"I have concerns"

I have concerns

       I've heard this phrase for decades now

To me this is often used as a code word phrase that means "I don't know", and is often used by those who simply have not done their homework in a timely manner, and now want to stop future action because of that simple ineptitude. The main subject is "effects" on our land.

Now in fairness, sometimes "we" don't know the practical effects of whatever we are talking about. But that is not what is usually said in this situation.  And sometimes the proposers are in too big a hurry to proceed with their own idea. And we all know that there are others who have abused our environment in the past.  All in all, I believe they collectively are a minority, especially in the last half century. If I'm wrong, please just show me, vice dancing around the issue. Most people are already good stewards of their land, both directly and indirectly, owned or used. For example, all of us need water to live; and many need electricity to help them get energy to stay warm during the cold seasons.

But for people, often in appointed positions of influence, to invoke this phrase of "I have concerns", often also means these people are allowing themselves to be lumped in with others who are just oppositionists to about any change, or even revert back to some older time. After all, most people want to improve things for the ever increasing human populations whose expectations as to quality of life are often also increasing. And sure, there is a limit to most everything, but that is seldom mentioned when opposition arises to some proposed action. Like the old TV series Dragnet saying went, "just the facts mam".

What prompted all this was reading an article about building  a dam on the Mekong River and "concerns" about adverse effects. Plus I listened to a member of the planning commission for the little town I live in. His main job is running a restaurant, and his wife was taking another local politician and friend to the doctor that morning as he is has a serious health problem.

The sheer audacity of using ignorance and all too often laziness to try stop some action is appalling to me. A good dose of honesty sure would help me and a lot of people like me, I think. Of course, I assume that most parties are interested in increasing the quality of life of the people affected. Maybe some aren't, and have been getting away with it for a while; but I also suspect this period is coming to an end.

I can remember when the famous ecologist Barry Commoner was on the cover of Time Magazine in the 1960's, and when the EPA was formed, and other such actions like the creation of OSHA occurred.

Somehow it seems the fine intent has been abused by those who wanted to accomplish obstructionist goals. What a shame in so many of the resulting practical effects. And some of these affects are not just against "the people", but also it often seems our governments have often tried to micromanage the whole setup with even newer laws and rules and practices (like trading and mitigation) to prevent just such abuses, to include corruption. If this is correct, then an immoral and monumental waste of our time and monies has occurred as some kind of human caused problem. Mother nature is all too often innocent in this regards.

The intent of this post is to propose a discussion of what old fashioned leadership can do to advance our future human existence on the earth.....if we want to. And the intent recognizes all the usual complications and vagaries of human interaction as part of whatever process should evolve, vice what has evolved. Now that is what leaders are for. And if it has taken us decades to get where we are, then it will probably take us decades to change the present course we seem to be on. But one has to start somewhere!

After all, I knew an Austrian fellow whose farm had been in their Family for 1,200 years, and the local town had recently celebrated its 1,400 year old anniversary. Or study the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) in partnership with the Vietnam Women's Union.  So I know there are other ways to go forward to a sustainable and better quality of life future that has already proven itself for others in Austria and Vietnam today. And there is nothing wrong with borrowing smart and proven ideas for our own futures.

Let's talk, plan, and lead better than we have. Others already have.