As a JW I think we are used to be abused. At least with words. The guilt trip is one of those abusive tactics. Saturday on the convention it was a big time guilt trip. Leaving the situation as is, a huge threat of rotting from within beyond control through the drippeling effect may have to be faced by the WT leadership. There exist a scenario, and possibly more than one, that may be of help to remedy this: One single strong overpowering blow to slackers and other subversive elements. Two results may be yielded: 1)drop in “publishers” who are not really publisher but window dressers. Step one, next CO visit, identify all slacking and subversive elements. Encourage to make a mend. Stept two: Next CO visit discuss new regultions on disfellowshipping based on 1 kor 5, being that on disfellowshipping offences, disfellowshipping must take place (scripture says remove, therefore calling for immediate descisive action, instead of you may remove) whether or not the guilty party repents. After being reinstated they will run probably harder and stick more closely to the party line. Based on 1 John 2:19 anyone slacking in visiting meetings more than X ties a months and fieldservice more than X months in a row: DF/A, if no improvement after applicable strong scriptural councel and help to improve has been given and no improvement to average publisher hours can be noted, provided the person is not of old age (15 minute preacher) and in to sick a condition to participate in the fieldservice (mind you: telephone preaching belongs to the opportunities). It may be that the priveledge of participation at the TMS and WTS may be revoked as a measure of “help” to let the “evildoer “ get a sense of urgency to repent and do better. Special project for MS and Elders and pioneers may apply. Time to market: 6 to 8 months. 2.The publishers that remain will start to operate in the real “last days”- mode by doing there “outmost” with a “sense of urgency” never seen before. Due to the operations described above under point 1, a rally of protest emerges in news media, court rulings, etc, etc. a sort of the 1917 Rutherford initiated attack revisited. “Clearly, brothers, we do live in the last days. Look at the persecution. Jezus foretold this would happen. Now turn to vers bla bla en read how the disciples of the first century felt when confronted with persecution. Are we not happy that we are being called names for the sake of the Good News?Are we not happy to suffer for the name of our Great God?” Standing ovation. Brothers, you are to be commended for persevering under worsening conditions. Look, fieldservice hours are up. Attendence is up. As the end draws near, Jehovah will keep on directing the work. End of assembly singing song number 212 (or if you still have the old one: 110). Every dub goes home with the feeling of having had the best convention ever, of the end being SOOOOOO close that they can almost taste it. With many thanks to a brillant observer called Macchiavelli who wrote: “Arte della guerra” and “Il Principe”. Most fitting indeed. O, and by the way, In every time and age there have been people who have been lied to and who have been deceived. No matter how idiotic, fantastic a story told might sound. Will there always be dubbs? I guess there will be, whether they are called dubbs or go by any other name. A few quotes from Napoleon by means of illustration: - The people excited by ambitious demagogues, sooner or later return into the hands of the Aristocracy. - A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights. - Men are moved by only two levers: fear and self interest. - The herd seek out the great, not for their sake, but for their influence; and the great welcome them out of vanity or need. - In a conquered country benevolence is not humanitarianism. It is a general political axiom that a conqueror must not inspire a good opinion of his benevolence until he has demonstrated that he can be severe with malefactors. - Good and decent people must be protected and persuaded by gentle means, but the rabble must be led by terror. I am sure these axioms can be turned into biblical foundations............ to start with: Proverbs 29:18 - Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained. Cheers Borgia