Comments for Complete Society

Comment on Ultimate Vision by Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:32:11 +0000

Hey Ted. Cool vision. I love Ultimate, and my friend told me to read your post. There’s nothing sweeter than laying out and making a play. Esp. if it’s shoulder-high.

Comment on Ultimate Vision by Naomi Colb

Naomi Colb — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:27:04 +0000

Enjoy your writing and letting us in on Ted Ko’s vision and passion.

Comment on What does natural capitalism have to do with politics? by William Barnes

William Barnes — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:08:43 +0000

Ted, I love the idea of transitioning our economic system to one that values nature and mimics its systems and processes, however, it is an inherent impossibility given several factors.

1. A capitalist free-market system requires perpetual growth as capital seeks ever-increasing rates of return. Just switch on CNBC for 5 minutes and you’ll likely hear the need for “growth,” and turn on CNN and listen to a politician speak and you’ll here them talk about creating job and growing the economy. If you watch any videos on youtube regarding population expansion, which is based on the excess amount of energy (allowing an explosion in food production available due to free-flowing capital) you will see what looks like a CANCER spreading across the globe leaving absolute destruction in its wake.

2. While leaders of industry would like to believe otherwise, humans are merely PART OF a complex web of natural systems, not IN CHARGE or CONTROL of such.

3. Given that natural systems are FINITE, such INFINITE GROWTH IS IMPOSSIBLE.

4. The fundamental goal of a capitalist economy is to create wealth from production which involves three key ingredients…a)raw materials (i.e. nature) b) energy (i.e. hydrocarbons) and c) ingenuity backed by capital (i.e. VC). Supposedly the system is open to everyone (American Dream) but in reality each unit of additional growth accrues primarily to the wealthy class and does not trickle down to the middle and lower classes, especially during the past 25 years. This disparity will inevitably lead to civil unrest and a totalitarian government system put in place under the guise of “protecting” the people from some external threat (terrorism, boogie man, you pick your poison).

So, as well-intended as the “green movement” may be, it will be wholly inadequate to stem the tide of the devastation inevitably associated with a growth-based system of ever-expanding exploitation of creatures, both human and non-human and the natural support systems upon which all parties depend to survive.

Please pass this along to your gang at Presidio. Peace….

Comment on Canvassing Day 2: Inspiration becomes action by George Velarde

George Velarde — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:40:49 +0000

Ted,
Thanks for the great insight! It’s really interesting to read about the environment there and the coordination of volunteer efforts. Good luck making change keep up the good work.

Comment on Toto, we’re not in California anymore by lag2

lag2 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 05:29:49 +0000

ted, i am so proud of you for going to virginia to campaign. it really shows not only your commitment, but also your courage to knock on doors of complete strangers, who might only further resent the fact that you’re coming from out of state. your tenacity reminds me of…our parents, who spent years demonstrating, circulating petitions and inviting politicians to community meetings for what everyone thought was a rather hopeless cause.

Comment on A leader that inspires millions by Chris Carmody

Chris Carmody — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:57:26 +0000

Ted – Great piece! Thanks for posting. – C

Comment on 43 Day Blog shift by Jamie Holts

Jamie Holts — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:57:27 +0000

Nice writing style. I look forward to reading more in the future.

Comment on Complete Politics – Beneath the noise, look at character by Chinarut

Chinarut — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:49:51 +0000

hey – good to see you standing up as a future politician!

look fwd to hearing your take on Obama and McCain – you’ve got my listening

Comment on Definitions of Sustainability – 4 types by marguerite manteau-rao

marguerite manteau-rao — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:21:07 +0000

Nice blog Ted. Great goals. I take it you love being at Presidio.

How successful are you at selling such soft concepts as what you are trying to convey? I find the business world is a lot more eager to jump on hard core things such as renewables, etc.

http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com/2008/09/08/whats-sarah-thinking/

Comment on Walmart & seafood: 2 very big pictures by Kerry Coughlin, Marine Stewardship Council

Kerry Coughlin, Marine Stewardship Council — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:21:33 +0000

Thank you for your posting about Wal-Mart’s commitment to sourcing only sustainable seafood. Wal-mart’s leadership is a very important motivator for fisheries that supply Wal-mart to ensure that their practices meet the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) internationally recognized standard for sustainable, environmentally responsible fishing. However, I must correct your (or your classmate’s) erroneous statement about Wal-Mart buying shrimp farms in Thailand and converting them to MSC standards. The MSC standard applies only to wild capture fisheries and we do not certify aquaculture, thus no seafood farming operations in Thailand or elsewhere are MSC-certified. Additionally, Wal-Mart’s levels of seafood sales do not exceed “peak levels” that can be sustained globally. Seafood is one of the largest globally traded commodities in the world (greater than coffee, tea and cocoa combined) and Wal-Mart is just one part of that picture. Seafood, managed properly, is a sustainable resource. I encourage your readers interested in sustainable seafood to visit http://www.msc.org for more information, and to ask retailers and restaurants for the MSC’s blue eco-label. The label assures the fish was sustainably caught and traced throughout the supply chain until purchase by the end consumer.

Best,

Kerry Coughlin
Communications Director, Americas
Marine Stewardship Council