WHAT’S TO BE DONE?
Our city, state, nation, the world. The bad guys seem to be winning. Common sense and the common good, good luck.
Of course, there is the other side of the coin. Trump is gone. The economy is recovering, people are going back to work. The U.S. is getting vaccinated and emerging from a long lockdown into relative safety. Santa Monica continues to densify at an alarming, ruinous rate but Kevin McKeown is gone, there is talk of recalling another, and because of an unprecedented election, half our City Council is set to do the right things (but the other half is throwing roadblocks up like the Confederates running from Sherman).
The Keystone Pipeline is dead, as is, for now, drilling for oil in the pristine Arctic. Kids are back in school; parents are canceling therapy sessions. I can play basketball again (if ever I could, but the courts here are open), and hear live music.
— at the start of a terrible heat wave, in the midst of a terrible drought, which could easily lead to our worst fire “season” ever. Climate change is still going the wrong direction. Some lawmakers in Sacramento are trying to usurp local control from cities, imposing requirements to build tens of thousands of new housing units in even the densest cities (Santa Monica), with disastrous long term consequences, in a transparent ploy to address a mythical “housing crisis” (we have an affordability crisis, and you can’t build your way out of that, you will only make it worse, but the developers who fund political campaigns are pleased as punch). Trump is not really gone yet, and we have one of our two political parties trying to overthrow democracy itself. The unhoused and mentally ill (not the same) are in control of our streets and beaches in Santa Monica and Venice, and our evil sheriff Villanueva is riding in to take advantage of that only to get re-election. There are too many people who watch Faux News and believe QAnon. And not only are dictators like Putin jailing and even killing their enemies and rigging elections, let’s not forget he still has enough nuclear warheads to put the cockroaches in control.
GLASS HALF EMPTY?
With a crack in the bottom? I guess it is the age-old matter of perspective. But once you’ve reached your own assessment, what do you do? There are a few choices.
Nothing, is certainly one of them. Shrug your shoulders and disengage, with whatever philosophical justifications make sense to you, and go about your life, making it as carefree, satisfying, rich and happy as you can. That could be a wise choice for some, and might bring contentment for the rest of your life.
But the truth is you are ignoring the reality around you, which others may not be able to do. In America, if you are white, with a nice nest egg, good health and own your home, it may indeed be smooth sailing. (Maybe you even have a boat!) Being male helps too.
I’m not making judgements though I’m sure it does seem that way, but that contentment does depend on ignoring what may be going on with your neighbor. That’s something that comes easily and naturally to many. Mind your own farm. It’s not me, it’s not my family, it’s not anyone I know. I’ve got enough trouble keeping my own lawn mowed.
Fair enough. Not everyone is cut out to be an activist, or even to see things that way. Your brother’s keeper? There have been a few who’ve come along in history, to remind us of that, and sometimes a few million wind up following them, or at least getting their book onto the bestseller list.
FIRST, DO NO HARM
Live and let live. If you can manage those two, you’ll hear no judgement from me. But for those of us who look around and say, that’s not right, that has to stop, things must change — the choices become more complex.
I believe it is good to do some kind of work to make this a better neighborhood and planet. Giving back, for the many blessings we all have. But when you feel moved in that direction, what then?
Although I’ve been politically involved since 13 and an activist since college, I’m not the one to give any lessons. But I have made a few observations.
Whatever you choose to do, be effective. If you got really bad service somewhere, don’t yell at the cashier. That isn’t fair and won’t change anything. Ask for the manager and make your complaint as general as possible, so others won’t have the same things happen. (I also ask for managers when I get exceptionally good service, even on the phone. Seems only fair.)
RIGGED
There can always be legitimate disagreement over policy, but if your elected officials seem time and again to be unwilling to even listen to constituents, don’t waste your time. Vote them out? Ha. Depends. In many instances that is an exercise in futility, and the GOP is working hard to make that harder. Most elections are indeed rigged, and not the way the Orange Man was whining about.
Money. Money money money. Controls elections, and most of the people elected that way control everything else with the laws they pass, or don’t even consider. So if you want things to change, electoral politics may or may not be the way to go.
You have to figure out where the problem is originating, and controlled. If you want buildings in your neighborhood to stop going up, or to keep some from coming down, railing against elected officials, who may in fact be the cause of those things, does no good. Look higher, wider, deeper. The homeless in Santa Monica, and the dangerously mentally ill — two distinct groups — need help. And then we will all be safer. The problem may not be with anyone or anything in Santa Monica. You may have to address it somewhere else. L.A. County? Sacramento, maybe. And how about reaching for the roots and working for social and economic justice?
Don’t waste your time and energy tilting at windmills. Do your research, listen to others. Be smart, be effective. Progress may be slow, but some folks have been at it for 400 years.
Charles Andrews has lived in Santa Monica for 34 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Send love and/or rebuke to him at therealmrmusic@gmail.com
