h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You visit me, so now I visit you. Isn't that terribly thoughtful of me? I thought so, too.

That civil society thing sounds somewhat like Libertarianism... except when you get to the world things. I must admit I lost where you were going at that point. Correct me if I misinterpret, but it sounds to me as if the goal of civil society types is to act as a regulatory body for them. I would think that, based on the earlier definition that says they want to limit government power, that they would be anxious to see these sort of bodies (IMF, WTO) go away.

Slovakia: two of my favorite hockey players are from there... that's about all I've got to say about that.

Tom Robbins: isn't he that self-help nutter, or am I confusing him with someone else?

Tom Robbins is *definitely* not that self-help nut!!!! He is a fantastic author who writes women better than most women. He is also an aging hippy, heavily steeped in religious philosophy (not for any one religion, but also not an atheist), but I still love him. His books are sexy enough to make me smile, but not so much so that I can't share them with my daughters.

Civil society is not a philosophy or ideology. It is active participation by all people with the idea that there will be a shift from the current realist ideology to something else. The something else is up for grabs. Civil society isn't always good. The first civil society was Christianity and look at where that got us. It goes wrong when it becomes exclusionary. The part about the world? Hmmm...do you mean about civil society is no longer being concerned with just state government? Civil society *needs* government, just as it needs organizations like WTO and IMF. Without institutions like there would be anarchy and civil society cannot function at all in anarchy. It depends on compromise and cooperation. It works better than government because it is not as hierarchical (or shouldn't be) so information can be processed quicker and more efficiently. And it also can topple government, or at least make lots of noise, when things are going wrong. The key words are compromise and cooperation. Lots and lots of talking, *backed with action.*

And yes it is very nice of you to pay me a visit. Thank you, Colonel Sellers (may I call you that?)

"a shift from the current realist ideology to something else." - Kinda vague, isn't it? I mean, isn't it hard to support something when you don't know exactly what it is you're supporting? Until there are some more concrete plans for this sort of thing, I think I'll take the role of interested observer.

And please, feel free to call me Colonel Sellers. It's what I'll have everyone calling me shortly. I've been known for a good long time around here as GargleBlaster, though, so I figured it would be best to give everyone a chance to get used to the idea that the same opinionated fool is wearing the new name.

There are two world views, realism and idealism. Neither approach to world order has worked so far. So there has to be another way. Vague? Yes, but you know what? I would rather look for something different, even if it is only a vague idea, than keep making the same mistakes over and over. The goal of civil society is to find another way...one that doesn't rely on realist zero-sum game or the idealist habit of favoring of dominant powers.

I am going to be separating the civil society and globalization stuff from my homepage when I get back from my trip. I will be posting bits from my papers and ideas and links and so forth. I wish I could do it all right now because there is someone listening and I love an audience , but I am wicked busy getting ready to leave on Sunday. I'll be back the first week of July, though. And I hope you will come back and make me defend my position over and over.

LOL. Just let me know when you put that stuff up, and if I find something wrong with your stuff, I'll pounce. The best way to refine these kinds of things is through argument, after all. Even if I agree with all yur stuff, I'm still pretty good at playing devil's advocate (sometimes I even sway myself).

My favorite devil's advocate has returned to South Carolina and will be without Internet access for a long while, so I'm glad you have volunteered to step in and carry the pitchfork

Carrying the pitchfork is what I do best, as I'm sure you've seen from some of my other forums. And for some odd reason, I find it impossible to turn down an opportunity to play. It is I who must thank you for providing me with yet another opportunity.

Ooooo...a challenge! Cool. Gives me something else to look forward to upon my return