http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904787404576532623176115558.html#printMode
Some thoughts....
Steele is a great writer, persuasive and intelligent, and fairly accurate in a lot of his concepts and his message is clear about what we should think about. Certainly our era is a reaction to an era of "cowboyism" and the election of President Obama was a response that America desired change. I agree, but wouldn't go as far as to blame the President as much as Steele does.
Quote: "So, in Mr. Obama, America gained a president with ambivalence, if not some antipathy, toward the singular greatness of the nation he had been elected to lead.
But then again, the American people did elect him. Clearly Americans were looking for a new kind of exceptionalism in him (a black president would show America to have achieved near perfect social mobility). But were they also looking for—in Mr. Obama—an assault on America's bedrock exceptionalism of military, economic and cultural pre-eminence?"
At the end of the day, President Obama has been right in addressing these issues. Steele frames the "Left" and the President as the primary movers of this decline in recognizing America as the singular greatest nation in the world suggesting he is contributing to a growing sense of mediocrity in our country. Certainly a lot has taken place since Bill Clinton was President that it would be foolish to label the President and the left as the causes of our decreased economic strength in the world, and that we are in moral decline. President Obama cannot be the scapegoat for failed economic policies that were ushered in long before he was President. If anything, he has sought out to correct these problems through two major initiatives, one being through increased financial regulation and reform, a response to the financial crisis, and the second, attempting to repair a broken health care system. None of these ventures have achieved perfection, but they still are successes. The real root of the problem remains, the people in office that we elect, and how we elect them. The idea of true democracy will always fall short as long as political power is distributed within an economic system in which wealth is concentrated. How have people traditionally gotten elected? Two ways. Those people who have a lot of money, or have friends with a lot of money.
"Our national exceptionalism both burdens and defames us, yet it remains our fate. We make others anxious, envious, resentful, admiring and sometimes hate-driven. There's a reason al Qaeda operatives targeted the U.S. on 9/11 and not, say, Buenos Aires. They wanted to enrich their act of evil with the gravitas of American exceptionalism. They wanted to steal our thunder.
So we Americans cannot help but feel some ambivalence toward our singularity in the world—with its draining entanglements abroad, the selfless demands it makes on both our military and our taxpayers, and all the false charges of imperial hubris it incurs. Therefore it is not surprising that America developed a liberalism—a political left—that took issue with our exceptionalism. It is a left that has no more fervent mission than to recast our greatness as the product of racism, imperialism and unbridled capitalism.
But this leaves the left mired in an absurdity: It seeks to trade the burdens of greatness for the relief of mediocrity. When greatness fades, when a nation contracts to a middling place in the world, then the world in fact no longer knocks on its door. (Think of England or France after empire.) To civilize America, to redeem the nation from its supposed avarice and hubris, the American left effectively makes a virtue of decline—as if we can redeem America only by making her indistinguishable from lesser nations.
At home the values that made us exceptional have been smeared with derision. Individual initiative and individual responsibility—the very engines of our exceptionalism—now carry a stigma of hypocrisy. For centuries America made sure that no amount of initiative would lift minorities and women. So in liberal quarters today—where historical shames are made to define the present—these values are seen as little more than the cynical remnants of a bygone era. Talk of "merit" or "a competition of excellence" in the admissions office of any Ivy League university today, and then stand by for the howls of incredulous laughter. "
I very much see recasting our greatness as a product of racism, and imperialism, as embracing the very content of American character and idealism. Some of the righ oriented politicians out there for some reason like to call this a "lack of leadership" and "lack of CEO experience." Although the utilitarian and business aspects of society are important and are very much apart of who we are, an aspiring self responsible and hard working people, we shouldn't downplay down the importance of self reflection and the more humanitarian and justice oriented aspects of our society, and of coming to terms with our imperfections as a nation. This time in our history speaks to me very much about people having real debates about real issues, about creating a lot of noise that is what democracy is supposed to look like, and that our central to our national character and sense of self worth. Steele doesn't seem to want to embrace this which is disappointing. I feel like we have grown as a country and continue to throughout this time. I don't think we've grown out of touch with our capitalistic framework rather, we have questioned living by "the end justifies the means" vs. the other way around, that we consider the means by which we go about things in order to achieve a given end. I think we very much live in a society where those very engines of individual responsibility and initiative exist. Does anyone out there really believe that these thematics are dying? Steele needs to come to terms with the fact that no country can move forward, or makes leaps and bounds overnight. If we are recasting ourselves as he alludes to, we are better and stronger for it in my opinion and we may have just saved the way the rest of the world views us. That's a big plus and a large accomplishment in my view. Trust me, I know we have a jobs crisis.
Steele goes onto downplay the "liberal quarter" where historical shames are made to define the present while saying we no longer have competitions of excellence and merit even in Ivy League Universities. This is complete BS. We still live in a country where you have to go out and make the best of your life everyday, where each person is called to make themselves, to create and recreate themselves and aspire toward self improvement. Not everyone will fit this mold or aspire to become great. But no individual can succeed on their absolute own. No individual can exist successfully without the community and no community exist succesfully without the individual.
The recent argument coming up again and again in this country has been over wealth distribution. Is it really every man for himself? Is it really about this rugged individualism that the tea partiers are promoting, where social saftey nets fall away and where we give seniors $15,000 stipends that they can use as a revised Medicare system (part of that classic GOP Ryan budget Plan that we all remember). Middle class incomes have fallen in the last 10 years, while the upper echelon has seen huge gains despite the country's financial woes. Chuck Schumer has been a staunch advocate of this fact and I think it should raise concerns about the direction our country is heading in.
Steele criticizes the 1960's saying our education system has been enfeebled due to moral and cultural relativism since this time. Developing a new voice and the emergence of a new social consciousness which emerged in the 60s are just as much about our roots as is our sense of developing that creative genius and motivation behind creating a flourishing business and what it takes to do that. The 60s are an essential part of that sense of expression, creativity and freedom that lies within all of us. Not all of us would have been hippies, sure. The 60s were a time where we sought to overcome an more conservative era and find a new voice. But whether it be in an artist finding and demonstrating value through their sense of self expression or a business man thinking of a new and creative way to do business, these are BOTH things that make America great.
