What
fear keeps you from “climbing mountains”? Do you find the small
group a safe place to express your fears? Do the members: Listen and
accept? Try to fix it? Analyze you? Approve or disapprove? What do
you need when you’re being vulnerable? (Serendipity Bible
10th Anniversary Edition, page 1202).
It
seems to me that America is faced with a mountain that virtually all
fear to climb regarding the ill distribution of wealth. It is my
belief that this is not only a problem in the United States but
elsewhere as well. I am very encouraged by the pervasiveness of love
in the American culture. Often I think the depth of this force is
given too little recognition or credit. We have only to look at the
advances we have made in race relations to realize that America is a
very special place destined to be the one to lead us out of this
dilemma we and other nations find ourselves in. It will be possible
here because people will address the issue with hearts of love and
empathy – thus with humility and honesty. This is after all one of
the greatest benefits that love provides – people can be honest
with one another without destroying each other.
Essentially
what we must do is understand the limitations of capitalism to
distribute wealth fairly and equitably. Clearly it does not do so as
the video above demonstrates. But where are we to begin this
discussion to eventually realize a course correction? I would like to
begin by questioning basic assumptions often made. It is often
assumed that it is the promise of unlimited riches that stimulates
entrepreneurial endeavor. I think this is baloney. Entrepreneurship
is a character trait that would find expression whether or not being
a billionaire was possible or not. In my view it is a trait that is
fully recognizable by the time one is age 9 or 10. It is simply a
trait that deserves recognition, encouragement, and expression like
any other socially indispensable trait.
Why,
we may ask, does the cat have our tongue when it comes to frank
evaluation of this subject? I think it is because we fear that to
discuss it would make us look like we are eating sour grapes. The
other reason is that key institutions which should be objective and
vocal—like universities and the church—look to deep pocket donors
to make a go of it. I can just image the pressures that my father
as a minister would have felt to address this issue if the church budget required
deep pocket donors who might bolt with any hint of social criticism
regarding the distribution of wealth.
The
discussion of the failures of capitalism to distribute wealth in a
healthy way so that all can thrive will surely come sooner or later.
The hope of mankind will depend upon responsible acceptance of the
task by societies in which goodwill, love, and mutual respect
prevail.
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