Let the Top Act Out

The Birthers were doing such a good job of exposing themselves to be clueless at the top, that we are disappointed that Obama took their bait and showed his birth certificate.

Obama helped the Birthers by instructing them to stop showcasing their top-of-the-hierarchy attitudes, instead of letting them continue to expose themselves as clueless and irrational. His response gave them legitimacy, and he set himself up for their criticism.

Blame will always be passed down to people in lower groups who allow themselves to get sucked into a battle that is framed and waged by the top. When lower groups buy into a hierarchy created by the top, the top will not take responsibility to be held accountable, and will do whatever it takes to push the blame down the hierarchy. The actions of the Republicans and radical right in blaming Obama for addressing the birther issue is absolutely predictable.

Hierarchy Conservators Move Farther Out

Now that hierarchies as a whole are in a death struggle, we can expect that those holding on will move farther and farther from center in an effort to try to counterbalance the majority who are no longer supporting hierarchies.

Even conservative Republican Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has recognized that the behavior of hierarchy conservators is becoming extreme. She stated that the so-called “birther” issue is potentially leading the nation “down a path of destruction.” She said that she believes there’s no question that it is directed at Obama even though clearly he was born in Hawaii.

Even Jan Brewer can see that hierarchy conservators are damaging for the country.

For more discussion on the Death Struggle, see "Death Struggle" under the "Hierarchies" section of this website.

Holding the Top Accountable Works

We end hierarchies by exposing the activities of those wanting to conserve hierarchies, and not by settling for a compromise or by trying to change them.

House Republicans have lost the services of a prominent Atlanta law firm, King & Spalding, which reversed its course Monday and announced it would not lead courtroom arguments in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act. King and Spalding had previously signed a $500,000 contract to defend the law.

The million-member Human Rights Campaign launched a publicity campaign to expose the law firm that agreed to take the case. HRC contacted the firm’s clients to inform them that King & Spalding was attempting to have it both ways by defending a discriminatory law while lauding its commitment to diversity.

Paul Clement, former U.S. Solicitor General under President George W. Bush, resigned from the law firm in order to continue to represent House Republicans.

For more information on effectively countering hierarchy conservators, see #8 under "Take Action, Clueless Top" in the tool bar of this website.

The Death Struggle is Progressing

Mary sent us a message that she would love to believe that the radical right is in a death struggle, but now they seem so powerful.

We agree that their efforts appear to be coming from a position of strength. From decades of studying hierarchies, however, we see perfect textbook examples of a death struggle (for an explanation, see Death Struggle under Hierarchies in the tool bar above).

1. Aggressively hoarding resources. The radical right is longer taking the responsibility to pass down the minimal amount of benefits to lower people – a practice which is necessary to sustain their position at the top.

2. Acting increasingly irrational (such as the Birthers). They must move farther from center to counterbalance the majority who have moved out of their outdated hierarchies.

3. Becoming exposed. The radical right is finding it difficult to find any individual "lower" group to use as a scapegoat and a means to divert attention away from real issues. Lower groups have become organized over the last 50 years, and are refusing to stay on the bottom of obsolete hierarchies. We are talking to each other.

Hope for the Flowers

The book, Hope for the Flowers, is a terrific, heart-warming reminder of the healthy and happy life that awaits for us when we leave hierarchies, here shown as caterpillar pillars.

Trina Paulus wrote and illustrated this gem nearly 40 years ago, and millions of copies have been sold. We recommend looking for the book in your local library, digging out your old copy and rereading it, or finding a new or used copy for yourself.

Here's some lines from the book:

"Something is really wrong but…what else is there?"

"Yet somehow, waiting and not being sure was better than action she couldn’t believe in. She just knew climbing was a wrong way to get high."

"You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar. You mean to die? Yes and No. What looks like you will die but what’s really you will still live. Life is changed, not taken away."

"We can fly! We can become butterflies! There’s nothing at the top and it doesn’t matter!"

Find out more at http://www.hopefortheflowers.org/.

Question2012

Soon millions of us will be asking the same question:

Back to Hierarchies OR Forward to Liberty and Justice for All?

"Everyone knows the right answer if they are just asked the right question."

Grab on. It's coming soon to your organization, radio station, website, etc.

Call for the Question

Obama wants us to believe that we must compromise with hierarchy–conservators, such as those who want tax breaks for the superrich. We don't agree with Obama about his necessity for compromise.

Here's a excerpt from our "Clueless Top" page of this website:

"In an effort to be fair, we often view top-of-the-hierarchy perspectives as personal opinions, and think we need to compromise, even if the top sees no need to compromise with us. We compromise with people who are building hierarchies, then wonder why our hierarchies continue. Compromising with people building hierarchies only builds more hierarchies."

Political and social movements of the United States or the world start with grass roots. It's now time for each of us who cares about any equality issue to unite with a common language. It's simple – we reframe our issue to create a united front that is huge in number and rich in diversity.

Imagine hundreds of millions of voices united and asking one question:

Are we a country of hierarchies?
or
Are we a country with Liberty and Justice for All?