Ambivalence is healthy to a point, I admit. But Steele seeks to frame the President has indecisive and lacking the right leadership. In my view, every President no matter who they are runs the gaunlet of criticism and degredation. Once again, hopefully everyone paid attention to the efforts he made to compromise and be a pragmatist on many levels. I applaud the President for addressing issues like racism, unbridled capitalism and imperialism. While many criticize him for the economy, albeit quantitative easing might not be the best of choices, the President and his team of Economic Advisers have bent over backwards to help the Economy. Yes he still in fact gets blamed for the unemployment figures. Unemployment for those that don't know, is a lagging economic indicator the President has been criticized for the past two years as if he is the primary cause of this mess we are in. Companies have barely begun to hire despite making record profits because they have to wait for 3-4 quarters of consecutive growth to pass by before they actually even hire. Something everyone probably doesn't know. I guess if I were to criticize the President for anything, it would be for trying to take on too much, but I cannot rightfully blame him for the jobs mess.
If I am a proponent of anything in the midst of our country suffering from job loss, unemployment and a lack of a better health care system, we must advocate for private industry as a whole to develop a different mode of existence, to do things in private industry that create opportunities for Americans. We can learn something from European style governments who in coordination with private industry, strive to do more to create healthy work environments for their workers, from more time off, to better public transportation. Google in America requires their workers to take mandatory time off to create things and to become more free thinking...I mean, who wants ot work in a cubicle for the rest of their life anyways.
The people that don't want government in their business, and government to stop spending, always seem to look for help from the government when their companies are running into the ground because they lacked the moral and ethical character to abide by good principles to begin with (case in point - LTCM in the 90's and markets that lacked sufficient regulation up through the financial crisis and beyond). The President decided to seriously address these (which of course got major flack from Republicans). As liberals and conservations, democrats and republicans will admit, the government cannot keep footing the bill. This is one criticism of the baby boomer generation...that we started spending too much! Other solutions are essential moving forward.
The New America
I would have been stoked with a single payer health care system, but insurance companies are too embedded in the market. I would enjoy more public transportation throughout the country, but our economy caters and nurtures oil companies and the individual consumer vs. taking strides together and collectively and collaboratively to improve public infrastructure that at the same time supports the environment. I'll admit getting everyone on the same page is tough.
Republicans have been united on the attack against President Obama, the most vocal being Michelle Bachman, Rick Perry, Sarah Palin and Mit Romney. Now these candidates will have to discuss the future of America that involves actual ideas. They've made relativistic statements without any substance that only serve to deligitimize the President. It's typical GOP political theatre.
Don't allow politicians to peg the president has someone who is encouraging, promoting or supporting a welfare socialist state or anything of the sort. Our President is a true model of a success story in America. Accusations suggesting our President is creating mediocrity in the United States is absolutely baseless. His life is a testament to what it means to not lead a mediocre existence and certainly with his staunch advocacy for education and health care, he only aims to heal a broken nation or to capture it's essence - that very essence in my opinion is what the political right does not accept as part of their ideology. Not only is our country great for the opportunity it creates, where you can truly go out and do and become anything you want (certainly it's not a game for the weary of heart), but we are also great for the types of programs we provide for senior citizens that are there for you and I when we retire and suffer a loss of income. That is what also makes our country great.
At times he may be professorial, but I believe he is the greatest President of our generation.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
New York Times - Bob Herbert - "Losing Our Way"
Friends,
This gets at the heart of a conversation I had yesterday with a good friend and in response to an article I saw posted by my friend Joe, from Holy Cross.
ARTICLE
As Bob Hebert, New York Times Op-ed columnist points out, things don't look very good at the rate we're going. Where will we be in 20-30 years. I think my friend was right in saying that a lot of people aren't tuned into the magnitude of where we find ourselves currently. Just as we have unemployment as a lagging economic indicator, people's attention and understanding of the crucial issues of our time, on the table, that each and every one of us face everyday, is also lagging. This will become a problem unless we can tip the scale. The broader question is how do you do this, how do people mobilize themselves in a more constructive and educated manner than the tea party did. The destructive decision making going on in our country is crucially evident and the political money machine that works to keep us in deadlock with the polarization and inefficiency we find throughout state governments today and in the hallowed halls of the US Congress is apparent more than ever before. As access to information has grown exponentially so has the truth that uncovers both the inequalities that exist within our system - when the largest financial institutions that dragged us into the financial crisis have yet to be effectively brought to justice - while at the same time revealing what our dream of a truer democracy looks like when we join our voices together and come together for common purposes. In troubled times, we are faced with a bevy of choices, and every choice we weights heavily.
Too Comfortable
Today, the economic disparities which have developed since Bill Clinton left office loom larger than ever, we are funding multiple wars and we have supreme court decisions placing corporations as equal entities to individuals when it comes to channeling their support to political campaigns. We have states ending collective bargaining rights. In our great country, power and influence have always remained in the hands of a few but the signs seem to be getting worse, and disparities larger than ever. Is it because we have become deaf as a society, as my friend Peter from Sudan taught me in Arizona in 2003, that we have trended toward tuning into our own lives, versus directing concern and attentiveness to the greater world? Isn't it time we admit that our lives are not our own when people are working harder than ever to make a living, with an average of 2 jobs per person to maintain a middle class semi comfortable lifestyle? I think there's a little bit of freedom in admitting that, in the midst of malaise, modern day cynicism, and jadedness that we face and that we fall victim to, that simply ends up doing us a disservice in the end and doesn't solve anything. People seem tired of what they see going on around them, in both private and public spheres. We always have the choice to be an observer, or a contributor, a bystander or a participant in our democracy.
Today, the economic disparities which have developed since Bill Clinton left office loom larger than ever, we are funding multiple wars and we have supreme court decisions placing corporations as equal entities to individuals when it comes to channeling their support to political campaigns. We have states ending collective bargaining rights. In our great country, power and influence have always remained in the hands of a few but the signs seem to be getting worse, and disparities larger than ever. Is it because we have become deaf as a society, as my friend Peter from Sudan taught me in Arizona in 2003, that we have trended toward tuning into our own lives, versus directing concern and attentiveness to the greater world? Isn't it time we admit that our lives are not our own when people are working harder than ever to make a living, with an average of 2 jobs per person to maintain a middle class semi comfortable lifestyle? I think there's a little bit of freedom in admitting that, in the midst of malaise, modern day cynicism, and jadedness that we face and that we fall victim to, that simply ends up doing us a disservice in the end and doesn't solve anything. People seem tired of what they see going on around them, in both private and public spheres. We always have the choice to be an observer, or a contributor, a bystander or a participant in our democracy.
