The Math That Predicted the Revolutions Sweeping the Globe Right Now | Motherboard

The Math That Predicted the Revolutions Sweeping the Globe Right Now | Motherboard

Doesn't look like math to me. It doesn't seem surprising that the more food prices rise the more upset people get. It is a bit surprising that we can set a number at which we will revolt. Check out the predictions.

The Math That Predicted the Revolutions Sweeping the Globe Right Now | Motherboard

The Math That Predicted the Revolutions Sweeping the Globe Right Now | Motherboard

It doesn't look much like math to me, but that people get more upset as the cost of food goes up doesn't seem surprising. Check out the predictions.

People Power

What is people power? What is meant by 'power to the people?" What might useful answers to these question look like.?

A people power revolution I have some memory of is the overthrow of our surrogate leader in the Philippines. In the 1980s there were a series of popular demonstrations in Manila. Our man Marcos was chased from the Islands to our shores. The Phillippinen people were free of that regime, but we added a bit of economic punishment to our ongoing explotation of the Phillippine people.

A result was that a certain few Americans maintained a special advavatage and a few Phillippinos were allowed some advantage. Many Philloppinos were disadvantaged.

What lessons might citizens of the Islands have learned? Do you believe that with a little research and thought there are valuable lessons to be learned here beyond the obvious ones?

Here are a couple of questions to get you started:

~ What advantage do we gain when we vote to 'throw the rascals out?'

~ What were the long range plans of the French people prior to their revolution?

Revolting Revolutiion

The results of revolution may be disappointing, may be disillusioning. The result of revolution may be depression, fear, or death.Revolution may be great sacrifice leading to worse governance.

Why do we revolt? Why do revolutions happen? What are revolutionaries feeling?

Revolution isn't revenge,is it? Revolution is usually about governance, isn't it?

Men and women revolt because they know, feel, believe that they are poorly governed. very poorly governed. A revolter has found no better way opened to change the governance he is experiencing. He feels so oppressed that change is a must.

A successful revolution is one that leads to enough improved governance. Of course 'enough improved governance' also prevents revolution.

Revolt too often fails. It fails to lead to enough improved governance. It fails to provide enough improved governance due to lack of understanding of the the ways, means, and techniques of good governance. A way to prevent revolt or to give successful revolt a better chance is to provide potential revolters with a better understanding of the techniques, ways, and means of good governance. We can protect ourselves from painful revolt by teaching one another how to govern well.

So, a step toward successful revolution is also step toward preventing revolution. Most good citizens and good revolutionaries already have and appreciation for good communication. Still, many of these good people seem to lack the will to use their communication skills to teach one another more effective communication skills. Perhaps they lack awareness of the nature of their needs and abilities.

Often revolution is mounted by a coalition of parties. Citizens find it beneficial to co-operate with groups they may have opposed. Once revolutionaries deprive oppressive rulers of power, members of coalition parties too often lack sufficient skill for co-operation with and for compromising with other groups. Worse, there is lack of common understanding of the nature of governance desired.  They have not understood one another.

In the name of peace, justice, and good governance it is vital that we improve our communication skills. Improving communication skills is a step toward improving governance skills. Bettering our dialogue skills is an effective step toward justice, better governance, and healthier peace of mind. Of course the content of our communication is also of great importance. What we talk about may be a matter of life and death. How we talk about what we talk about is often of similar importance.

I think that we must dialogue into existence clear common understanding of the nature of governance we desire and of the ways and means of carrying on the ongoing creation of that governance. We must come to an understanding of one another's assumptions related to good governance.

Still, doesn't a man deserve to have a beer and watch the game?

 

Cross-check: Egypt's revolution vindicates Gene Sharp's theory of nonviolent activism

Cross-check: Egypt's revolution vindicates Gene Sharp's theory of nonviolent activism




Click on this nice essay on non-violent activism in Scientific American.