Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2003 14:03:22 -0700
From: Savil-AT-pseud.pseud
Subject: Re: M-INTRO: Resending this in plain text, whooops!


I don't think that people are predisposed to an unending desire for more
material wealth.  Yes, we as humans have wants, demands and are greedy and
selfish.  But I think the majority of people would agree that what they want in
life is a stable, loving home and community for their children, with good
schools and opportunities to expand thier minds and their hearts.  Every parent
wants their child to do well, find love, and be happy.  I think most people
would agree that in their own life, they want security, a home that helps to
reproduce their labor (one that is comforting, and does not cause additional
emotional or physical stress at the end of the day).  I want time to be able to
connect with others, my friends, expand my mind and experience the world around
me.  I want to perform hard, honest, meaningful work.  I don't think the human
was made to sit idle.  There are too many years of our history where we worked
to survive every day.  Evolution like that is hard to deny.  We are nothing if
not social creatures, as a society we need to realize that and respond
accordingly, competing with our neighbors for the most whatever only causes us
to break our bonds to each other down.  I am willing to do just about anything
to secure a positive future for my children.  Do I think that it needs to be in
Capitalism?  No.  I don't think that what I have just described is allocated
inside the realm of Capitalism only.  I want my children to be happy, I want a
home to live in, I want a community and friends to support me, I want a garden
which I and others tend to remind us of our connection to the earth, I want fun
entertainment and (hence the season) good cheer.  I don't see how any of these
things have to be found in a capitalist society.  I don't see how these goals
are more easily attained within a society that is devided into haves and
have-nots.  Personally, I don't think that my goals can be fully realized in
capitalism.  It would simply be asking too much for the rest of society to stop
fearing and competing with thier neighbor to create a community setting like
the one I envision.  I don't know if socialism is the answer either.  But I'm
willing to fight for whatever will bring me the future I dream of for me, my
children, and the rest of society.
Like GDA says, one way to do this is to volunteer.  Or mentor children, or work
in a community garden, or get to know your neighbors, create a community
center, live consciously, find out where your food comes from, your items, find
out where your trash goes, where your water comes from, what kind of native
trees and birds live with you, find out if the company you work for is involved
in the community, does it give to charity, does it recycle, does it have
opprotunities to volunteer, how does it treat employees with children both
mothers and fathers, buy locally produced items and food, start your own
business that upholds your morals and dreams, shovel someone elses walk or rake
their leaves, let your own talents flow into the community, cook for someone
who is ill, or mourning, or just gave birth, try to reduce the fear the media
is pumping into us everyday.  Remember if you work to live, or if you live to
work.



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