Big Fiscal Problems
Politics. "Politics as usual" needs to end as Andrew Cuomo, our New York State Governor has indeed said many times over and as Governor Patterson echoed on his way out in 2010. "Away with the special interests." Andrew Cuomo has vowed to change State government and he's doing it. He is really setting the stage for how other states rethink the way they do business and budget their wallets. It would be nice ideally just to return to "pay as you go" for a brief while. That is the way things ran back in the 1920s and early 30s until we turned to public benefit corporations and authorities. I would enjoy returning to the "good old days" as my grandfather, a WWII veteran always described them, when people seemed to appreciate each other a little bit more, when we seemed more united and less distracted, when the average family could have one person working, and one person staying at home with the kids. How we've gotten to where we are is due to a simple methodology of spend more than you make. No individual in their right mind can govern themselves with such attitudes, so it was foolish to think we could. Will government truly change it's tune. Will Andrew Cuomo sing us a new song, but more importantly, will we sing a new song? Will we really change business as usual? As Thomas Jefferson pointed out in his Inaugural Address on March 4, 1801 "If we are demanding of those who govern us, should we not be at least equally demanding of ourselves for the conduct of our self -government?" (Our Sacred Honor, p.347, William J. Bennett). Add: I'm personally not a huge fan of William Bennet, but "Our Sacred Honor" is worth picking up.
The rich vs. poor dialogue that Bob Herbert alludes to in his Op-ed is true, but I think it's important that we don’t see this as simply a redistribution of wealth, an example of robin hood economics, of "taking from the rich and giving to the poor." The problem is more complicated. The mouths of wealthy and intelligent individuals have agreed that they don't pay enough tax based on their income. Post passage of federal tax legislation for those making 200k or higher via the Obama McConnell deal, Andrew Cuomo chose not to renew the surcharge on people making more than 200k this year in New York State. Education groups staunchly oppose this because the sector got a huge hit at the same time and education has taken a back seat to other forces that seem to be driving our ship. Cuts to school aid this year will impact poorer districts vastly more than richer ones. See here for absurdity: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/opinion/27sun1.html?scp=1&sq=Rich%20Poor&st=cse
More evidence that we are not bridging the gap and learning from history that we all succeed when the tide lifts all boats versus the tide lifting only the larger ones. Andrew's father, Mario had a great understanding of this disparity:
Mario Cuomo, 1984 Democratic Convention Keynote Speaker, San Francisco, CA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOdIqKsv624
The rich vs poor gap is not only a result of people choosing to pick themselves up by their boot straps, it's not only due to hard work, or good fortune. Sometimes these boot straps mysteriously don't exist without proper the proper education. The rant from the right grows old and I've grown very tired of hearing it. Gene Sperling, Obama’s now chief economic advisor wrote about that premise in a paper title “Rising Tide Economics” in 2007. There are many wealthy Americans out there whom I've spoken to, some of them, millionaires, who have houses in Paris and LA and New York, that say they can afford to pay a higher percentage tax than they do now, and say that they would be willing to, due to their ability to write off large chunks of their income.
More evidence that we are not bridging the gap and learning from history that we all succeed when the tide lifts all boats versus the tide lifting only the larger ones. Andrew's father, Mario had a great understanding of this disparity:
Mario Cuomo, 1984 Democratic Convention Keynote Speaker, San Francisco, CA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOdIqKsv624
The rich vs poor gap is not only a result of people choosing to pick themselves up by their boot straps, it's not only due to hard work, or good fortune. Sometimes these boot straps mysteriously don't exist without proper the proper education. The rant from the right grows old and I've grown very tired of hearing it. Gene Sperling, Obama’s now chief economic advisor wrote about that premise in a paper title “Rising Tide Economics” in 2007. There are many wealthy Americans out there whom I've spoken to, some of them, millionaires, who have houses in Paris and LA and New York, that say they can afford to pay a higher percentage tax than they do now, and say that they would be willing to, due to their ability to write off large chunks of their income.
Lesson #1
Don't drink the kool-aid.
What is echoed by some to be a call for redistributing wealth from the onset, seems to make sense. But it doesn't ultimately solve anything in the end. When will we get serious about tax politcy. If we were to keep the taxes on the rich higher in New York or on the Federal level, it would help win support among some voters and even change the course of election cycles, but after thinking it through it’s not lasting change. What can we do to bring lasting change to the table. How can we do a better job to encourage giving and philanthropy by some of our wealthier brethren to contribute, and to give back to get at the root of our nations' problems.
Warren Buffet one of the world's wealthiest and most successful seems to get what is going on, and has been talking about it for years, about the faultiness of our tax code, but even he and the Bill Gates foundation don't get at the root of the problem. Their wealth goes to heal a broken world, from AIDS giving to trying to fix the mass starvation and hunger problems the world wrestles with in distant corners of our globe, far away from our fat and happy nation. I don't disagree with their efforts, and they are doing enormous good by trying to improve the quality of life for vast populations of human beings, who have only known suffering in their lifetime and would never understand the concept of “getting ahead.” The question is, are we also working to change the same system that got us there in the first place? Are they gathering their billionaire friends to go lobby together to re-write the tax code? The evidence is overwhelming that most people never vote against their self interest. Although my dad has taught history and sociology all his life and has never formed a company of his own and been what you’d call an entrepreneur, he’s quietly and consistently voted against that which would put more money in his pocket. He’s always been in love with our country, with the history that’s shaped America, and has taught me the importance of hard work, to take nothing for granted, and to be compassionate for those that have not been privy to what I’d consider to be the intellectual or material fortunes that I have had access to. There's something very valuable to gain from being selfless.
Excerpt from Bob Herbert’s “Losing Our Way”:
"Nearly 14 million Americans are jobless and the outlook for many of them is grim. Since there is just one job available for every five individuals looking for work, four of the five are out of luck. Instead of a land of opportunity, the U.S. is increasingly becoming a place of limited expectations. A college professor in Washington told me this week that graduates from his program were finding jobs, but they were not making very much money, certainly not enough to think about raising a family.
There is plenty of economic activity in the U.S., and plenty of wealth. But like greedy children, the folks at the top are seizing virtually all the marbles. Income and wealth inequality in the U.S. have reached stages that would make the third world blush. As the Economic Policy Institute has reported, the richest 10 percent of Americans received an unconscionable 100 percent of the average income growth in the years 2000 to 2007, the most recent extended period of economic expansion."
