Reply #5: Like minds.. [View All]

[rumpel]

I have been pondering about this for quite a while, too.

If, as a society, we can come up with a plan based on the principle that every person has a basic right to a roof over their heads, and we can implement renewable energy, the other basic needs of existence can in fact be a bartering matter. (Labor, services, goods)
I believe it is in the collective interest to provide for the basic needs of every person. However, as you point out, society as a whole is not compassionate enough, and it is very difficult for those people to see the reality of others in a different perspective. Basically, "I worked so hard, why should I share with others who have no work, or failed, is lazy"-type of mentality. At the same time, mentally there is fear of lack, because of the belief that every one is on their own.

I attribute this to the competitive and judgmental nature in much of all society does. Starting with education, where we have to compete to get better grades, when the grades are in fact judgments - or at least we perceive it as such. I once saw on PBS one such effort for change by a University professor, who explained how she conducts her classes. The students form groups and obtain group grades, which teaches them to work collaboratively with others, and at the same time, students start identifying each of their own strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, the collaboration is creating a result which is very satisfying to the group.

A company can be an employee owned entity, if we truly want to be equitable. Everyone shares the risk and profit.
The banking industry I personally think should go back to basics. They are merely entrusted with the clients money for safekeeping - ok, for a fee. Who gave them so much power to judge and place a valuation on people (credit score) based on how much profit the bank can make off of our fellow and collective depositors funds in form of a loan or investment. If they were to have to share the interest payments with all depositors - I wonder...As it is, depositors are a de facto investor in the bank, since they leverage every hard cash dollar we place into our accounts at least 10-20 times.
Businesses have to go back to basics.
The other day someone posted an essay from the CEO of Whole Foods at HuffPo in GD, and many poopooed and labeled it as hypocritical. But I agree in the many points he makes. If some companies start adopting his vision, I think we can gradually get there.

I guess, the key is for society to shift from an individual minded approach to a collaborative approach. Being taught early on that no one is better than another person, and we are all responsible for each other in one way or another, may perhaps be the seedling. Not only in talk "we are all created equal", but in re-building societal values.

I am afraid it will take a while, but we just have to all work towards it.