Sherri,
I can relate to your frustration and your dilemma. Your neighbor seems to
be a bit of a dolt -- but then that's a harsh judgment made from a very
myopic view.
America is difficult. It has always been difficult. As citizens of this
country we're faced with many paradoxical problems: We must, if we cherish
freedom, tolerate the ideas of others even when we're abhored by them. We
must be willing to work within the boundaries of the law to change the
law, even when that means we have to tolerate a neighbor with a runway in
his backyard! The legislative process is slow, cumbersome, and often
ineffective. It is full of silly compromises, back-room deals, and
political activism. Geez. . .it sounds a bit like a large organization!
Your neigbhor has learned to manipulate the system. And it sounds like he
is gloating in his accomplishment. Now he wonders, "Hey, why is my
neighbor so upset?" Duh? Sounds like employees who learn to butt-snorkle
their way into what they want and then turn around and wonder why those
near them are disgusted. Duh?
Unfortunately, it takes a very long time and a whole lot of energy to
change any large organizations -- much less the political system of a
nation. I had a ask myself a question at Novell: Is the change I'm trying
to bring about worth all of the energy and time I'm exerting? It sounds
like you're faced with a similar question. Sometimes we have to settle for
things we don't like just so we can get on with life. I suppose you could
always move, but that would really, really suck!
BTW -- I've been heavily involved with politics for a number of years. I
was going to run for Mayor this year, but the way my divorce took place
pretty much killed my political career. It isn't that I don't have
integrity, I think I do. It's just that the people where I live happen to
be very judgmental and would never tolerate someone who had behaved as I
have to win an election! That's why we're left with the scum who are
experts at lying. . .
-- Benjamin B. Compton bcompton@enol.comLearning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>