Jobs
What does this ultimately mean for us? For America? It's hard to find a good job right now in America. My good friend's fiancée found this to be the case even with an advanced degree she had and couldn't find a job for over a year. I found this to be the case when I returned home in 2009 after perhaps 9 months of searching for a job with the Federal government. Many people have searched for years for a job, but end up settling for a job not commensurate with their abilities or experience, making 25% less or more than they are worth. Regardless we do face the times when we need to bare down and bare the storm front coming in. Nothing in life is smooth sailing. Each of us is called to earn our keep. We must find our voice, now or never.
If Americans who possess the ability to speak up collectively and in an organized and educated fashion, don't, now, in a way that brings greater light to these problems, then a truer democracy will not be realized. We have the means to do so, we have the voices. Our problems will undoubtedly become too large to tackle in the years to come.
"The Pen is mightier than the sword"-- Edward Bulwer Lytton
Friday, March 11, 2011
Main Street America - A Move Closer to Egalitarianism
Every time a society faces crisis management, it is always a convenient time to talk about what's working in society and what's not working, to talk about what's fair, in light of inequities. In a country where the economic model is not principally based on fairness, but on the principal that rewards come to those that work the hardest and smartest, to obtain the life for themselves, that they desire, the debate over hard work vs. circumstance arises. It is our privilege, and inalienable right in America
The above article gives some good analysis of the private vs. public sector debate that's very hot right now in the media. Currently this debate has grown dramatically due to the burdens we all collectively share as a society and as state budget offices and politicians come closer to decision making time on what cuts need to be made. At least most of society is still feeling the crunch, enduring remnants of the 2008 financial meltdown and depressed 401k's, and we may be feeling the effects of other economic, and fiscal woes relating to how good or not so good a job government has done with managing state funds and dealing with addressing it's inefficiencies. We also face increases and disparities in health care with costs skyrocketing past the growth of real wages, and the same goes for property taxes. These are really big problems with many answers on the table as to how to tackle them. But we are addressing them. People still do want their kids to have a better life than they lead, although the trend points towards pessimism at this very moment. There are signs out there that people aren't as hopeful about a better tomorrow as they used to be. We are living in some of the starkest financial times we've faced in our nation's history, and while trends seem to point to our unraveling, and points to many reasons to see the glass as half empty, it always comes down to a choice that we make.
Despite the seemingly overwhelming evidence that society is on the brink, with a middle class that seems to be deteriorating, with those who are at or close to the bottom, sinking to all time lows...all of this occurring as the top 1% in this country seem to be moving up to a 3rd east side (Jefferson's reference). As Americans, most of us work very hard in life to reach our goals but sometimes a lack the imagination and ingenuity to strike while the iron is hot. We let things get cold, and then need to start a fire again. I think it is at monumental times where in the face of very challenging situations where we ask the questions: What do I value? What is important to me? How do we move on or move forward? Am I on the right path? Am I doing all I can to support my family? Am I doing enough to help my community? I think for many, it is in the darker times in our history where we get closer to our true essence as Americans. It's time for a check up and re-evaluation.
In Defense of the Public Sector
In response to what is going on in Wisconsin
My main impetus for writing is in response to the actions being taken by the State government in Wisconsin and my thought process regarding not only the problem over banning collective bargaining rights for unions, but also over societal discrepancies in competitive pay for employees when you look at the major trends including the widening gap between rich and poor, health care costs increasing at several times the rate of real wages, and the fact that average middle income has gone down in the past 10 years, but top earners average pay has gone up. The intent is not to attack the wealthy, but is to show the societal shift in priorities that's happening around us.
Moving forward, I think two things need to happen to achieve a more equitable playing field in the job market throughout the country, the main focus for change being on the private sector, where the majority of citizens are employed. I'm hoping that we not only see an increase in jobs and that the government assist in this effort to strengthen private sector growth, but that the private sector growth indicate and result in an increase in a more fair wage, an increase in wages for all, rather than the game being so fixed. Too much of the profits trend towards the top 1%-10% of wage earners. No one seems to want to slice it a little more evenly. We've seen this trend to be increasingly evident since the bank bailouts, with large insurance, oil, and banks scoring record profits. At the end of the day, capitalism, which considers an economic system where the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit, does not take into account fairness, decency or egalitarianism per se. As a result, you often have government "meddling" in the affairs of business, regulating and making more laws to protect consumers. Businesses don't seem to want to get their act together on their own accord.
Even before the wheels of capitalism really started churning in this country, as far back as the late 1700's the Federalist papers, written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison stated (cite Fed Paper 51), that "if all men were created angels, there would be no need for government." Government, even when it gets too fat, is the foremost, primary and cohesive element in society that upholds justice, freedom, consists of a system of checks and balances, and maintains order. My intent is not to promote wealth redistribution but to first consider the spirit of what we are, as American citizens, and what we could be, and more importantly, why that matters. (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/egalitarianism/)
Even before the wheels of capitalism really started churning in this country, as far back as the late 1700's the Federalist papers, written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison stated (cite Fed Paper 51), that "if all men were created angels, there would be no need for government." Government, even when it gets too fat, is the foremost, primary and cohesive element in society that upholds justice, freedom, consists of a system of checks and balances, and maintains order. My intent is not to promote wealth redistribution but to first consider the spirit of what we are, as American citizens, and what we could be, and more importantly, why that matters. (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/egalitarianism/)
Currently, the public sector has been taking a lot of heat, especially during the past 2 years as states have faced mounting deficits. I believe two things will arise from this:
Unions do need to take consideration of our fiscal situation, because every citizen essentially pays for public workers. Unions will make compromises if they are smart and want to have a lasting impact on the well being of each worker. It's true that many of our current benefit structures are unsustainable.
Although what is going on in Wisconsin is spreading a whole different tune. The Governor has made them the particular focus in the budget battle. Are the existence of unions the reason why the fiscal crisis happened? I think we all know the answer is no to that. Some politicians out there, like Governor Scott Walker are orchestrating conservative power plays to make unions the scapegoats for the existing budget crisis' that states around the country are facing. There's just more to the puzzle than Scott Walker would like you to believe and he somehow things America is stupid enough to believe him. There are two articles I liked in the NYT regarding what's going on inWisconsin
1) Whereas the private sector used to have a higher prevalence of unions, that has not been the trend in recent years. I have not only thought about the implications of no bargaining rights for unions in Wisconsin and the effects of such legislation, but I believe this will spurn a national debate, perhaps the return of private sector unions, and I believe closer attention will be paid to the private sector. Most of the jobs in this country are produced there, and I believe that most of our inequity comes from vast fortune 500 companies who would benefit if they reconsidered their pay structures.
