Jim McCue's posting on PAT's situation

Sometimes the choices seem between the lesser of 2 evils. The choices
forced on those not immediately affected by the budget crises (though later
they also will be directly affected) may make it seem like amputation is a
way to deal with systemic disease. Those trying to be living saints (self
included) who are either threatening or considering civil disobedience - for
example for public transportation - are vulnerable to being labelled
criminal. But this is just another shoot-the-messenger. The same people
(rich AND poor) would later be asking "Why didn't you SAY something; why
didn't you DO something?" when they later found out what many of us know
now - that the whole ecosystem (them included) is in danger now. Drivers
shouldn't complain that we transit activists are obstructing them, but we
should expect some will if traffic gets obstructed.

If it comes to civil disobedience, "No buses, no cars" will become like
"No justice, no peace" - a statement of fact, not a threat. The fist in the
air means all fingers of the hand working together. There are no enemies,
only those afraid to join the union of life.

We didn't start the fire. We most directly affected by the transit
cutbacks have our backs against the wall. Some time ago I warned that a
statewide general strike might be precipitated by the public transportation
cutbacks. I would never call for a general strike. A decision to strike,
like the decision to engage in civil disobedience, is something an
individual should make alone, thinking for oneself and being willing to
accept all the possible consequences. I hope no one calls for a general
strike, though the increasing number of interacting crises is making such
situations more likely. It's clear from the big picture that linear
projection of trends is no longer possible as the changes interact; we can't
assume anything anymore, except general stuff like God is Love, and working
together is part of the solution.

If I look at my life as affected by the transit cuts alone, I would not
be able to visit my mother any more on the weekends or in the evening. I
would be even less likely able to earn an income, considering both the
increased difficulty traveling and the worsened general business climate.
My own personal safety might decline, as the choices of those around me
might be increasingly driven by fear rather than open-heartedness. All in
all, considering the transit crisis alone, my choices seem between:

keeping my mouth shut while becoming more and more unable to cope;

and raising hell - fighting every way I can to get the system to slow
down long enough to think.

Jim McCue