hanging onto the past
I am going to get up on my soapbox today and talk about politics, upcoming generations of activists, and where I see us going in the future. Let's dive right in.
People are losing jobs and they can't get new ones because there simply aren't jobs out there to be filled. More importantly, we can't "create" jobs anymore, and we can't live the American dream (which honestly isn't the dream of most Americans) to work hard and end up being self-made millionaires. We need to face that and find new ways to address the issues.
It's not about innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit -- we have that. We always have had that. In fact, it's just that spirit that has brought us to where we are now. Think about it...isn't the whole idea of technology to simplify our lives, to allow us to enjoy life without having to work so hard at it?
But capitalism/materialism and the pressure to live the American dream forces the average Joe to become ambitious, driven, and stressed out when all he wants to do is be happy, healthy, and secure. All most of us want is to live a good life.
Which brings me to my next point. Our young people think differently. Sure, there are those amazing ones who work the market or understand how to play politics or whose entrepreneurial spirit leads them to money and fame. They understand how capitalism works and older generations admire them because they are doing what always worked in the past and they are doing it well.
My problem with that scenario, looking at big pictures, is that it just contributes to the shrinking middle class problem. I would like to see a society where most of its people contribute in a meaningful way rather than just a few. Why do we honor the exceptions so much? And why does everything have to be a competition?
What I see in my kids and their friends, however, is a desire for a more simple and sustainable life. It's about community, cooperation, and helping our neighbors. Their discussions center around organic farming, alternative power sources, bartering rather than purchasing, and saving the planet.
At the same time, these kids are being hammered with this message from their parents and the world in general -- "wake up, you need to make money" (Twenty-one Pilots). And it sucks.
I want Live and Learn New Mexico! to work in the direction our youth are headed toward. I want it to be a part of the community, helping our neighbors across the state find ways to stay in their hometowns and make them stronger. And I would like to do all this as non-politically and non-competitively as possible. Ha! Good luck with that! I'm stepping down from my soapbox now.
People are losing jobs and they can't get new ones because there simply aren't jobs out there to be filled. More importantly, we can't "create" jobs anymore, and we can't live the American dream (which honestly isn't the dream of most Americans) to work hard and end up being self-made millionaires. We need to face that and find new ways to address the issues.
It's not about innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit -- we have that. We always have had that. In fact, it's just that spirit that has brought us to where we are now. Think about it...isn't the whole idea of technology to simplify our lives, to allow us to enjoy life without having to work so hard at it?
But capitalism/materialism and the pressure to live the American dream forces the average Joe to become ambitious, driven, and stressed out when all he wants to do is be happy, healthy, and secure. All most of us want is to live a good life.
Which brings me to my next point. Our young people think differently. Sure, there are those amazing ones who work the market or understand how to play politics or whose entrepreneurial spirit leads them to money and fame. They understand how capitalism works and older generations admire them because they are doing what always worked in the past and they are doing it well.
My problem with that scenario, looking at big pictures, is that it just contributes to the shrinking middle class problem. I would like to see a society where most of its people contribute in a meaningful way rather than just a few. Why do we honor the exceptions so much? And why does everything have to be a competition?
What I see in my kids and their friends, however, is a desire for a more simple and sustainable life. It's about community, cooperation, and helping our neighbors. Their discussions center around organic farming, alternative power sources, bartering rather than purchasing, and saving the planet.
At the same time, these kids are being hammered with this message from their parents and the world in general -- "wake up, you need to make money" (Twenty-one Pilots). And it sucks.
I want Live and Learn New Mexico! to work in the direction our youth are headed toward. I want it to be a part of the community, helping our neighbors across the state find ways to stay in their hometowns and make them stronger. And I would like to do all this as non-politically and non-competitively as possible. Ha! Good luck with that! I'm stepping down from my soapbox now.
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