2) Existing public sector unions across the country need to be willing to compromise with states and governments and agree on what is fiscally sustainable for society.
Although what is going on in Wisconsin is spreading a whole different tune. The Governor has made them the particular focus in the budget battle. Are the existence of unions the reason why the fiscal crisis happened? I think we all know the answer is no to that. Some politicians out there, like Governor Scott Walker are orchestrating conservative power plays to make unions the scapegoats for the existing budget crisis' that states around the country are facing. There's just more to the puzzle than Scott Walker would like you to believe and he somehow things America is stupid enough to believe him. There are two articles I liked in the NYT regarding what's going on in
The other important article is about the Koch Brothers and the minds behind Governor Scott Walker and taking away collective bargaining rights. If you don't know much about the battle in Wisconsin
More Fairness in Dividing the Economic Pie and Entitlements? Wait, Hold the Phone On My Share!
A successful and long lasting model should drive innovation and competition similarly to the way we do and should at least place good value in those keys to success, but I'd be an advocate for one in which there is more equality, in which a greater percentage of people have more access to the economic pie. And no I'm not talking about the widely perceived "free handouts," increasing government subsidies, welfare checks or unsustainable entitlement programs on current projections. Let be me clear that I'm not putting negative connotations on these programs either. There are a myriad of misconceptions in existence for those aforementioned "entitlement programs" I named above and certainly trimming the fat is going on all over our state and our nation. Service programs are being cut left and right and have been for the past two years.
Most conservatives will spin these programs negatively if you let them and most of the time it is due to either their costs or the fact that they are inherently unnecessary. But if you consider what is at the heart of these programs you might think differently. If you were to look at New York's welfare system or if you take a good look at welfare programs that exist here in New York, let alone the new programs proposed in our state's budget this year, many are built on self-sufficiency models. You've probably even heard the name "Welfare to Work." The state and our nation continue to work hard to stop and prevent waste. Remember that you're only going to hear negative stories coming from the media. Most people, I believe really only understand about 1/3 of the role of government and the rest are assumptions and slander. Thousands of people in New York
Many people criticize programs such as these a) because they don't know much about them, or b) because they simply believe that they waste taxpayers money; that they are economically unwise because they've heard stories of the poor "milking the system." Yes, and in fact a "bleeding heart liberal" probably did come up with this idea, to help the poor and vulnerable. The bleeding heart mantra really gets to me after a while. I really need to commend that person for their ability to look at the world with compassion. But at the end of the day, where would we be without compassion? Does anyone think of that? Where would we be without the compassion that our mothers showed to us at an early age? Where would we be without our families? Do we ever think of what it really would be like to grow up without a family, or with a mother or a father that could only give us 10% of the love we were shown because they were incapable, didn't know how, or didn't possess the skill or education? Helping families to become self sufficient is one of the most charitable services the state and our nation offers it's citizens, to those people that were not as lucky as perhaps we were. Not only are state programs like "Welfare to Work charitable, but also economically wise because we have enabled another family to start working, contributing, educating and providing good role models for their kids and communities.
The state does not only use taxpayer dollars to enhance our own lives, but the lives of all, including the downtrodden, less fortunate, and the vulnerable. The goal in my mind is to create a rising tide where all boats are lifted up, not just some. I think it is very easy to think at times of how we see ourselves within the limits of our own choices and actions, within our own spheres of influence. But the spheres of influence over a state and nation go beyond that which we are many times capable of seeing ourselves or fully understanding.
In life, I have had the privilege of being exposed to and nurtured by some of the Christian traditions and moreover Ignatian traditions, by being congnizant and aware of the needs of others, especially those that are less fortunate. I recognize the value in state programs like the ones I mentioned above that enable families to feel their worth, and to participate in an economy such as ours that is heavily dependent upon participation and contribution. Through the tax code, the State and Federal Governments assure that we all contribute to the good of society and society's neediest members, that serves a purpose which transcends the natural human tendency to be selfish. This is at the core of all of our state service programs, and is at the very heart of all our charitable, civic and religious organizations and institutions. Giving, whether it be through the tax code written into law by the caretakers of the state, or through one's own selfless giving, it is the intent, heart and foresight behind these acts that matter.
ACTUALLY, LOOK UNDER THAT ROCK - THERE'S MORE INEQUITY
I've always been a pretty grateful person. I attribute this to my upbringing, my Dad's strong values when it comes to hard work, compassion for those that have very little in this world in comparison, and to a general sense of gratitude that comes with each passing day. We are a very lucky and blessed people, me and you. Many times I've heard people say "capitalism is the reason why the US
Would you agree that the overall success of a company heavily depends on the merits and the collective brain power of those working beneath and alongside the upper management of a firm? Take any Bank of America, Con-Edison or United Health Care - their raw success is an extension of the knowledge base accumulated and developed and put forth by the multitude of employees from which contributions are made daily, great and small. Today companies and organizations have become more complex and the sharing of knowledge is more prevalent than ever before. There's no right or wrong way to advocate on behalf of middle America where such disparity exists. Now is also time to create incentives for a fairer pay structure in private industry, a new measuring stick, but where merit and performance remain highly valued.
Apart from the importance that merit and performance plays, it is my opinion that when a CEO makes $28 Million a year, when the average workers are making $35,000 to $40,000, and when there are some lower on the pay scale that don't even receive health care benefits, are we about to say that the large gaps in pay constitute the difference in performance? In this instance, the CEO makes 800 times more than the worker that makes $35,000. To me, this is an example of a company that places the value of their bottom line far and above how they place value with their employees. Is it because companies would loose their competitive edge if they redistributed profits to employees across the board? Wouldn't this mean happier workers? Wouldn't that lead to increasing employee longevity, less turnover, and less time and money allocated to training new employees? In absentia: common sense, fairness, and real time economics.
Apart from the importance that merit and performance plays, it is my opinion that when a CEO makes $28 Million a year, when the average workers are making $35,000 to $40,000, and when there are some lower on the pay scale that don't even receive health care benefits, are we about to say that the large gaps in pay constitute the difference in performance? In this instance, the CEO makes 800 times more than the worker that makes $35,000. To me, this is an example of a company that places the value of their bottom line far and above how they place value with their employees. Is it because companies would loose their competitive edge if they redistributed profits to employees across the board? Wouldn't this mean happier workers? Wouldn't that lead to increasing employee longevity, less turnover, and less time and money allocated to training new employees? In absentia: common sense, fairness, and real time economics.
