If we are to expect an individual to participate effectively in a 
democratic society, it is essential that the individual develop a good 
measure of self respect, which, of course, transfers to "character", and 
responsibility.  To have self respect one must like oneself.  And it seems 
only reasonable that that sense of liking oneself is best developed from 
being liked and treated kindly by those around.  Thus, a person who likes 
himself or herself, is a happy person, and a person of character who is 
willing to bend over backwards to honor any kind of commitment to others.  

     This process of being liked, and liking begins at an early age.  If 
parents, guardians and teachers are too self-absorbed in their own 
interests, to provide the atmosphere favorable to this development, we must 
consider why this is so.  And if this be the case, the finger of guilt must 
point to that prime suspect - the overemphasis we place on competition, and 
individualism, those close relatives to capitalism and free-enterprise.

      The evidence indicating that Americans are failing the self-esteem 
test, and consequently the democratic system, is almost overwhelming.  Most 
seem to blame the politicians rather than those who elect them.  More and 
more Americans find less time to go to the  polls.  Fewer than 50% of the 
eligible voters participate in most elections throughout the nation.  Most 
who do vote are poorly informed on the candidates and the issues.  Less 
than half can give even the names of their congressman or the two senators 
who represent them in Washington.  Money and sound bites have become the 
key to electoral campaigns.  Seldom is an issue examined in depth.

     The development of character, the nurturing of positive self-image 
based on trust and responsibility are apparently taking a back seat to 
aggressive competition in the marketplace.  Rather than looking inward, and 
fostering personal, and human values to produce happiness, we find 
ourselves searching outwardly for the acquisition of materialistic things 
to obtain happiness.  While many may recognize the futility of this effort, 
any attempt to change seems blocked as though under the grip of some 
powerful drug.  Of course this is not to mean that one should never seek 
material comforts.  It's the degree to which one does so that matters.  

         As brought forth in the proceeding dialogue, human avarice is the 
overriding threat to the survival of the human race; perhaps all life 
species as well.  The measure of human avarice or greed is not simply a 
function of genetics, or "human nature", but it can be greatly influenced 
by environmental factors. The educational systems, societal rules, laws, 
institutions, the prevailing conventional wisdom all affect the level of 
greed existing, or conversely, ability of humans to understand the need 
for, and the means to achieve cooperation necessary to overcome today's and 
tomorrow's threats to our collective survival.

     Therefore it appears to be clear that it's time we stop blaming "human 
nature" for our dilemma, and as individuals undertake the responsibility to
modify our pursuit of materialism and join the fight to maintain our 
collective survival!  We must work together to reshape the network of human 
institutions that do shape our "human nature"  For by now it should be 
painstakingly clear that our present "human nature" is not equipped to do 
battle with the powerful environmental threats posed by the encroaching 
Twenty-first century.

     To accomplish this task, the restructuring of "human nature", America 
needs leaders dedicated not simply to holding power and office, but 
primarily to influencing people, and effecting actual change.  We have been 
taught that power, position, wealth, and winning is all that matters.  We 
live in a system that molds, as well as imprisons, our minds.  We are 
prisoners and victims of that system much the same as were the colonists 
under the rule of King George of England, when with the leadership of a few 
truly dedicated men, a successful rebellion, and revolution  producing 
independence was accomplished.

     Today a new declaration of independence is called for!  It might begin: 
When in the course of human events a system in control of our lives is so 
pervasive as to result in conditions so burdensome and so intolerable  we 
have little choice but to rise up and overthrow it.  We find these truths 
to be self-evident:

     Whereas; over-reliance on free enterprise has provided most Americans 
     with an abundance of material comforts, we are yet left too ignorant,
     apathetic, selfish, and ill-equipped to function effectively in a 
     democratic structure.

     Whereas; that system has resulted in a grossly inequitable distribution 
     of wealth.

     Whereas;  having been reared in our present system, many Americans have 
     developed attitudes devoid of understanding or compassion for the "have 
     nots" as well as simplistic, narrow-minded concepts concerning race,   
     minorities, religion, and poverty.

     Whereas; over one million Americans are presently incarcerated, and 
     crime remains the number one concern in almost all political campaigns. 

     Whereas; most Americans have fallen victim to the propaganda put out 
     that government and taxes are their mortal enemies.

     Whereas; the "moneyed interests" have succeeded in convincing most 
     that quality health care for all is too costly.

     Whereas; most Americans remain too intellectually anesthetized to 
     fully comprehend the burgeoning threats to our collective survival in 
     the coming 21st Century.

     Be it now resolved; that to counter these intolerable, and deplorable 
conditions we shall begin with the 95% of the wealth possessed by only 5% 
of the people.  We shall cut through all the hysteria, admonitions, 
excuses, and evasions, and tax that wealth to provide:

1) Decent universal health care for all citizens.

2) An allocation of at least 20%, not the present 7% of our resources (GNP) 
to the field of education, which comprises the backbone of our hopes for 
economic growth, as well as human understanding.

3) Investment (welfare, as some would call it ) to give every child an 
equal and fair start; to provide every senior citizen security, and to 
truly reconstruct the infrastructure of our cities.

     Should this be accomplished, then, and perhaps only then, may we in 
America experience political campaigns free of negativism, racism, and fear 
tactics, proposing vengeful, short-sighted solutions to crime.  We might 
then have campaigns which  focus upon actual issues and real solutions 
rather than simply the denigration of politicians, taxes, and government.

     But even well beyond that; this revolution, this massive investment in 
human resources, which President Clinton once proposed, but so far failed 
to deliver, will eventually free us of much of the alienation, and the 
anxieties, presently felt by many, which tend to short-circuit our 
attention away from dealing with our collective responsibility to counter 
the monumental threats facing human survival on this planet!