on this planet to cooperate for the betterment of all. Pollution and greenhouse gasses know no boundaries, so we must all work together to reduce their production.

Whether we work together as a village, or a city, or a county, or a state, or a country, or a planet - we must work together and pool our resources, whether that be money or manpower, to make this world and our individual and collective lives the best that they can be.

 

26 comments (Latest Comment: 12/24/2009 00:25:43 by Mondobubba)
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Comments:

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Comment by wickedpam on 12/23/2009 13:18:01
Morning

Comment by Raine on 12/23/2009 14:09:17
Great Blog today Bobber.

Comment by Raine on 12/23/2009 14:09:42
I got up way to early today...

Comment by TriSec on 12/23/2009 14:18:40
Hi folks!



Home today....I'm wrestling with ricotta and dough and stuff. Frosting cookies next!





Comment by Raine on 12/23/2009 14:19:26
Quote by TriSec:

Hi folks!



Home today....I'm wrestling with ricotta and dough and stuff. Frosting cookies next!





TRMS ::: Nice!!! :::

Comment by wickedpam on 12/23/2009 14:20:39
Okay BLogger JOe scheduled to ship - no just getting them to pick it up in the office

Comment by Raine on 12/23/2009 14:34:08




this!!!

Comment by TriSec on 12/23/2009 15:10:46
And now the cookies are done...



Listening to Soma FM "Xmas in Frisko".



If you're going to be home streaming Xmas eve or Xmas day, I highly recommend it, or the very chill "Christmas Lounge".



Comment by TriSec on 12/23/2009 15:12:36
A handy internet image, but this is what I finished this morning:



http://fever2tell.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/italian_anise_cookies1.jpg




Unlike the commercial "Anise Drops" you might see in the supermarket, mine are lemon.



Only the pizzeles or biscotti get the anise oil.

Comment by Raine on 12/23/2009 15:33:29
Quote by TriSec:

A handy internet image, but this is what I finished this morning:



http://fever2tell.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/italian_anise_cookies1.jpg




Unlike the commercial "Anise Drops" you might see in the supermarket, mine are lemon.



Only the pizzeles or biscotti get the anise oil.




Comment by Scoopster on 12/23/2009 15:41:04
Ooooooh cookies!

Comment by BobR on 12/23/2009 15:52:17
Quote by TriSec:

And now the cookies are done...



Listening to Soma FM "Xmas in Frisko".



If you're going to be home streaming Xmas eve or Xmas day, I highly recommend it, or the very chill "Christmas Lounge".



when I think of "soma" I think of "sleep", which is what this kind of music does to me.



Sorry, Tri - we are definitely on different planets when it comes to music...

Comment by BobR on 12/23/2009 15:52:38
Quote by TriSec:

A handy internet image, but this is what I finished this morning:



http://fever2tell.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/italian_anise_cookies1.jpg




Unlike the commercial "Anise Drops" you might see in the supermarket, mine are lemon.



Only the pizzeles or biscotti get the anise oil.


oh yum!

Comment by TriSec on 12/23/2009 15:59:05
Hey now. Live by Ellington!



"All music is created equal - if it sounds good, it IS good."





Comment by livingonli on 12/23/2009 16:14:03
Good morning everyone..



I'm definitely in the mood for Tri's cookies. I am sending out my blogger Joe gift today but the box I am packing it in might make one think it's larger than it actually is.

Comment by livingonli on 12/23/2009 16:46:04
It got quiet here. I guess everyone's getting ready for Christmas.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/23/2009 16:49:35
as usual right now

Comment by BobR on 12/23/2009 17:28:11
Quote by livingonli:

It got quiet here. I guess everyone's getting ready for Christmas.


It's time for lunch indeed

Comment by Al from WV on 12/23/2009 19:37:48
Quote by Scoopster:

Ooooooh cookies!


No cookies for you until you get your sleep study scheduled. Sorry, Scoop, but I am a certified, qualified, highly trained a$$hole, but only when necessary.



