Thoughts on the Budget

As I watched the news yesterday and listened to the President and commentators talk about the newly proposed $3+ trillion budget, I was amazed and saddened at the same time!  First, I can’t get my head around ‘trillion’ other than it’s a very big number!!!!!  Hence the first amazement.  Secondly, as I heard of the proposed 8% increase in defense spending  (and this doesn’t include paying for the war in Iraq) and a freeze/cut in domestic spending, I had my second amazement moment!  And then I found myself sad.  My thoughts flew to “are we really so afraid of the world” and “do we really value life so little” and “doesn’t this administration understand”.  As I sat with these thoughts and feelings, I found myself saying a prayer - “Oh God, this can’t be real - Oh God, what do we do?”  I slowly began to be conscious, really conscious, of those thoughts and where I was going with them - to my own place of fear and yes anger!  As I became more aware, I took a deep breath and opened to the reframing and rephrasing of my prayer - “Oh God, only Love is real.  Oh God, I am open to what is mine to do.”  This shift in energy - thoughts, words, feelings - brought me to a place of greater peace, if not greater understanding.  Since then, I have given more thought to the feelings and thoughts behind that intial reaction and I must admit that I am concerned that, at each budget cycle, the idea of reducing defense spending in order to provide the necessary funding for positive domestic programs is never discussed.  And I want to make it clear that when I speak of defense cuts, I am not talking about “not supporting the troops.”  I’m talking about reductions in research into new weapons that make war less messy; I’m talking about reducing cronyism and waste in the defense contracting business; I’m talking about less support, or at least of efficient support, of the military-industrial complex.   Speaking primarily from an intuitive position with only a neophyte’s research, I believe that if we were to refocus from weapons research and wasteful spending, we could provide better health care and benefits to those who are now serving in our armed forces.  We could support those men and women returning to lives that have been turned upside down.  We would be able to focus creatively on re-tooling our industrial base to fit markets and jobs needed to move us into a greener, more connected world.
My deepest desire is that we as individuals and as a nation bring into our consciousness the awareness that every life is precious, that every individual has infinite value, and that what we spend our money on is, in fact, what we hold most dear.   I do believe that as individuals and as a nation we hold life sacred; that when we can conquer our fear, we make choices that support life and peace, not destruction and war.  I believe that our voice - that my voice - is important in sending that message to the individuals we have elected to govern for us (note:  I didn’t say govern us, rather govern for us!). 

Regardless of which party’s nominee wins, it is vitally important that we, the people, let him or her know that we expect governance based on prinicples of love and compassion, not on fear and destruction, and that this governance starts with a serious look at how we are spending our money! 

PS - perhaps the lawmakers could spending a little less time worrying about steriod use in baseball and a little more time on creatively working on bringing quality education to all or what new markets/jobs are being called for in this new century!!!

Another New Year

Earlier this week I was reading an article in the Smithsonian magazine about the year 1908.  Wow, what a amazing story!  In the article I was reminded that Wilbur and Orville Wright were still trying to fly more than 2 hours at a time at the end of that year!  Automobiles were toys for the rich and famous - well, that’s still true - however, in 1908 the average person did not have one and most weren’t sure they were a good idea!   Henry Ford would bring out the Model T in 1908 and change so much of our world.  Thousands of people were killed each year in work-related accidents;  children worked long hours in dangerous condition; there were vast numbers of immigrants coming into the US from both the east and the west.  In fact, in the larger cities, gangs terrorized the streets - remember the movie, Gangs of New York.   Racism was part of the culture - lynchings were taking place in the midwest and the south.  There was extreme poverty and extreme wealth.  And with all that, there were major strides and innovations in technology - radio, automobiles, airplanes, synthetic materials - and public awareness - women had begun their struggle for the vote and more equality, child labor laws were being introduced, to name just a few issues.  Interestingly, oil was discovered in the Middle East and rights to drill immediately claimed by the United Kingdom.   The world was getting smaller - it took days and weeks for news to spread rather than months to years. Isn’t it amazing how far we’ve come and yet how little has changed.  As we move into 2008, we live in a much smaller world - it takes only seconds for news to spread around the world - and yet one where there is still fighting for control over blocks of the neighborhood.  Women and children still work very long hours in very poor conditions - they’re just not in our neighborhood mostly!  Racism still exists - for some more subtly; for others, wrapped up in homeland security.  Advances in technology are moving so fast that it is almost impossible to keep up.   And public awareness is expanding - more and more individuals are reaching out through interfaith activities, disaster relief, environmental conservation, and a call for peace. Working together as an integrated whole - accepting and celebrating our rich diversity - we can make 2008 more than just another year.  There are several groups in the community that are working for cross-cultural dialogue.  Reach out - get involved.   Make connections with local groups working to conserve our natural resources - recycling, energy conservation.  Help build affordable housing locally.  Find time to meditate.  Think outside the box at home, at your work, at your church, synagogue or mosque.  Ask why.  Stand on top of your desk to get a different perspective. We can make it a year of unity and peace!  Let’s do it!