...she is known to me but is NOT a friend, though at one time I considered her a friend...

The name of the project I'm working on is "Weaving Our World."

:) 

I'm not 100% sure that I like retaining the competition part. It might work in some circumstances but it always ends up leaving the least capable (or even the least competitive) behind until they are excluded, either in fact or in their perception. That is where we are at now; the wealthy can buy what they need to win are everyone else is disenfranchised. 

I'll beg your indulgence for a quick story. Before the so-called 'original' expansion of the NHL took place in the 1960's, a tie was still considered a valid outcome (in my estimation the best possible outcome) of a well-played game despite the fact that 2/3 of the 'original six' teams were American. With expansion bringing ice hockey to many more American markets with limited experience of the game and it was decided that the fans in those markets would not accept a game ending without a 'winner' and many, different strategies have been tried to determine which of the 2 teams that played equally well is unworthy. The decision is often made by some small bounce which has nothing more to do with the way the game was played than flipping a coin. I refuse to watch and leave the TV with my decision . . . a tie.

So why would one compete to see who can do the most good? If someone helps a stranger who is less mobile to cross the street, they are as worthy as Bill Gates or Warren Buffett but would that be recognized, most importantly by the person who helped the stranger? If not, then it would just be another version of the same old, same old.

I think competition and co-operation require two completely opposing mind sets which cannot be combined to make a third way of accomplishing tasks. Apparently some of the very large co-ops from Italy have entered into competitive global markets but I understand that their values and ethics had to be compromised in order to do so and that many of the older families involved did not support such activity. 

A rare bird indeed, that coopetition! Perhaps with incubation, nurturing and a strong will to leave the nest it will be able to be re-introduced.

I think right now, as I am not involved in any physical occupy movement (ie camping out...etc), the most important thing is to make sure all our wonderful people that are doing it are registered to vote. There isn't much time left to register and I personally do not want to see another disaster happen in the United States. I feel that it is important to not only march in the streets, wherever you hail from, but also to make your voices heard on election day.

http://www.thenation.com/article/168378/true-story-sharia-american-courts

here is but a piece of the puzzle... the lower third is relevant to our discussion today... 

~peacefully, Val

Hi Ben! Sorry I've been gone for so long. I've been working on the attached "infomercial" that I hope will go viral. Today I'm interviewing a college student whom I hope will intern at Writeindependent.org to spread the message that we need to get money out of politics. Here's the infomercial: http://youtu.be/PmlN6eYhJ4k

Hi Ben

Is there a moderator here?  I have a question.

HI Ben, Thanks for welcoming me. My friend is Phil Mastrocola. I hope to join the conversation soon.

thanks for your kind words.  it's an amazing conversation to drop into!  thanks for all that you do!

I'm afraid I'll be a "lurker" for a few months, if that's allowed. I'm in the midst of a local campaign protesting a new Walmart coming to town and trying to find balance between the strong push-back needed and the need to hold the center of our fragile community together. Just doing a lot of "listening" right now.

Thank you for the welcome, Ben.  I will definitely contribute to the forum posts, though possibly not as frequently as might be desired. I am careful not to overcommit myself, so I have joy for the projects I do take on, and never any resentment or obligation.

Thank you brother.

Semper Pax

Hi Ben ~ No, don't know your friend (yet).  I work with Occupy Sebastopol & Occupy Santa Rosa.  I am on facebook under my middle name (Ben Wroth).  Not many Ben's left. Send me a friend invite sometime. ~ Chris Wroth

Hi Ben,  thanks for the access and welcome.  Deborah Hart Yemm referred me here from her site "A New Gaia."  I'm not entirely sure what I hope to get from this experience here.  I support the occupy concept, but live far from any epicenter of occupy activities/protests.  I'll poke around and see if there's something I can lend my support to.  The one thing I'm not lacking is opinions....

My avatar is much more appealing than my fabulosity in person.    :)

Thank you Ben.  Yes, OccupyWNC is planning May Day Strike, a downtown Sylva gathering, march and film. Earlier foot work we visited many of the local downtown merchants asking for solidarity by posting a supporting flyer in their windows if they could not close or walk out.  We & local folks including certain polical party members (OccupyWNC is non partisan) and groups will be joining us at 11:30 for a march up and down main street Sylva then meeting at the beautiful and new library above the hill there for the film "Inside Job" and discussion.  Then at 7pm we will have our regular GA. 

Yesterday, Saturday, OccupyWNC made a huge public debut at the Greening Up the Mountains Festival in downtown Sylva, thousands of folks attended & our booth stood out among many.  We received hundreds of folks, many wanting to sign our Move To Amend petitions, get info, asked questions and got to see OccupyWNC very own street theater-MTA Theater showing Global Corps.  a "Monty Python" spoof like mini skit on Global Corporations. We gave out free water & Occupies.  It was great to see such public support, we had very little negativity.

OccupyWNC stands in solidarity with OccupyAsheville and other Occupy groups. 

There's a Party Going On Right Now !! and you're personally invited.  It would mean alot to me to see you visit during our special occasion.  2 years have passed already since our much older (10+ yrs) community relocated to Ning.  Happy 2nd ANG Birthday to YOU.