This morning, Meteor Blades quotes Robert Reich who observes that more people are feeling utterly hopeless because the "companies we work for, the businesses we buy from, the politics we participate in have grown less accountable. . . they don't care. Our voices don't count."
(Addressing just this one observation from Mr. Reich's powerful article), it seems to me that this is evidence of a deep, systematic dys-connection between human beings that is crumbling the foundation of our (supposed) democracy.
The companies we work for. . .that don't pay a living wage, that treat workers as "disposable" that don't allow time off for illness, or family emergecies- don't care. . they care about the profit margin for the owners and shareholders- the top 2%. There is an extreme dys-connect between the mission of the company, and the people who work for them. Workers' voices are not heard, they are not seen as human beings, as viable contributors to the production of products or services--there is no room in the corporate vision, no room at the table to make working conditions humane and humanly better...no choice in work options or benefits.
No connection. That benefits and supports human beings in the everyday cycle of living, breathing, thinking, working, creating, playing, communicating, connecting with other human beings, at all levels-- business, family, friends.
This dearth of connection-- of not hearing people and their human needs, of not seeing people and their human needs, of not addressing people and their human needs--results in the greedy power grab of the corporate plutocracy at the expense of the workers, in the otherization of entire populations (based on race, gender, religion, etc.), and in institutionalized compartmentalization that disenfranchises and continually impoverishes those who continue to be marginalized through blind and deaf ig-norance by community, business and political leaders.
As long as this dys-connect continues as a core of corporate dogma, as a central meme of mass media, as the heart of a vastly non-democratic political process, the poor will remain and become poorer, the sick will not get the treatment they need and perish, those in prison who can and should be rehabilitated will not be set free, those who are starving each day will not be fed, those who are mentally ill or victims of trauma will not get the care and comfort they need, those who wish to live their lives as committed family partners will remain separated.
As human beings, we have a fundamental need for connection: to see, and be seen; to hear, and be heard; to love, and be loved; to live and work together in peace, harmony, liberty, and happiness- seeing each other, hearing each other, with each person's needs being met, each person truly contributing to a functional and common good.
Without this commitment to deep, human connection as individuals, families, communities, businesses, political organizations, we will remain . . .utterly hopeless, a nation of lost and unseen souls.
One remedy? Reflect upon one's own humanity and needs--think about one's own connection or dys-connection in each aspect of private and public life/discourse...think about ways in which each one of us can make the inner shift to connecting to others as human beings. . to restore wholeness and hope to our intricate circle of interconnectedness: to truly see and hear each other--working together towards the common good in our families, businesses, political processes, and communities.
This is a grass-roots, personal and communal journey; it's not easy, but hand in hand, we can shake and remake the foundations of our society, as active participants in deep, compassionate, and purposeful human connection.
