I don't really care for political debates.
Yet I have some pretty strong opinions.
I love my friends and family enough that I don't wish to have uncomfortable conversations with them when our beliefs can differ so vastly.
So I try to steer clear of those types of conversations.
Yet a current event has gotten me thinking.
Thinking about the perception of classes of people.
Thinking about the perception of laziness in unions.
(Disclaimer: I feel strongly that they have a wonderful place and am very grateful for the security they provide for my husband's protection and well being).
Thinking about the perception of corporate greed.
And thinking about the perception of the lower class people residing in our great land of opportunity.
The land of the free, the home of the brave, and where lowly immigrants have made fortunes beyond what they could have imagined in their homelands.
Recently, the Boeing Machinist Union members voted down their latest contract offer.
The effects of which could mean the lost of tens of thousands (and more) jobs in our region working on the new 777x.
The coverage of this decision in the local media was biased (which always seems to be the case lately-whatever happened to integrity of reporting? Of unbiased reports? Seems to be long gone...)
I'll admit I was swayed.
"Selfish." I'd thought.
"They just shot themselves in the foot." Was another thought.
Along with worry of their seemingly greedy decision affecting so very, very many families in our beautiful corner of the country.
Until I read this op-ed from the NY Times.
Wow.
I've been thinking about the state of our country quite a bit lately.
I don't know why.
Maturity?
Old age?
I don't know.
But it scares me.
What kind of a world will our children live in?
Will this great land of opportunity become the land of the oppressed? Controlled by the small number of individuals who's wealth affects every individual in our country? By people who seem more interested in growing their massive piles of dollar bills rather than properly compensating their workforce with a living wage, pension, and health benefits?
Thinking about things like this incredibly illustrative youtube.com video about the distribution of wealth in our country makes a compelling case for my worry. They present statistics in a mind-boggling (yet understandable) way. And that's coming from a girl who dropped calculus for ice skating in college...
The gap is widening.
Where will my children and grandchildren fall within that gap?
I worry about being able to send my four kids to college.
How will we be able to afford it, the way the cost of education keeps soaring?
If they don't have a college education, how will they find a living wage job?
I know this is a cyclical trend. The industrial revolution introduced this same kind of cultural environment. But it seems to me that the industry leaders were more civic minded. At least they left a tangible reminder of their legacy. I'm thinking of Andrew Carnegie here. Industrial giants who set up a way to help the disadvantaged to have a fighting chance to change their lives.
And no, I'm not talking about our population who are able-mind and able-bodied, who could work but choose to live off welfare and hand-outs.
Yes, we have Warren Buffett, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has contributed to our world betterment in a mind blowing way, and I hear Zuckerberg is following their lead (thanks Zach...)
But I think it needs to be a mindset that is far, far more broad than the small handful of individuals who have more wealth than we little people could ever conceive of. More than a cushy tax break for the wealthy.
It needs to be a mindset that spans all levels of humanity. With the intention of doing good because it's the right thing to do, not because of an appealing tax break.
My greatest hope is that our children learn how to give for the betterment of our society, in a manner that helps make our world a better place to be. A better place for their children and grandchildren.
We need to teach them the value of buying local.
The value of products made by people earning living wages.
The value of spending a little extra to generate that positive ripple in our economy.
I read somewhere that in Africa, some communities view it as selfish and greedy to do your own housework, yard work, etc when you could hire someone else to do it for you; when doing so would provide an income to a person in need of work.
That struck me.
It makes sense.
And what happened to the old jingle, "Made in the U.S.A, it matters!"
Did you sing along with me?
I love this story ABC did a couple of years ago, Made In America.
Why wouldn't it work?
Why not try?
I feel like we need more solidarity.
More social conscience.
More awareness of how thousands of decisions we make on a regular basis impacts our economy,
our communities,
our country,
our world.
I don't know either side of the in-depth story with the Boeing Machinists.
But I do know that it took a whole lot of courage to stand up and say "Enough."
I'm saddened to see what's coming for them as a result of their integrity.
I wonder if I would have had that courage if it were my family who would experience the cold shoulder of a company founded in my community, and fostered by my state government.
If I could have turned down a watered down contract in the name of remaining competitive (ahem, to increase corporate bonuses...?) but in doing so jeopardizing my own career.
I pray they don't all suffer massive job losses.
That the businesses that depend on their productivity don't suffer debilitating losses.
I pray that the people who lead the massive companies (such as Boeing) stop and remember where they came from.
That they remember that maybe a couple of million less in bonuses, which likely would mean the slightest change in their lifestyle, might be better spent on supporting their workforce.
And it's a spectacular reminder to me, to shop local as much as possible.
To try to buy products made in the U.S.A.
And to be more conscientious about the businesses I support.
November 30, 2013 is Small Business Saturday. Instead of going to Kmart, Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us and all the big box retailers, try going to the local toy store, grocery store, hardware store, and cupcake shop. How about going to insurance agents and mortgage brokers you know by name and recognize in the grocery store or your kids school? The people who own those businesses and those who work there are your neighbors, friends, fellow members of your congregation, your kids coaches, your kids classmates parents, and good people.
How about we put a little money in their tills.
I know I'm only one person, but if you join me, and you ask others to join us, maybe we can be the change we want to see.
Who's with me?
*Please read that op-ed in the NY Times and watch the Distribution of Wealth & Made in America videos, you won't be sorry you did.
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