The Bedlington Question

[Maggie/915]

Politics is by its very nature adversarial !

The Bedlington Question is sadly being played out to great effect ( if you like strategy games )

My wish would be for all parties to work

( and play) together in the interests of Bedlington

Sadly we have claims of negativity by certain individuals while they are negative about all the other parties.

We have claims of people/individuals moaning while they moan about the people who are moaning.

Basically

Negativity may be necessary in order to then be positive.

Like history we need to learn from the past so we do not repeat the mistakes.

[Maggie/915]

We may need to remember that two negatives make a positive.

[mercuryg]

We may need to remember that two negatives make a positive

 

Maggie, where did you learn this?!

[Malcolm Robinson]

Sometimes it makes a bigger negative!  

[Maggie/915]

The main point is what have we got to loose.

Negative opinions could get us action.

Therefore a positive.

Bedlington past present and future.

The future has to be better.

The past can be an inspiration.

Then the present forgotten with all negativity

Do not think we can get a bigger negative than the state of our town Malcolm.

Bedlington needs action.

Ok mercuryg its two minus' make a poitive but whatever it takes we need everyone in their own

sweet way working for the town.

Even the people who tell us not to be negative, all need to help.

October let us hope changes everything for the better.

[Malcolm Robinson]

I am quite optimistic Maggie............................I just hope everything pulls off!  

[threegee]

Ok mercuryg its two minus' make a poitive

 

Ummm.. not quite the full story there.  The product (multiplication) of two minus values is always positive.  The sum (addition) of two minus values is a larger minus value!

 

Does this have any philosophical equivalence?  (Hey, amazing myself there! ) Well... probably, and it might go something like...

 

If you permit things to influence each other (free interaction) you not only get a mutually bigger outcome, but pulling in the same direction ALWAYS produces a positive outcome.  But... if you simply lump things together you end up with no more than you put in/take out.

 

Might we have analogues of both "capitalism" and "socialism" there? 

[Malcolm Robinson]

More like whats happened to Bedlington over the last 50yrs!  

[Maggie/915]

All very good but in simple terms if you are negative about a negative surely you have a positive.

Basically you are critical of the negative.

Interesting argument.

[threegee]

All very good but in simple terms if you are negative about a negative surely you have a positive.

Basically you are critical of the negative.

Interesting argument.

 

I think the problem there is one of perception. i.e. the person who you believe is being negative thinks they are being positive, and that your alternative is the negative input.

 

How do you convince them otherwise?  You could point out to them that their way hasn't been a whole lot of good in the past, but they'll have a myriad of reasons why we should keep on doing the same thing, and expecting different results.

 

 

You could point out examples of people and places that do things your way, and the obvious benefits they enjoy.  However they will hunt for the (easily addressed) exception, and therefore the "basic unfairness" of your way of doing things.  They will ignore the fact that everyone would be better served, because unachievable "equality" matters far more to them than any real-world considerations.

 

Such people go through life wishing for the world to be the way they believe it should be.  They never achieve anything, or benefit anyone (except themselves, if they are crafty enough to land a cushy number as head of some totally pointless, though worshipable, organisation or other).  At root they are con artists, but ones who are chiefly conning themselves!  Fill in the names/places and you've completed the story. 

[Maggie/915]

Brilliant answer threegee.

I love the Einstein quote.

Maybe there is no answer to the Bedlington Question.

Time will tell.

I hope that 'Ragged Trousered Philanthropist is not relevant again.

Oh and

'Does power corrupt'.'

[Maggie/915]

Another find in the attic

The pictures are the right way up until I click attach this file.

Makes things interesting.