CONCLUSION
I've had ample opportunity to think long and hard about how blessed I am, but it should be acknowledged that living in this country has a price. The price we pay to live and make difficult choices, and the sacrifices we make every day, count big. In the greatest country on the earth, we earn our opportunities, freedom, ability to access information and carve our path to happiness and I think it is important while we think of these wonderful gifts that hold intrinsic value, that we also recall the importance of accountability.
My hope is that something here might create in you the impetus to step forward and to find the passion where your growing desire might serve to meet the world's need in some way. Maybe you're already doing that and that's a great thing. It doesn't have to be anything big and even can be something small. In the words of Mother Theresa "We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love" Although society and the problems we face collectively can be complex, and can overwhelm us, we can hold simplicity and a sense of optimism in our hearts. Looking within oneself prompts the generation of ideas, creativity, compassion, and community; they help us to cultivate a sense of our own worth. It's not everything outside of you, the nice house or the next car, or the next smart device that are worth their weight in gold, it is what we discover when we look within, when we realize how on fire we are for humanity, that truly adds value to the lives we lead. This is what the world is waiting for.
My hope is that something here might create in you the impetus to step forward and to find the passion where your growing desire might serve to meet the world's need in some way. Maybe you're already doing that and that's a great thing. It doesn't have to be anything big and even can be something small. In the words of Mother Theresa "We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love" Although society and the problems we face collectively can be complex, and can overwhelm us, we can hold simplicity and a sense of optimism in our hearts. Looking within oneself prompts the generation of ideas, creativity, compassion, and community; they help us to cultivate a sense of our own worth. It's not everything outside of you, the nice house or the next car, or the next smart device that are worth their weight in gold, it is what we discover when we look within, when we realize how on fire we are for humanity, that truly adds value to the lives we lead. This is what the world is waiting for.
Monday, February 28, 2011
What's that Noise - Part II - Beyond Self
Don't Wait for Society
When it comes to change, it's important to remember that change doesn't happen when we wait for it. We have to be willing to move outside our comfort zones, be open to new ideas, be willing to get rid of some of our creature comforts, and return to the community. We have to be open to changing direction. Greek society spoke to us about the marketplace, where the exchange of ideas, information and goods took place. The internet is the modern day marketplace, but it lacks an essential and vital quality - that of human presence and interaction. I thirst for the type of environment that is lacking in so many of our communities and in our country where people gather to discuss ideas, history, and exchange information.
Listen
We should come to the table not to fight, but to express ourselves, reason with the other, offer informed opinions and understanding. What is the type of dialogue we imagine we'd like to have with others? For a start, the outcome of a productive dialogue is that you will learn something about yourself, and you will also learn something about the other. To really change our civil discourse in society, we must imagine how we would like that to look, we must consider the other's potential lack of foresight on a given subject given their own experiences of life, and we must learn to listen as much as we are willing to give.
Today, amongst the endless chatter and the noise, the 24 hour news cycle, a vast array of media outlets and information, the finger pointing, we are all too quick to offer opinions. Sometimes when we get caught up in the issues, our emotions get the best of us, and we loose our objectivity. But if we could stop to reflect for a moment, if we could take a step back, or up to the top of the mountain, I believe we could hear something rising up from the smattering of emotion. Our ability as human beings to listen and be self reflective is a wonderful tool if it is used to not only bring out what is best in us, but also see that goodness in the other, and acknowledge it. We all have our own way of contributing which is what is beautiful about our individuality and diversity but we must remember how important it is to not let our differences separate us, so as to allow us to work together.
A Call to Action, A Call to Change
I recall a friend of mine in College who had a beloved quote posted on his Instant Messenger Screen for practically the entire senior year. It was by Leo Tolstoy and it said "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." I believe everyone possesses the ability to change and add value to society and one's community, but in a world in which we can become divided by too much information, and overabundance of advertisements, and too many choices, and a society that is plugged in 24/7, we can easily be deceived over what is reality and what isn't.
Let me not conclude with saying that we should work toward the common good, but rather to call you, the reader to a challenge. What do you think a better or more enhanced "common good" looks like today, taking not only your interests into account, but the interests of others. Certainly our society and our government which upholds freedom and keeps order is and was an epic undertaking from the very moment of our country's founding up until this day. Sometimes the ebbs and flows of the tide are more noticeable and sometimes, we seem to swing too far right or too far left, and granted there are powerful forces at work in today's world that are beyond our control but the spirit of our democracy and those whose nascent desire to participate in it contributes to the very same reason of why we should be a grateful nation. When our aim in life is to make society better off than when we discovered it, this requires a great amount of energy, ingenuity, attention, care and responsibility.
Let us be the engines of creative thought in today's world of reality TV shows and Facebook. If you by any chance, think big, don't let anyone tell squash your spirit or let anything get in the way of your ability to work in a spirit of harmony with others towards a common purpose, to think beyond today into the realm of a more promising tomorrow.
I am so grateful and blessed that I have a great family and group of friends that never fail to think big.
Let me not conclude with saying that we should work toward the common good, but rather to call you, the reader to a challenge. What do you think a better or more enhanced "common good" looks like today, taking not only your interests into account, but the interests of others. Certainly our society and our government which upholds freedom and keeps order is and was an epic undertaking from the very moment of our country's founding up until this day. Sometimes the ebbs and flows of the tide are more noticeable and sometimes, we seem to swing too far right or too far left, and granted there are powerful forces at work in today's world that are beyond our control but the spirit of our democracy and those whose nascent desire to participate in it contributes to the very same reason of why we should be a grateful nation. When our aim in life is to make society better off than when we discovered it, this requires a great amount of energy, ingenuity, attention, care and responsibility.
Let us be the engines of creative thought in today's world of reality TV shows and Facebook. If you by any chance, think big, don't let anyone tell squash your spirit or let anything get in the way of your ability to work in a spirit of harmony with others towards a common purpose, to think beyond today into the realm of a more promising tomorrow.
I am so grateful and blessed that I have a great family and group of friends that never fail to think big.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
What's That Noise
DEMOCRACY
A lot of people are angry with government today, but I think there are some things to consider, mull over and understand about the nature of life in America before we become too quick to judge.
As a favorite political analyst of mine always says, "Democracy was meant to be loud", and that is one of the greatest things about our country. Imagine not having the freedom from fear and of speech and imagine for a second what that would look like. Case in point: The Middle East. I think it's always been easy to be critical, and exude the modern day definition of "cynical," but it takes some extra effort to be a grateful person. Certainly our inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (formerly property) doesn't implicitly mean that these facets of life should not be earned, for they should be seen to have limitless potential, but which belongs to the results of the actions which we employ upon them. The alternative to our system of government and mode of life, is much worse, when you think about it. Relativism is not my aim here, rather, it's more than fair to say that we are extremely blessed people.
