This is such an important story! Those of us who have been blessed with comfortable lives can easily share with others. In Catholic school (1st grade) we were taught to share half of our Halloween haul with kids who had none. Later, we were encouraged to save a portion of our allowance to share with a pen pal in Africa. Sharing was wired into my early upbringing. (Oh, and we weren’t “rich.” Sharing with those less fortunate was simply being a good person.)
Today I still tip generously—everywhere. I give to random Go Fund Me stories I learn about. I give donations to food banks and supplement scholarship funds. I find ways to share wherever I can. I share more when I’m able and less when I’m not. Sharing connects me to my humanity. I also share my time in service to others.
I don’t understand how folks have gotten so attached to having material possessions that they would allow others to starve. Especially those who have so much money that they purchase duplicates of things (houses, boats, cars, etc.) for entertainment and status rather than necessity.
If billionaires and corporations paid their fare share of taxes, it would seem that we could pay off our country’s national debt and easily fund services necessary to transition our country into upgrading its functioning and services. But it seems we are too afraid of the rich moving away in order to hoard more money somewhere else…
Did no one teach them how to share when they were young?
‘In The New Republic, Thom Hartmann identifies “excessive hoarding” as a type of mental illness that, unfortunately, has ruinous effects on society as a whole.’
Michael Parenti notes:
“ Wealth becomes addictive. Fortune whets the appetite for still more fortune. There is no end to the amount of money one might wish to accumulate, driven onward by the auri sacra fames, the cursed hunger for gold.
So the money addicts grab more and more for themselves, more than can be spent in a thousand lifetimes of limitless indulgence, driven by what begins to resemble an obsessional pathology, a monomania that blots out every other human consideration.”
Interesting. My parents both grew up on farms in Texas, but they struck oil on my father’s farm. That’s why I was able to go to one of the Seven Sisters.
This is such an important story! Those of us who have been blessed with comfortable lives can easily share with others. In Catholic school (1st grade) we were taught to share half of our Halloween haul with kids who had none. Later, we were encouraged to save a portion of our allowance to share with a pen pal in Africa. Sharing was wired into my early upbringing. (Oh, and we weren’t “rich.” Sharing with those less fortunate was simply being a good person.)
Today I still tip generously—everywhere. I give to random Go Fund Me stories I learn about. I give donations to food banks and supplement scholarship funds. I find ways to share wherever I can. I share more when I’m able and less when I’m not. Sharing connects me to my humanity. I also share my time in service to others.
I don’t understand how folks have gotten so attached to having material possessions that they would allow others to starve. Especially those who have so much money that they purchase duplicates of things (houses, boats, cars, etc.) for entertainment and status rather than necessity.
If billionaires and corporations paid their fare share of taxes, it would seem that we could pay off our country’s national debt and easily fund services necessary to transition our country into upgrading its functioning and services. But it seems we are too afraid of the rich moving away in order to hoard more money somewhere else…
Did no one teach them how to share when they were young?
I think many people were not taught to share. And even worse, taught not to pay fairly.
‘In The New Republic, Thom Hartmann identifies “excessive hoarding” as a type of mental illness that, unfortunately, has ruinous effects on society as a whole.’
Michael Parenti notes:
“ Wealth becomes addictive. Fortune whets the appetite for still more fortune. There is no end to the amount of money one might wish to accumulate, driven onward by the auri sacra fames, the cursed hunger for gold.
So the money addicts grab more and more for themselves, more than can be spent in a thousand lifetimes of limitless indulgence, driven by what begins to resemble an obsessional pathology, a monomania that blots out every other human consideration.”
From a recent article by Daniel Pinchbeck https://open.substack.com/pub/danielpinchbeck/p/robot-revolution?r=4ndwwo&utm_medium=ios
It is absolutely a mental illness among the 1 percent.
Glad you are sharing this! If only more realized what an enormous difference it can make.... and just to pay what a job is worth!
Interesting. My parents both grew up on farms in Texas, but they struck oil on my father’s farm. That’s why I was able to go to one of the Seven Sisters.
Looking forward to hearing more and very glad you are highlighting that some of the wealthy do care about helping others in a hands on way.
I thought when I was writing this, “I hope David Roberts doesn’t think I’m branding him as part of the generally uninterested wealthy.” :)
Looking forward to reading more!
Oh sure, this can happen easily if there is no family backup. All you need is a spouse to develop mental illness and a kid with a disability.
I found the story very touching. Thank you for writing it. I appreciate you.
Excellent start, Michelle! I look forward to future chapters!