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Life with the Lions (Phase 2)

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H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 09:36 AM
Original message
Life with the Lions (Phase 2)


“The states that are today nominally democratic have either to become frankly totalitarian or, if they are to be truly democratic, they must become courageously non-violent.” – Gandhi

{1} I took the oath of office, and started my term on the school board last night. Two things stood out: first, I became the official “link” to the NYS representatives from our region, replacing the Tea Partier that I defeated in the recent election; and second, I had the opportunity to listen in on an extended conversation on the negotiations with the teachers' union.

I've had quite a bit of experience with union issues over the decades. Part of this was in the context of factory work, and then as the VP of the county employees' union. More, my father headed the railroad telegraphers union, before becoming a supervisor in the factory where I eventually worked; and on my mother's side, a number of relatives in the construction industry have been union officials.

As within any such group, there are a range of positions when management deals with unions. The focus can concentrate on those on each side that prefer to argue every issue, or it can be on finding the common ground that allows for a negotiated agreement. Because the teachers have worked for two years without a contract, it is safe to say that hostility has the upper hand at the present time.

The board member heading our efforts noted that in the past two months, the teachers seem more optimistic about reaching a settlement. When others asked why this was, he admitted that he didn't know. As this was my first meeting, I did not say that a number of teachers have told me that, with my election in May, they now feel that there is one board member who respects them.


{2} This afternoon, I plan to attend a meeting of the top anti-fracking movement leaders. The focus is on how to best present our case to Governor Cuomo. At the last meeting I attended, people were expressing severe disappointment with Cuomo's former brother-in-law, environmental attorney Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has taken a position on the state's hydro-fracking advisory board. One local leader said that it was a shame that we didn't have a connection to Kennedy; a woman pointed at me, and said, “He has been friends with Kennedy for many years.”

Within any group, there are those who define the struggle in very different terms. I can only speak for myself. But my plan to discuss an option involving a Gandhi-style program aimed at Cuomo and Kennedy. I will lay out my plan, and should anyone care to join me on the front line, that is fine. If not, I understand that, too.

It seems to me that Cuomo and Kennedy are far more likely to feel and respond to such an effort, at least at this point, than would any of the rabid pro-fracking people. I have some correspondences from when Robert went to jail in San Juan in 2001. He noted that he was not making any real sacrifice, and that his incarceration merely provided him with some quiet reading time. That is distinct from what I am planning.


{3} This weekend, my high school class will be getting together on both Friday evening/night and Saturday. In part, I attend to serve as a designated driver. This year, I have another reason to go.

One of my former classmates now heads a large energy corporation, that serves a large area in the northeast. His grandfather founded the company in the days of the railroads and coal. His father was invested in oil. He is joining others who are invested in fracking.

Although he and I subscribe to very different realities, we maintain a respectful if casual friendship. One area of common ground is local high school basketball. Three brothers – his cousins – held our school's scoring record, from 1968 to 1998. My nephew then doubled it. His daughter holds the school's girls' basketball scoring record; my brother-in-law taught her how to play at the highest level.

When we saw each other before a recent town board meeting, we shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. After the meeting, I thought he was trying to avoid me, so I went out of my way to again shake hands with him. He continued on his way to his vehicle, then turned around and came back. He told me that a gave “one hell of a speech” that night.

I think he is a good and decent guy. When anti-fracking people have called him at his business, he has said that he would not do anything that he thought created a health risk for others. I believe that. I am convinced that he has been lied to by other gas industry people.

This weekend, I will try to get a chance to talk to him. I'll explain my position in greater detail. I will tell him about my plans per Cuomo and Kennedy. I am not seeking to change his mind this weekend. But I do want to give him things to think about, which are very different from what the gas industry people have told him.

Peace,
H2O Man
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Wilms Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 10:42 AM
Response to Original message
1. Thanks for teaching us, H20.

Go like the water.

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H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-16-11 08:06 AM
Response to Reply #1
18. Thank you.
Lately I've been thinking about Chief Joseph's saying, "The Earth and myself are of one mind."
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xchrom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 10:42 AM
Response to Original message
2. recommend
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H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-16-11 08:25 AM
Response to Reply #2
19. Thanks!
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Octafish Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 10:50 AM
Response to Original message
3. ''This weekend, I will try to get a chance to talk to him.''
You're not spinning your wheels when using the spinning wheel; it's how things get done.



Keep building new -- and strengthening the old -- bridges, H20 Man.

