Making the World Work ....................................................... Eldon New 1999
Buckminster Fuller stated his goal: "To make the world work for 100% of humanity in the shortest possible time through spontaneous cooperation without ecological offense or the disadvantage of anyone." - ."(1)
Fuller's philosophy included the idea of empowering poeple to work for solutions outside of the government.
Recently, the idea of working within the system for change has resulted policy changes in every department of the Federal government. In each case, these changes are an attempt to make the government work, and to make the world work.(2)
It may sound oversimplified, so I have collected some detailed examples:
Department of Housing and Urban Development, (HUD)
For eight years under Reagan, not one unit of housing was built. The amount of money allocated by Congress was equivalent to the amount of housing needed to house all of the homless population the developed during that eight years.(11) Now, HUD is actually building housing units again.(2)
Department of the Interior
Under Watt, during the Reagan administration, the Department of the Interior was selling off land from the national park system. Under Babbitt they increased the amount of land in the park system.
Department of Energy
Under Reagan, the Energy Department was building more nuclear weapons that we did not need. (Fuller had explained that once you have enough material to destroy the world several times over, you have enough.) Now, the Energy department is overseeing the de-commisioning of nuclear weapons, both here, and in the former Soviet Union countries.
Department of Education
Under Bennett, during the Reagan administration, the budget of the department of education was cut in half, and Bennett bragged about it.(see Steve Allen's comments on education) Most of Bennett policy (no teaching of evolution, no teaching of environmentalism) have ben reversed since then, and the scores of students on standardized tests have gone up.
NASA
Under Reagan, the management ignored the engineer's warnigs that the Shuttle would explode because of problems with the "O" rings. And later the Hubble was launched with a flawed mirror. Under the present NASA administration, a Senator has gone up, the Hubble telescope has been fixed, and a robot has been landed on Mars.
Department of Labor
In 1981, the Labor Department was run by Raymond J. Donovan who was politically against the labor movement.(3) Twelve years later the Labor Department was run by a Rhodes Scholar named Robert Reich who's book, The Work of Nations, is reviewed in The Whole Earth Catalog.
The Whole Earth Catalog is a collection of book reviews and other things that was inspired by Buckminster Fuller. Reich's book, The Work of Nations, is written by someone who is aware of the viewpoint of Fuller. During his four years as Secretary of the Department of Labor, the department was given goals that allow it to be part of the solution to the problem of "making the World work".
I think we often forget, that there are many people doing good work out there in the various govenment agencies no matter who is on the throne. In the Reagan/Bush years, there was some great work in the area of sustainable futures going on in the belly of the beast at HUD. Out of their Urban Design and Energy sections, they were looking at our cities, trying to make them more humane, and to interface with rural areas, so more parks and greenspaces could be brought into the cities, and rural areas could be looked at as valuable truck farming support systems for the cities, and that it would be wise to set even farmland into preservation tracts as valuable open space areas surrounding cities. One of my close associates in HUD worked dilligently on this concepts for years and the Republican's in charge were clueless as to what he was up too. If Andy was workilng in that context, I am certain that all areas of government had valuable things going on Clark Buchner, Architect
You are doing a valuable service to remind people about what is going right. I will follow your example by reinforcing the people responsible for positive change by writing letters of encouragement and recognition.John Hastings, Inventor
Dr. Fuller was one of the most brilliant people who lived in the 20th Century.David C. Easley, Network Analyst
I just now read "Making the World Work". Bravo! That was very well done and much needed.Ernie McCracken, Peace Corps, Korea; Psychiatric Tech. and Counselor, Real Estate Agent
Pat responds to the idea of working inside the system with this quote from Kauffman:"The system as a whole becomes orderly because changes in its behavior must remain small and local."
Kauffman (1991) suggested that within chaotic turbulence there exist attractors which direct the evolution of new patterns when previously existing systems are disrupted beyond the ability to restabilize. He described transitional states of dynamical systems. Discussing interactions and influences of water crystals, liquids, and solids existing within a changing system he explained, that systems tend to be partitioned: "...into an unchanging frozen core and islands of changing elements. These islands are funtionally isolated: Changes in the activities of one island cannot propagate through the frozen core to other islands. The system as a whole becomes orderly because changes in its behavior must remain small and local." (p. 82) The processes obseved during transitional phases of matter may be, to some degree, applicable to such dynamical systems as social institutions. I grew up believing that change from within was more likely to be effective than wreaking havoc. Now, I believe that I am a product of the system, whether I like it or not, and that I am a patterned like the big pattern, no matter how much I may object. I have become relatively peaceful about being an island which enjoys its own bit of "individuality" whether I have much influence or not. I just try to pass on a little joy and appreciation of life to those whom I touch. Sometimes it works, sometimes I have doubts. I admire people who have greater and more positive influence than I, but I have no reverence for social "fixers" because I believe their influence is just part or the pattern and cycle. I do very much like them for their efforts, nevertheless. Dr. Pat Crocker, Educator
(1) Buckminster Fuller Institute
(3) Leon Silverman (appointed December 29, 1981). Investigated allegations concerning President Reagan's Secretary of Labor Raymond J. Donovan, regarding bribery of labor union officials and certain connections to organized crime. Found insufficient credible evidence to prosecute, June 25, 1982, and September 1982. Further investigation commenced on June 11, 1985, upon referral to investigate alleged false testimony before grand jury. Filed final investigative report on November 30, 1988.
(4) Jacob A. Stein (sworn in April 2, 1984). Investigated allegations concerning President Reagan's nominee for Attorney General Edwin Meese, regarding his finances, financial disclosure and other allegations including trading in public offices.
(5) Alexia Morrison (appointed May 29, 1986). Alexia Morrison was appointed after the resignation of independent counsel James C. McKay, to investigate allegations concerning former assistant Attorney General Theodore B. Olson for allegedly giving false testimony to Congress regarding the EPA "superfund" inquiry.
(6) Whitney North Seymour Jr. (appointed May 29, 1986). Investigated charges concerning former President Reagan aide Michael K. Deaver, regarding alleged violations of post- employment conflict of interest laws in representing certain foreign clients before the White House after leaving government employment.
(7) Lawrence E. Walsh (appointed December 19, 1986). Investigated "Iran Contra" matter concerning sale of arms to Iran and the alleged diversion of profits from the sale to support the Contras in Nicaragua in violation of federal law.
(8) James C. McKay (appointed February 2, 1987). Appointed to investigate allegations concerning former White House staffer Franklyn C. Nofziger and potential violations of post-employment "revolving door" conflicts of interest in relation to alleged "influence peddling" and lobbying activities performed for Wedtech Corporation. On May 11, 1987, Mr. McKay was referred the additional matter of Attorney General Edwin Meese's conduct concerning the Wedtech Corporation, Mr. Meese's financial holdings and potential conflicts of interest, Mr. Meese's involvement in the Aqaba Pipeline project and other matters.
(9) James R. Harper, appointed August 17, 1987 to replace Carl S. Rauh (appointed December 19, 1986). The subject of the investigation was sealed. Investigative report filed December 18, 1987.
(10) Sealed. Independent counsel appointed May 31, 1989; report filed August 23, 1989.
(11) Larry D. Thompson, appointed July 3, 1995, to replace Arlin M. Adams, appointed March 1, 1990. Investigating allegations of criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States by Samuel R. Pierce, former Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Reagan Administration, and others, concerning the programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
References 3 to 11 from CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
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