Desperate to adapt and survive, countless animal species adopt a 'swarm theory' that protects them from predators, guides them to food or water, and communicates within their community. In its July, 2007 edition, National Geographic magazine presented a splendid spread of photos and articulate text by staff writer Peter Miller, suggesting that ants, bees, birds, fish, wildebeasts, and caribou might have something to teach us about coping with the complexities of everyday life. Miller's article demonstrated how "even with half a million ants. a colony functions just fine with no management at all". Miller's article went on to show how wildebeasts "may be able to follow a migration route even if only a few of them know the way. Never mind that the 'informed' animals aren't trying to lead....the rest follow anyway..."
O.U.T.R.A.G.E. economists, social engineers, psychologists, clergy, and political analysts had used Miller's piece as a defining strategy in trying to create a workable theory of "Equilateralism". From its very roots, the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. organization itself had resisted formal structure, citing such hierarchy as one of society's most problematic issues. Leadership should come from the communal environment, not from some appointed potentate who calls himself "chief", "President", "boss", "Numero Uno", or "the grand puba". Miller's article showed how a colony of 50,000 worker bees routinely evolves and finds ways to work through individual differences of opinion to do what's best for the hive.
"Because each individual is paying close attention to its neighbors, news travels fast through a school of bigeye jack near Cocos Island in the Pacific. The fish follow simple rules that keep the group alert: stick together, avoid collisions, and swim in the same direction." Biologists had shown that when a hoard of locusts 'gets too crowded, they will suddenly align themselves and march in the same direction..." - all without a 'leader' to tell them what to do or how to do it. Surely, if animals, insects, fish and birds could find ways to equalize their societies and live harmoniously for the preservation of their species, so could mankind.
Could such social strategies be utilized to transform the human condition?
Obvious arguments could - and would - pursue. Man, after all, has the intelligence to develop free enterprise, to establish political and corporate echelons, to 'earn his own keep' without being dependent on the tribe, to build his own future. Man isn't subservient to the rest of his species; he has the ability to take care of himself. Survival of the fittest, which - some would be sure to point out - also exists within the animal world. "Look out for Number 1 - the hell with anybody else." That monocratic motto was no where more prevalent anywhere than it had been in the United States of America as corporate raiders devised hostile takeovers of competitors and political power brokers bent rules for their own benefit.
Newly elected members of Congress had new laws to put on - and old laws to remove from - "the books". As the legal matters were addressed, so would social, moral and ethical issues be considered. Without pressure or lobbying tactics, O.U.T.R.A.G.E. volunteers needed to help the new Congress adapt to the concept of 'Equilateralism'. They would use articles such as Peter Miller's to showcase their theories.
O.U.T.R.A.G.E. economists, social engineers, psychologists, clergy, and political analysts had used Miller's piece as a defining strategy in trying to create a workable theory of "Equilateralism". From its very roots, the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. organization itself had resisted formal structure, citing such hierarchy as one of society's most problematic issues. Leadership should come from the communal environment, not from some appointed potentate who calls himself "chief", "President", "boss", "Numero Uno", or "the grand puba". Miller's article showed how a colony of 50,000 worker bees routinely evolves and finds ways to work through individual differences of opinion to do what's best for the hive.
"Because each individual is paying close attention to its neighbors, news travels fast through a school of bigeye jack near Cocos Island in the Pacific. The fish follow simple rules that keep the group alert: stick together, avoid collisions, and swim in the same direction." Biologists had shown that when a hoard of locusts 'gets too crowded, they will suddenly align themselves and march in the same direction..." - all without a 'leader' to tell them what to do or how to do it. Surely, if animals, insects, fish and birds could find ways to equalize their societies and live harmoniously for the preservation of their species, so could mankind.
Could such social strategies be utilized to transform the human condition?
Obvious arguments could - and would - pursue. Man, after all, has the intelligence to develop free enterprise, to establish political and corporate echelons, to 'earn his own keep' without being dependent on the tribe, to build his own future. Man isn't subservient to the rest of his species; he has the ability to take care of himself. Survival of the fittest, which - some would be sure to point out - also exists within the animal world. "Look out for Number 1 - the hell with anybody else." That monocratic motto was no where more prevalent anywhere than it had been in the United States of America as corporate raiders devised hostile takeovers of competitors and political power brokers bent rules for their own benefit.
Newly elected members of Congress had new laws to put on - and old laws to remove from - "the books". As the legal matters were addressed, so would social, moral and ethical issues be considered. Without pressure or lobbying tactics, O.U.T.R.A.G.E. volunteers needed to help the new Congress adapt to the concept of 'Equilateralism'. They would use articles such as Peter Miller's to showcase their theories.
posted by Bushwacker! at 6:31 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home