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H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 05:06 PM
Response to Reply #3
7. Here goes nothing!
I like the photo of the ahskwa (bridge). That's exactly what I'm trying to build!
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H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-16-11 08:26 AM
Response to Reply #7
20. PS:
If time allows, I'll call you on Sunday to discuss some of this. Is that a good day for you?
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NYC_SKP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-16-11 08:59 AM
Response to Reply #20
21. NB:
You replied to yourself with this, in case you hadn't noticed and want make a correction.

Thanks for another thoughtful and provocative post, H2O Man.

Recommended.
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H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-16-11 09:06 AM
Response to Reply #21
22. Note the heading
is "PS:"
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lunatica Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 11:05 AM
Response to Original message
4. Thanks for sharing your wisdom
Wisely using truth and facts is always a winner. Opinions simply have no standing when confronted with facts.
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Wilms Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 01:40 PM
Response to Original message
5. ^
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rosesaylavee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 02:42 PM
Response to Original message
6. I am hoping that you share your plan here...
I may not be able to participate but my son and his friends in NY and others we know there may be able to join in.
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H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 05:08 PM
Response to Reply #6
8. This I can say:
I can appreciate that NYS has financial difficulties. Hence, if I am afforded some hospitality, I will not be consuming meals. Don't want to be a burden.

A few people have offered to go on this path with me. It has the potential of being interesting. (And a few people have voiced opposition to it.)
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rosesaylavee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 06:34 PM
Response to Reply #8
13. Hmmmm.
Hunger strike? Or if you are needing a place to stay in the city, my son has a comfortable couch you can use. There are a lot of steps, but it is in centrally located neighborhood in Manhattan and close to transportation. PM me if you will need it or know dates you will need it.
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H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 10:06 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. Thank you.
You will hear from me!
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Hotler Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 05:12 PM
Response to Original message
9. k&r. Best of luck sir. n/t
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TuxedoKat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 05:18 PM
Response to Original message
10. Good luck
I'm in NY state too so I'm very concerned about fracking. This state is so rich with water, we should be looking for ways to take advantage of it instead of endangering it.
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Me. Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 05:44 PM
Response to Original message
11. The Jackie Kennedy School Of Persuasion
I once heard Caroline speak about the letters her mother would write when she was seeking to persuade someone of something. Whenever she and her brother, who had been the recipient of many such letter, heard she had written someone, they'd grin at each other because they knew the recipient would have little wiggle room after one such note. In the case of Mayor Beam and the issue of Grand Central Station she wrote something akin to the following...Dear Mayor Beam someone told me you were in favor of replacing GCS. I cannot believe such a smart and intelligent person as yourself would consider this and I know I must've been told a lie, that you would never do anything so foolish when there are so many reasons not to......she'd then make her case and usually got what she wanted as she did with GCS.
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H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 10:13 PM
Response to Reply #11
15. Very good.
Tonight was interesting. The one fellow from the energy corporation wasn't there tonight. But his cousin, who runs their insurance company, was. He told me that his cousin had called him and said, "Let's take Pat out for lunch soon. The three of us need to talk, off the record."

I agreed to lunch, of course.

There are some issues about environmental dangers that they are unaware of. I'm not suggesting that I will change their minds easily. They are looking to keep the three largest local employers open in here; two of the three are threatening to leave the state, and the third may just close its doors. That is a lot of pressure.

However, my friend understands where I am coming from. I laid out my general plans per RFK, Jr., and Cuomo (and outlined Cuomo's current organizing for a 2016 presidential run, which I have an inside source feeding me information on). My friend just shook his head, and said that I'm a tough guy to oppose.
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Me. Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 11:21 PM
Response to Reply #15
16.  You Should Seek Out The Actor MARK RUFFALO
Edited on Fri Jul-15-11 11:22 PM by Me.
I saw him on Ko and he, from upstate, is working in the same direction as you and talked about RFK and Cuomo
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H2O Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 11:22 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. Earlier today,
I met with two of Mr. Ruffalo's associates.
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Me. Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-16-11 10:49 AM
Response to Reply #17
24. !
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Forkboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-15-11 06:23 PM
Response to Original message
12. K&R
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mmonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-16-11 09:16 AM
Response to Original message
23. Good work and good luck in your walk.
Edited on Sat Jul-16-11 09:17 AM by mmonk
BTW, Republican Tea Party types have began an assault on our environmental standards in my state and that includes opening up more natural gas exploration including fracking. I'm not sure on which geographic locations in our state they are looking at but I may need to call upon your expertise and maybe Kim's as well.

peace
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