With all the hoopla about our nation’s budgetary worries, I guess I just had to say a few words. But where to start? So much to say, so many angles, so many, many different opinions. It’s a huge sinkhole that we really don’t want to venture into.
Why? Because at the bottom of that sinkhole, we’ll find those self-same unexamined money beliefs that we never learned to talk about in any productive way. One side talks about the bleeding heart liberals only thinking about more and more handouts while the other side of cold-hearted rich people only thinking about themselves.
Every one of us is somewhere on the spectrum radiating between these two and because our beliefs have been with us so long and are reinforced with news rhetoric, we have this constant tug of war. We’re so ingrained in our stance that we shut down before we allow ourselves to really examine our own beliefs, much less theirs!How do I know this? Because it happens to me. More and more, I notice that who and what I listen to is mostly from the people on my side. And, if that’s all I listen to, that other side is always going to look suspect to me. I will have only heard the message that I want to hear–my side is the right side, the only side that makes sense.
As difficult as it is, I’m trying to open my viewpoint to understand a little more to see where the other side is coming from. What are the beliefs and values underlying their perspective? Most importantly, is there any room for a deeper understanding and, dare I say, appreciation of their point of view?
Without at least trying, we’re never going to find that middle road or common ground. And that place between the two polarities is where we as a country really, really need to start moving. Do you agree?
I’m willing to try—how about you?
6 thoughts on “Budgetary Blues”
Hi Jane,
I have been working vigorously at bringing us together as a nation since just before GWBush’s last election as prez. The biggest reason why I started was that I was concerned about how easily the professional political advisers were manipulating us with our fears and differences I know that we can come together on tough issues because I’ve watched and helped people grow into it and become proud of their ability to listen respectfully and openly to widely divergent views. Agreement is not the answer. Openness and mutual respect are. The politicians are lost souls these days. They’re too afraid of losing financial backing and elections to really stand for anything positive. Remember the movie Dave Check it out. Only this time We the People have to be Dave. Time to grow up folks. We can do it. E-mail me or send your thoughts directly to Jane and above all, let’s be respectful and mature enough to realize that NOW is the time and We Are The People!!! Jerry Roback
You may publish my E-mail address Jane. Now is the time for us to move! Jerry Roback: Wellspringers@juno.com
I wonder about the anxiety that all of this crisis brings. How do individuals get past the anxiety and fear in order to exam their beliefs? It is easy to turn away or tune out the information that creates fear and then we don’t do the needed work. It feels like the press is constantly increasing the fears of individuals. Listening to both sides takes patience and the ability to keep from becoming too emotionally charged. What do you think Jane?
In the words of FDR (and 400 years earlier Francis Bacon), “the only thing to fear is fear itself”. It’s so difficult to stay out of the fear with all the anxiety today’s economy is churning up. Yet when we are stuck in the fear we only see problems instead of solutions. We have our heads hung low expecting the worst instead of picked up looking for the next opportunity.
Because of your comments I’m writing an article just on this topic. Be watching for it!
Thanks.
bravo, el mensaje excelente
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