Human Potential and Inspiration - Far From Lost, But We Must Make The Effort
I am convinced that life exists and is most beautifully known in our potentiality and in what remains of our potential. I am reminded of the prose President Obama used in Tucson - that we must strive to seek out the "moral limits of our imaginations." Einstein also spoke of the limitless power of the imagination. So what are we waiting for? I'm thankful for the artists and musicians in our communities that continually feed us and inspire us with their imaginations and progressive thoughts on visions of how the world should be. For one, I don't know what I would do without music. John Lennon also spoke of the power of the imagination and was committed to the belief in its transformational powers.
So yes, Americans have a right to be angry and frustrated, and they have a right to opine and to question the way our government conducts business. There is much dysfunction in our state legislatures, evident minutiae in Congress, and taxpayer dollars need to be more heavily scrutinized. But I honestly cannot place such an enormous amount of blame with our government (as much as we've been hearing lately) when I know that much of our problem stems from a lack of willingness and effort on behalf of the electorate and ordinary citizens to make things better. I see a society that is quick to place blame, quick to create a scapegoat and quick to want their cake and to eat it too.
What's true is that many people desire change, but don't actively take the steps toward participating to bring about that change they wish to see. Without placing blame too quickly on any one thing that's attributed to a general lack of awareness that's taken shape in recent years leading up to the financial meltdown in 2007-08 and the last presidential election, a few factors can be mentioned.
For one, it is fair to say that we have become too busy with our own lives, involving time well spent to support our families, as well as the time commitments involved in building businesses. On the flipside, we perhaps mismanage our time when we have become under-involved in participating in our home communities. Certainly when you turn back the clock 50 years, and you listen to stories of elders, and older family members, you get the sense that something has been lost. We are currently breeding a culture that shows signs of social malfunction with overwhelming evidence that we are too involved with various media outlets, you tube, Facebook, and iPods. Less impressive aspects of our consumer culture suggests that we we further our disconnect when we begin to place material gain in front of making people, friends and family more of a priority. Certainly we all cannot lead perfect lives, for we are human, but I think we can heed the call to live more balanced lives as a result of these apparent inequities.
Prepare the Way for Our Youth
When it comes to preparing the way for our youth, we should be cognizant of these inequities if we want to be good teachers and role models. Today along with vast advancements in science and technology, and the global shift in the job market towards more technical and technology driven employment, we are impressing less value on the social sciences, i.e. history, than in the past. Teachers constantly get a bad rap and are underpaid for what they do, when you cross compare their salaries to what individuals make in the private sector. Republican Governors have begun the war against unions and are speaking out about taking away collective bargaining rights. Wake up America. These vital issues are being tied along with an unsustainable pension system, to heated rhetoric about the dire financial situation in our country. The younger generations must understand what caused our crisis in the first place. My question to you is, what are the implications of this rhetoric? A quote sticks in my mind from an article in last week's Economist and reminds me of the importance of creating well rounded individuals in our country. The article was titled "Don't know much about history." The quote reads "'Twenty-first century skills' may help pupils become better workers; learning history makes them better citizens."
The World Has The Power To Teach You Something If You Are Willing To Listen
My first lesson in "real life," post college life if you will, came in 2002, the same year I graduated from Holy Cross. I chose to enter the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Phoenix, Arizona to work with a Refugee Resettlement Community at a local branch of Catholic Social Services. If you wanted to understand the meaning of grateful, all you needed to do was sit down and talk to a refugee family from Rwanda, or the Congo, Serbia or Afghanistan for an hour, listen and learn their story. Most of my co-workers at the agency were formally refugees that had joined the agency and program years later in order to help their fellow brothers and sisters acclimate to their new environment. There's nothing like a familiar face when you get off a plane from the other side of the world, knowing no one. Many are scared, separated from their families, some having had very little education, some previously nuclear physicists that had to assume a job as a dishwasher, some half deaf from an exploding grenade, some heavily traumatized. This was real life, far and away different from any of the realities you (or most people reading this blog) have had.
One morning after I had grabbed a cup of coffee at the gas station next door, my co-worker, Peter Sebit, a rather tall and very dark man who hailed from Sudan (the same country that Manute Bol came from, who was in case you forgot, the tallest and darkest basketball player to ever play in the NBA) approached me. Something was troubling him. He was questioning what he had determined, in the few short years he had lived in the United States, as an experience of apathy and malaise when it came to Americans. He explained to me his experience of Americans when it came to politics, their lack of awareness of current events, and what he also observed to be a lack of community involvement. His question came with profound sincerity and honesty, that it touched me very deeply. One day he simply said "Matt, why is it that so many Americans, in my conversations with them, don't seem to care or know what is going on around them and with their own government?"
Granted, Peter came from Southern Sudan, where there were many tribes, political involvement amongst tribe leaders and followers, but also in a place with rich traditions, that was very sacred to him. He came from a place where communities and families frequently gathered to share food, tell stories, be in communion with one another, and just enjoy the simple things in life. Life was very simple in Sudan. Things were also very complex. Southern Sudan, at the same time, had become a battlefield where millions of Christians had been persecuted in a country overwhelmingly Muslim, in a country ruled by a Muslim government. In the previous decade, upwards of 10 million people had been killed in the war torn southern Sudan.
There was evidently a sharp contrast of Peter's experience in Sudan, to the life he now lead in the United States. Despite this, his wealth of knowledge about our government, society and our history was somehow shocking to me, while at the same time, enlightening and very refreshing. At the time and even years later, the weight of his question, considering the stark contrast of his life experience to mine, gave birth to a pattern of thought that resonated on what Americans take for granted. In the midst of a life that I had experienced that could be easily qualified as a "life in abundance", my own inner struggle over how much I took for granted took hold. What would I do with this realization. Would it become a passing thought or experience? What followed in the proceeding years, was a growing interest in politics, government, and the forces and people that have worked to shape our world.
For more ideas on democracy, and the state of government, check out: http://www.democracyjournal.org
________________________
A lot of people are angry with government today, but I think there are some things to consider, mull over and understand about the nature of life in America before we become too quick to judge.
