The wealth distribution in this nation is appalling. This is why it is becoming more difficult to make ends meet. Are you feeling the pain?
Thom Hartman wrote a book in which one chapter explores “What is Enough”. He presents different perspectives on being ‘rich’ and being ‘poor’.
While they number fewer than one percent of all humans on the planet, the result of a relentless 5-millenium genocide by our worldwide Younger Culture, there are still people alive on Earth who are members of Older Cultures that predate the Mesopotamian city-states. There are also people whose Older Culture ways have only been so recently taken from them-such as many Native American tribes-that while they may no longer live the Older Culture way, they remember it.
In these Older Cultures, the concept of “more is better” is unknown. They would consider “greed is good” to be the statement of an insane person. One person eating near another who is hungry is an obscene act.
The ‘Older Cultures’ regard wealth not as goods and services. Instead, their view of wealth is security.
In Older Cultures, the goal of the entire community is to get every person in the community to the “enough point.” Once that is reached and ensured, people are free to pursue their own personal interests and bliss. The shaman explores trance states, the potter makes more elegant pots, the storyteller spins new yarns, and parents play with and teach their children how to live successfully.
Contrast that to the quest by people like Sheldon Adelson and the Koch brothers. For them, there is never enough money in their bank accounts. They don’t own enough ‘things’ so they keep striving for more and more. If they lost everything today, they would have nothing because money doesn’t buy true friendship. Who really likes a greedy person? No one.
Ghandi said, “There is enough for everyone’s needs but not enough for everyone’s greed.”
(cross posted at tpzoo.wordpress.com)
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