The 2 types of people in the world: those who see 2 kinds of people in the world and those who don't

I blog on Blue Oregon,  a Huffington Post meets the Democratic Party of Oregon kind of site.  You can burn a lot of time there if your mind twists in a certain direction.

Last night a reponse to one of my posts lit up a bulb for me.   Or re-lit it, really.  It reminded me that the conflict that makes politics and progress so hard really isn't about Republican v Democrat or Right v Left.  It goes deeper than that.  It's really about...well, read here so I don't  repeat myself.   What do you think?

It's not about "Can't We All Get Along?"

Oregon's trying to pull itself part way out of its big financial hole with Ballot Measures 66 and 67, which marginally increase taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations. As I write we're about 24 hours away from knowing whether or not Oregonians will buy in.

So many feelings and issues have been stirred by this campaign. One of them -- deep anger and resentment at banks, credit card companies and Wall Street -- has been strategically mined by those who want these measures passed. That happens to be my side in this fight, but the cost of this button-pushing ad strategy gives me pause. After an earlier column complaining about  this "Yes" campaign spot

I heard from some folks who wanted to throw up after reading my "Can't We All Get Along?" plea.  I know exactly what they're talking about.  I feel the nausea.  But believing they missed the point, I took another swing with this column.
  If this stirs a reactions, I'd like to hear it at www.immensepossibilities.blogspot.com

This is nothing but a good idea

Taking a break from intense, earnest attempts to ask the Big Questions, this post is just about a good idea.  A simple idea.  Most good ones are.

Tired as they are of the word "sustainability," people I know wants to move towards it.  How, though?  With obstacles so big, with a starting point than can be so discouraging, how do we actually build a sustainable world?

By doing stuff.  Simple, thoughtful stuff.  Enjoyable stuff that shows us, in front of each other, that we actually make a difference.  That gives us an appetite for more.  Stuff like this.

It's not a new idea.  Here's a good NY Times feature on it. Has anyone had personal experience?

[If this is the first post you're receiving by email, welcome.  To add a comment (and that's kind of the point) or see the blog directly, just go here.  More later]

What backward glances will please you on 12/31/10?

I get that New Years' columns are a little passe, and that "Resolutions" are about as hip-and-now as Guy Lombardo playing the New Year's ball down the pole in Times Square. However arbitrary, the calendar re-fresh is a strong invitation to look at what we're doing, and whether what we're doing will is likely to take us where we want to go. I like this way of putting the question: on December 31, 2010, what will you appreciate about what you did this year?

Here is how I answered. It was worth the effort. However uncool New Years is or isn't.