As a favorite political analyst of mine always says, "Democracy was meant to be loud", and that is one of the greatest things about our country. Imagine not having the freedom from fear and of speech and imagine for a second what that would look like. Case in point: The Middle East. I think it's always been easy to be critical, and exude the modern day definition of "cynical," but it takes some extra effort to be a grateful person. Certainly our inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (formerly property) doesn't implicitly mean that these facets of life should not be earned, for they should be seen to have limitless potential, but which belongs to the results of the actions which we employ upon them. The alternative to our system of government and mode of life, is much worse, when you think about it. Relativism is not my aim here, rather, it's more than fair to say that we are extremely blessed people.
Human Potential and Inspiration - Far From Lost, But We Must Make The Effort
I am convinced that life exists and is most beautifully known in our potentiality and in what remains of our potential. I am reminded of the prose President Obama used in Tucson - that we must strive to seek out the "moral limits of our imaginations." Einstein also spoke of the limitless power of the imagination. So what are we waiting for? I'm thankful for the artists and musicians in our communities that continually feed us and inspire us with their imaginations and progressive thoughts on visions of how the world should be. For one, I don't know what I would do without music. John Lennon also spoke of the power of the imagination and was committed to the belief in its transformational powers.
So yes, Americans have a right to be angry and frustrated, and they have a right to opine and to question the way our government conducts business. There is much dysfunction in our state legislatures, evident minutiae in Congress, and taxpayer dollars need to be more heavily scrutinized. But I honestly cannot place such an enormous amount of blame with our government (as much as we've been hearing lately) when I know that much of our problem stems from a lack of willingness and effort on behalf of the electorate and ordinary citizens to make things better. I see a society that is quick to place blame, quick to create a scapegoat and quick to want their cake and to eat it too.
What's true is that many people desire change, but don't actively take the steps toward participating to bring about that change they wish to see. Without placing blame too quickly on any one thing that's attributed to a general lack of awareness that's taken shape in recent years leading up to the financial meltdown in 2007-08 and the last presidential election, a few factors can be mentioned.
For one, it is fair to say that we have become too busy with our own lives, involving time well spent to support our families, as well as the time commitments involved in building businesses. On the flipside, we perhaps mismanage our time when we have become under-involved in participating in our home communities. Certainly when you turn back the clock 50 years, and you listen to stories of elders, and older family members, you get the sense that something has been lost. We are currently breeding a culture that shows signs of social malfunction with overwhelming evidence that we are too involved with various media outlets, you tube, Facebook, and iPods. Less impressive aspects of our consumer culture suggests that we we further our disconnect when we begin to place material gain in front of making people, friends and family more of a priority. Certainly we all cannot lead perfect lives, for we are human, but I think we can heed the call to live more balanced lives as a result of these apparent inequities.
Prepare the Way for Our Youth
When it comes to preparing the way for our youth, we should be cognizant of these inequities if we want to be good teachers and role models. Today along with vast advancements in science and technology, and the global shift in the job market towards more technical and technology driven employment, we are impressing less value on the social sciences, i.e. history, than in the past. Teachers constantly get a bad rap and are underpaid for what they do, when you cross compare their salaries to what individuals make in the private sector. Republican Governors have begun the war against unions and are speaking out about taking away collective bargaining rights. Wake up America. These vital issues are being tied along with an unsustainable pension system, to heated rhetoric about the dire financial situation in our country. The younger generations must understand what caused our crisis in the first place. My question to you is, what are the implications of this rhetoric? A quote sticks in my mind from an article in last week's Economist and reminds me of the importance of creating well rounded individuals in our country. The article was titled "Don't know much about history." The quote reads "'Twenty-first century skills' may help pupils become better workers; learning history makes them better citizens."
The World Has The Power To Teach You Something If You Are Willing To Listen
My first lesson in "real life," post college life if you will, came in 2002, the same year I graduated from Holy Cross. I chose to enter the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Phoenix, Arizona to work with a Refugee Resettlement Community at a local branch of Catholic Social Services. If you wanted to understand the meaning of grateful, all you needed to do was sit down and talk to a refugee family from Rwanda, or the Congo, Serbia or Afghanistan for an hour, listen and learn their story. Most of my co-workers at the agency were formally refugees that had joined the agency and program years later in order to help their fellow brothers and sisters acclimate to their new environment. There's nothing like a familiar face when you get off a plane from the other side of the world, knowing no one. Many are scared, separated from their families, some having had very little education, some previously nuclear physicists that had to assume a job as a dishwasher, some half deaf from an exploding grenade, some heavily traumatized. This was real life, far and away different from any of the realities you (or most people reading this blog) have had.
One morning after I had grabbed a cup of coffee at the gas station next door, my co-worker, Peter Sebit, a rather tall and very dark man who hailed from Sudan (the same country that Manute Bol came from, who was in case you forgot, the tallest and darkest basketball player to ever play in the NBA) approached me. Something was troubling him. He was questioning what he had determined, in the few short years he had lived in the United States, as an experience of apathy and malaise when it came to Americans. He explained to me his experience of Americans when it came to politics, their lack of awareness of current events, and what he also observed to be a lack of community involvement. His question came with profound sincerity and honesty, that it touched me very deeply. One day he simply said "Matt, why is it that so many Americans, in my conversations with them, don't seem to care or know what is going on around them and with their own government?"
Granted, Peter came from Southern Sudan, where there were many tribes, political involvement amongst tribe leaders and followers, but also in a place with rich traditions, that was very sacred to him. He came from a place where communities and families frequently gathered to share food, tell stories, be in communion with one another, and just enjoy the simple things in life. Life was very simple in Sudan. Things were also very complex. Southern Sudan, at the same time, had become a battlefield where millions of Christians had been persecuted in a country overwhelmingly Muslim, in a country ruled by a Muslim government. In the previous decade, upwards of 10 million people had been killed in the war torn southern Sudan.
There was evidently a sharp contrast of Peter's experience in Sudan, to the life he now lead in the United States. Despite this, his wealth of knowledge about our government, society and our history was somehow shocking to me, while at the same time, enlightening and very refreshing. At the time and even years later, the weight of his question, considering the stark contrast of his life experience to mine, gave birth to a pattern of thought that resonated on what Americans take for granted. In the midst of a life that I had experienced that could be easily qualified as a "life in abundance", my own inner struggle over how much I took for granted took hold. What would I do with this realization. Would it become a passing thought or experience? What followed in the proceeding years, was a growing interest in politics, government, and the forces and people that have worked to shape our world.
For more ideas on democracy, and the state of government, check out: http://www.democracyjournal.org
________________________
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