Welcome

I'm starting this blog in an effort to share ideas with thoughtful, serious-minded people who share my value (ideas, and thinking and communicating clearly.)

I'm a philosopher by training, and by occupation, but I'm not satisfied by the academic route to sharing ideas. Peer-reviewed journals have their place, but trying to channel every idea into the proper format is stultifying. I can't find a journal, for example, that will allow me to express my view that religion is ruining this country, and to some extent, the world.

Lately, my biggest concern has been the environment. I see that we have so little pristine wilderness left on the planet, and those who are in a position to protect it instead do everything they can to exploit it. Nature is treated as a "resource" and politicians anthropocentrize its value. I live in Michigan, and I have to drive almost an hour to find someplace to "hike." Even then, in the "nature center" (closed on Mondays...NATURE IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS) there are signs everywhere discussing how the sounds of human activity are a good thing because they indicate that humans are taking what they need from mother earth. I moved to Michigan from the Pacific Northwest, and to be honest, my soul is sick, here. I can't find anywhere to be alone. There is NO land that is untouched, no place for animals to find sanctuary. I see this happening at an increasing rate everywhere on the planet. The news about the Senate's decision to allow oil drilling in Alaska's National Wildlife Reserve only confirms the shortsightedness that prevails.

I think about switching careers to be an environmental activist, or a Landscape Architect, or a regional planner, but that is not very realistic. Does anyone have any ideas about how to have an important impact in this way without years and years more school? (I've already been in school far too long.)

This is just the inital entry, so I should end it now. There will be much more later.