I only bring it up because I didn't see an acknowledgement from you regarding last post on the matter.



Please, Scoop, the damn thing's keeping me out of a slowly trailing death; I kind of think it's maybe important or something.

Comment by Raine on 12/23/2009 19:53:01
Quote by Al from WV:

Quote by Scoopster:

Ooooooh cookies!


No cookies for you until you get your sleep study scheduled. Sorry, Scoop, but I am a certified, qualified, highly trained a$$hole, but only when necessary.



I only bring it up because I didn't see an acknowledgement from you regarding last post on the matter.



Please, Scoop, the damn thing's keeping me out of a slowly trailing death; I kind of think it's maybe important or something.


Listen to the man, scoop -- he will dog you till the sun sets up and then start over again when it comes back up. That said, be glad he does, it means he cares -- and so do I.



(only dif --I'll give you a cookie... )





Comment by TriSec on 12/23/2009 20:17:47
Well, I'm back!



Long afternoon....but all is ready. Lunch, check. Liquor, check. Supermarket, check!



More pastry to make tomorrow am, but that's it!





Comment by Raine on 12/23/2009 21:08:48
Quote by TriSec:

Well, I'm back!



Long afternoon....but all is ready. Lunch, check. Liquor, check. Supermarket, check!



More pastry to make tomorrow am, but that's it!





Sounds delish!

I don't have much to do. Tonite we are having Chicken soup, (cooking on the stove... ) and tomorrow I need to step out to get a small prime rib. We were planning on heading down to Atlanta for the weekend, but after the tumble I took monday walking, (2 actually) I really am hurting. (that and the dog bite--- during the same walk) so we are staying home for the holiday.



First time in a few years we will have a white christmas. Seems kinda nice.



Al and/or Mala --you gonna be in town between xmas and new years? maybe we can get together? just tell me when and where, I can get there. I public transportation!



Comment by BobR on 12/23/2009 21:09:32
Quote by TriSec:

Well, I'm back!



Long afternoon....but all is ready. Lunch, check. Liquor, check. Supermarket, check!



More pastry to make tomorrow am, but that's it!





Hey Raine dahling... Next year - Christmas in Boston - waddaya say?

Comment by clintster on 12/23/2009 21:19:58
Quote by Raine:

Quote by TriSec:

Well, I'm back!



Long afternoon....but all is ready. Lunch, check. Liquor, check. Supermarket, check!



More pastry to make tomorrow am, but that's it!





Sounds delish!

I don't have much to do. Tonite we are having Chicken soup, (cooking on the stove... ) and tomorrow I need to step out to get a small prime rib. We were planning on heading down to Atlanta for the weekend, but after the tumble I took monday walking, (2 actually) I really am hurting. (that and the dog bite--- during the same walk) so we are staying home for the holiday.



First time in a few years we will have a white christmas. Seems kinda nice.



Al and/or Mala --you gonna be in town between xmas and new years? maybe we can get together? just tell me when and where, I can get there. I public transportation!





Aww man. I hate that you're not coming down thisaway for the Xmasing, but I know y'all will have a happy one there in the DC.

Comment by Al from WV on 12/23/2009 22:23:24
Stand by for incoming, Raine.

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/24/2009 00:25:43
Quote by Raine:

Quote by TriSec:

Well, I'm back!



Long afternoon....but all is ready. Lunch, check. Liquor, check. Supermarket, check!



More pastry to make tomorrow am, but that's it!





Sounds delish!

I don't have much to do. Tonite we are having Chicken soup, (cooking on the stove... ) and tomorrow I need to step out to get a small prime rib. We were planning on heading down to Atlanta for the weekend, but after the tumble I took monday walking, (2 actually) I really am hurting. (that and the dog bite--- during the same walk) so we are staying home for the holiday.



First time in a few years we will have a white christmas. Seems kinda nice.



Al and/or Mala --you gonna be in town between xmas and new years? maybe we can get together? just tell me when and where, I can get there. I public transportation!





Dog bite??