Wow Ken, lots to discuss here. You're certainly a uniquely gifted person who does not need to allow doubt to slow you down. I only wish all of the students I teach would entertain these important thoughts. Without being redundant, I'll throw you a few ideas your way in reference to your big questions. Again, therse are my humble opinions, not answers.
Ken and Rich- I saw Rich's entry and thought it would be a good place to add my two cents. I hope Rich doesn't mind... WC
"Who am I to say I am qualified to decide what’s good for the future?"
Nobody can say they are THE expert on what's good for the future. But when you work with a group and are concerned with the future of others thats a step in the right direction.
"How do I know I am doing the right thing?"
You never "know", but you feel it intuitively. You learn to trust your instincts. As you move forward you realize the ONLY person who never feels this kind of discomfort is the person who never makes a decision. I recommend reading
Celestine Prophecy, closely examining western philosophy, and reading anything that has to do with understanding self or enlightenment.
Hey, just being concerned THAT you are doing the right thing is more than many people ever do. We need lots more people who do show that concern.
And for that matter, how can anyone say they are qualified to decide what’s good for the future?
Well trained, well intentioned, well informed people with courage are necessary for the advancement of mankind.
And concern for others doesn't hurt either...
If we make that decision based on the values we learned when we were growing up, and if all values in a society are all cultural relative, who can say what is the absolute right or wrong decision?
There is never an absolute anything (except 0= -273C) but making decisions for the good of the whole and being willing to sacrifice at times seems to be the right thing.
"In the battle of life, it is not the critic who counts; nor the one who points out how the strong person stumbled, or where the doer of a deed could have done better.
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those timid spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."
and I'll add (repeat) my quote from a sales seminar years ago-
"success isn't in doing the uncommon things, it is doing the common things uncommonly well"
Keep doing the common things as well as you do... WC
Keep asking good questions Ken. They are far more valuable than the quest for absolute answers.