What Do We Want?

last summer i wrote a blunt, heart-felt, brutally honest e-mail to kate mucci, co-host of "Out There TV" (as seen on saturday afternoons, channel 12, for local corvallis residents). my e-mail inspired kate to write a column where she put forth some of my questions to the american public. sadly, only 3 people commented and they did nothing but gripe (understandably) about their own problems and whine how we need good leaders to make the changes. that was not my point nor was it kate's point. no real conversation was started. at all. the point was AS INDIVIDUALS, WHAT DO WE WANT FOR OUR COUNTRY AND WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO DO TO CREATE THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT?

sigh. dontcha just want to smack some people upside the head at times?! i sure did after reading the dismal commentary.

so i thought to try it again. i'm putting it out there for all of you who want a different social system. a different government. a different world. a different way of living. i will ask you those questions i asked kate. then to be fair, i'll answer them myself.

1) what kind of a world do you wish to see?
2) what kind of a government do you wish to see?
3) what do you value?
4) what would you like to see change?
5) what steps are you willing to take to make these changes?
6) what are you willing to risk (if anything)?

here is how, today, i would answer those questions.

1) my vision is pretty utopic, which i realize according to the dictionary means it's ideal but not practical. bullshit. whatever we can envision WE CAN CREATE. period. that being said, i see a world without hunger, without poverty, without homelessness, without human-created suffering. i see a world where all are truly equal. i see a world where human worth and dignity are valued over money. i see a world with small communities that are self-sustaining. i see a world where all have an equal opportunity to create meaningful work, where our god-given talents and gifts are put to use. i see a world where either bartering is the way or a world where wages are sufficient to provide for the basic expenses: home ownership, food, clothing, transportation, medical/health care. i see a world where work hours are flexible and meet the needs of the employer and employee equally. i see a world where we are encouraged and supported to heal our wounds and talk openly with one another. connect in the way we are meant to connect. i see a world where our air and water are clean. i see a world where monetarily speaking, people are equal--no more class system. i see a world where ALL work is valued. and for those who are unable to work or even unwilling, government-provided income to maintain a livable, dignified existance. (what, honestly, is so threatening to any of us if someone chooses not to work? how does it interfere with my health or happiness? i first came across that discussion in one of the conversations with god books and it's changed my view on the subject.)

2) what kind of a government do i want? a government that is honest, that represents the people, that doesn't tax the people but instead derives revenue from commerce. i want a government that takes care of its people at home and stays out of the nation building business. i want a government that promotes peace and conflict resolution. i see an election process that allows for a variety of parties to run irregardless of money. i see an election process that invites ALL parties to debate in public. i see an end to these lavish campaign dinners and instead free (or sliding scale fees) town halls. if this government does not follow the will of the people, the people can toss him/her out on the street and "hire" another. the articles mentions socialism is anethema to the american psyche. likely very true. if so, our psyche needs some fine-tuning for a fair and just society includes an equal sharing of the wealth and programs to help out those who otherwise lack the ability or support.

3) what do i value? my heart: honesty. love. fairness. kindness. my relationships. peace. quiet. health. nature. animals. my brain: money. power. fame. recognition. acceptance. justice. can these co-exist in ways so that these seemingly polar-opposites don't crush the other? heck if i know. i'm still getting to know myself.

4) what do i want to see change? an end to the chaos. an end to the lying. an end to the game playing. an end to competition. an end to this frantic lifestyle we've helped create. i want to see us look into the eyes of each other and see ourselves. see our common bond. i want our common bonds discussed. i want to see people spending more time (oh so much more time) enjoying the company of one another, enjoying nature, playing again and less time (oh so much less time) working hard to keep up with the joneses, less time working hard so that another may profit.

5) what steps am i willing to make to see such changes? well for starters, i would love to help create a small community of like-minded folks--create a new model of living. i am willing to take the risk in being open and vulnerable in sharing who i am. i am willing to demand more from my employer. i am willing to continue to write and blog and speak out about my ideas. as far as demanding more from our government--that's a tough one. i have utterly no faith in these folks. there may be a few authentic souls of course, but overall, they aren't going to see to it that we are all treated with the dignity and respect and decency and love we each are worthy of. i'm willing to help support an organized movement to create a new system--however, my focus is on a more local level. that is what i feel called to do. (in the interim though i am so flipping worn out at every level imaginable from the healing/awakening/learning work i've been doing--i could use a good 6 months in hawaii on a beach being waited on around the clock my only question of the day being "hmm, i wonder when i should schedule that massage". if i were a wealthy woman--or access to oprah's bank account-- i would have two tickets in hand yesterday!)

6) what am i willing to risk for these changes? right now? not a lot. i'm not strong enough. i feel i take a chance by posting some of my thoughts online (trust me--many of these blogs i post leave me wanting a nap). perhaps when i am stronger or when i feel more of a sense of support--when i can trust in that--feel safe--then i will be willing to be more publically outspoken. i have moments where the desire to continue forward greatly conflicts with a desire to say "screw it all"--sell our belongings, move someplace that is a lot cheaper (in terms of housing for certain), near the mountains, and make money selling crafts. do a lot less of this modern way of living and more of this 'livin' off the land'. as mentioned above, i am--we are-- in such a need of a real vacation. sigh......i can almost feel the breeze on my face.........(please though don't post a suggestion about taking a mental vacation! i do that often. i need to take my body with me!)

let's get the dialogue going!