You make very excellent points and honestly appreciate your
   analysis.

   Yes, I was being excessively flippant about my potential to
   influence change. Complex systems are one of my fascinations and
   for me to say "it is out of my hands" or "not my job" really
   wasn't 'me' talking; but was more of a knee-jerk response to a
   You-Have-To-Take-This-Seriously-Before-Its-Too-Late... which is
   kind of what my post was all about.

   Here's the thing: I'm not escaping. I'm a part of this system.
   But I am contributing to the balancing of the system by
   remaining where I am and doing what I do.

   There's always a third way with any two choices.

   Analogy: Have you had an opportunity to vote yet? Well, for me,
   I vote when the opportunity arises because I believe in the
   process. If I don't, I don't, but I believe it's important to
   participate.

   I can't complain much about a system I'm not participating in in
   some fashion, is how I look at it, although I really don't
   complain about politics, because it's not my thing.

   But, I vote.

   When presidential elections come by, I've nearly always voted
   for the 3rd party if there was one. I can't BEGIN to explain the
   RAGE that would ensue from people when they find this out.

   "YOU VOTED FOR H-ROSS PEROT!? WHY YOU COST BUSH (sr) THE
   ELECTION! THE 17% OF YOU WHO VOTED FOR THAT LUNATIC IS THE 17%
   THAT WAS MISSING FROM BUSH'S VOTE AND NOW WE HAVE A DEMOCRAT".

   Idiots. I wouldn't have voted for him again anyway. People get
   really stupid with statistics sometimes.

   Anyhow, my point is: Yes, I can effect and enact change in ways
   that's bigger than "me".

   I believe in participation. I believe in opinion. Notice
   something: I've BEEN expressing my opinions. I'm BEEN
   participating.

   By taking a stand of, "I take care of what's in my DIRECT
   influence", I'm not bowing out. It's impossible to bow out of
   the systems. Even when we die, our bodies are a part of SOME
   system. Our molecules recycle, etc.

   If all of humanity were to perish and only our plastic waste
   remained, red ants took everything over, I'm fine with that.

   I feel no extra-special bond with humanity.

   It just happens to be the species I was born into. I could've
   been a roach. In my way of seeing things, out of my hands.

   Maybe it's not out of my hands. Maybe I *did* birth myself. But
   I probably didn't.

   Point is, I'm not bowing out. I'm taking a stand: I'm utilizing
   my strengths.

   Now: Tell me what I'm *NOT* doing right now that perhaps I ought
   to be doing.

   Maybe I will choose to do it.