Seeing Clearly

Here's what I can see now: that all the unpleasantness of my life's last six months were only the tiniest pieces of a most spectacular puzzle that was created with order, intelligence, and absolute love.  Nothing is ever lost, no one becomes less and setbacks are always temporary.  And no matter what has happened, everyone lives again, everyone laughs again, and everyone loves again, even more richly than before.  With due deference to The Universe, thank you barn, for burning down.

Where's Barbie?

Is this man for real?  Doesn't matter that he got caught red-handed by the FBI acting the political fool, selling patronage like a high-priced hooker.  Just when confidence in our form of government, in those we elect to referee the public good, and in their good friends in industry is at an all-time low (other than for President-Elect Obama who is getting 79% approval ratings), we get this.  Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.  Ken Doll.  What were you thinking?  Go away.  Get better hair.  Get a clue.

Where's The Shame?

While the Little People in America are getting their asses kicked by this economy, we have the specter, or should I say spectacle, of Wall Street and now Detroit coming to the tax payers for a bail-out.  A sobering look at hubris, I highly urge one and all to check out Thomas L. Friedman's piece, All Fall Down.  The "unabashed (smirking) complicity of the upper class of American capitalism..." says it all.

The Big Boys ask, "Where's the love, America?"  I have to answer, "Where's the shame?"

During China's Cultural Revolution, the capitalistas were paraded before jeering crowds with dunce caps and bound hands or had to stand in public reciting their "crimes" and asking forgiveness.  No doubt, a harsh response.  But at what point are the Masters of the Universe going to get a clue?  They should at least say, "We're sorry."  And mean it.

We've All Got A Stake In This

Here's something scarier than the actual mess in the economy: The public's response to all the job layoffs seems to be, "They deserved it!" or "Just glad it wasn't me!" or worse, "I should be getting a raise!"  Where's the empathy and compassion?  What happened to the "better angels of our nature?"

If our sense of being our brothers' and sisters' keepers is this far from realization, we will end up with only the sharp-elbowed (and tongued) in the economic survival boat.  Is that what we want?

Those lucky ones with jobs or ample resources should reach into their hearts and ask, "If I don't sacrifice at least something to help others keep their jobs, what will happen to us all?"  Think about it.  The more people with jobs--even at reduced wages and benefits--the better.  That's the kind of "wealth" spreading we need to be doing until the current melt down rights itself.

December 6, 2008 - Post Script

This just in.  A cogent argument for sharing.

Change Your Life

Seth Godin is a marketing guy who isn't so much into selling stuff as selling the power of ideas.  His many books, including his most recent, Tribes, tap stories of remarkable people doing remarkable things, and by virtue of their example, they define a new direction, they gather like-minded and push the envelope around. Oh yes, and they make a lot of money too.  Google him and see what I'm talking about.

Today Seth made an offer I hope some of you won't refuse.  An apprenticeship for six months with him, in New York, learning, working on projects, connecting to amazing people.  Instead of staying in school because you can't find a job, or if your job is iffy or worse, gone, you just might want to throw caution to the wind and see if you can measure up to Godin's expectations.  The people he tends to attract are all ages and range from software designers, dot.com entrepreneurs to feed the hungry, micro-enterprise venture capitalist types. And average folk who happen to have good ideas that take hold and change the world or some part of it.

I'd try out for this thing in a New York minute but I have a mortgage and can't commute that far, which by definition, makes me too chicken-hearted to be who he's looking for.  But I sure can cheer the intrepid--maybe you on.  Check out his offer here.  Go ahead; change your life.  Or if you are too squeamish, please pass the word on to your kids, your friends or even that clever enemy at work you can't seem to get off your case.  In the end, they'll thank you for it.