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May you live in interesting times...

September 16, 2008

susan_preston_approachStor.jpg

Approaching Storm ~ Canon 30d

I see a bit of handwriting on the wall and it looks like our economic woes are just beginning. Which candidate will actually tell the truth about paying for the war and two major bailouts? In the wake of the biggest bankruptcy in history and the worst day on Wall Street since 9/11, I wonder which candidate will be the first to admit there will be a boat-load of new taxes? My bet is neither of them. This is the one area both candidates really disappoint. Neither has addressed the economy fully, but now that Lehman is toast, they suddenly will – blaming each other instead of discussing solutions to a dire issue. (Here's a scary thought – what if we've been so reckless and selfish, there is no solution?) I'm not sure how anyone can paint this one with lollipops and rainbows... especially since corporate greed and avarice are a big part of what got us here – and corporate money drives everything, including campaigns in this country.

But corporations aren't the only ones to blame. What about us? Why do we sit back and watch it all as though electing a new president is a spectator sport? Take a risk, get informed, let your voice be heard. Be brave, do something.

You know why politicians don't just stand up, tell the truth, and do the right thing? We don't demand it. Why? We don't want to hear it. This is an issue I'd actually switch my support on. The candidate who admits to raising taxes along with a plan to get us out of the war and taking care of each other again (ie: health care) will win my vote. Really. Admitting such a thing would mean certain defeat because Americans can't handle the truth when it might affect our wallets. I mean, what would we do without the latest gadget? And, oh my god, what horror it would be if housing prices came down to an affordable level again, and everyone had to take responsibility for their bad decisions. Ummm, I think that's exactly what's about to happen, only very few are willing to admit it – too afraid to let go of the excessive square footage – too afraid of building community.

These are interesting times, that's for sure, and the storm isn't just brewing, it's here. The question is, are we as nation, as a world, brave enough to see reality for what it is and actually work together to create a peaceful world?

Living in interesting times – it isn't exactly a blessing, but it is an incredible opportunity for massive evolutionary change for our species. But real and lasting "change" is painful – which is why we need hope, humility and courage to do it.


{ Image shot while on an Insight Dialogue retreat in West Virginia this summer where we practiced speaking the truth, and listening deeply. }

Posted by susan at September 16, 2008 12:30 AM

Comments

I thought about this just yesterday too. Here we are weeks away from the election, and all we are hearing is what they think we want them to say. What about the truth? Where is that? I am so sick of the personal attacks from both sides. Enough already. Let's just talk about what matters now. We're down to the crunch time. We all deserve to hear the raw truth of the matter. It really put things into perspective when I saw that Lehman's loses were $639 BILLION compared to what we thought was horrible at Enron years ago... a paltry $63 billion. Hello? Is anybody listening??

Posted by: jayne at September 16, 2008 06:58 AM

Spot on, Susan!! We ain't seen nothin' yet! Part of the problem too is that very few can envision what this is all going to look like. I really don't think either candidate "knows" what is ahead of us, but whoever wins is going to have their hands full and it's not going to be pretty. There will be hard times ahead and it's going to look like Galveston does now after Ike if we're not careful.

Posted by: jzrart at September 16, 2008 03:59 PM