I have utopian ideals. And why not, sometimes they help keep me sane. Like the one about everyone working for the same amount of money no matter the profession or task. In other words, a lawyer would make the same as a street sweeper. A doctor would make the same as someone in a daycare.  Who's to say one deserves more money? Isn't money the commodity of prestige? As if to say, 'this person is important because of how much they make' - thus the Porsche, 5 BR home, vacations to the Bahamas (or wherever).  As if to say, 'this person isn't valued very much by our society because all they do is take care of small children all day' - thus the diapers, crying, hugging, constant vigilance and trips to the potty.

    I, too, hear the cry for "MORE JOBS" by both the Demogogues and the Repugnicans. "MORE JOBS!"  How about people do what they love and get appreciated (which translates into dollars) for it? How about that? Rather, what we have is rich people, who can own the factory or businesss, supposedly needing to provide "JOBS" for the rest of the people. And when they don't, they get pilloried for not being good corporate citizens. Since when did we start relying on others to provide for us? (Oh, and by the way, the Repugnicans tell us every chance they get how we're all  too dependent on the government for our welfare -HOORAH!), How to create the kind of society wherein everyone gets to shine.....and get paid for it?

 See, I told you it was utopian !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qa-hg4Zpnc

cross posting from Peace is Possible:

Against Oppression, Against Bullying

Some people have so much more wealth than others. (The wealthiest one percent control 90% of the nation's wealth!)

What is required in order to amass such wealth? Is this wealth the result of merit and hard work, or is it possible that some of this extreme wealth actually requires some form or another of... http://peacepotential.blogspot.com/2011/10/a...

The Young Turks have an entertaining video up from a town hall meeting with Representative Hultgren. It's short and tells the story. The woman asks the right question about the Bush tax cuts, prosperity and job creation. The same question could/should be asked in a broader time frame. Since 1980, the tax table has been flattened in the model that Reagan and his acolytes have wanted and if this model worked to create prosperity, where is the prosperity? Why don't we look at the tax model that existed in the time frame that created prosperity? The Eisenhower era tax table had tremendous incentives for businesses and the wealthy to invest in infrastructure instead of facing a top tax rate of 91% (essentially confiscatory at obscene income level). There is no incentive now for business leaders and planners to invest in their businesses when they can take huge bonuses instead and try to keep up with the Madoffs in a contest of conspicuous consumption. Fix the tax structure, fix the economy. Get the incentives right and things will turn around.

  If people wanted to be concrete finishers they would want large projects that included miles and miles of concrete work. On the other hand, if people wanted to be farmers, they would require acres and acres of viable land for plowing, seeding and harvesting; and they would need people to be hungry - to want the fruits & vegetables of their labor.  Now, if people wanted to manufacture bombs, guns, and work in factories that produced ships and planes that, too, would require a need for the efforts of their services.

   People can become farmers easily enough because their neighbors all have to eat. Those who want to work in concrete can do so on a small scale, but for large scale projects, the government gets involved to create the interstate hiway system. That creates more work in concrete than those who were dreaming of such a career. Jobs are created and filled by those who may have no dream whatsoever, but do need a means of providing for themselves and their families. So large scale programs, created by government, makes of people what the project calls for.

  As for the military-industrial-corporate complex, how many children dream when they are young of becoming the person who makes the triggers for nuclear bombs? Are there those whose dream is one day to work in a factory that produces the latest in bunker busting bombs?  I doubt it.  More likely is that there are many people who depend on corporate structures to provide them with the means to provide for themselves and their families, whether they are producing the latest cell phone or the latest drone technology. And so, with the help of a government that needs war materials by continually blowing things up, the corporate structure supplies a never ending supply through the efforts of people who may have no dreams of war, killing or imperialistic ideology; they merely want to have a job and are grateful for it.

  So we elect folks to govern the country. What we expect and what they do are worlds apart. They get all wrapped up in playing games on the world map, like what country to invade next. Which one of us called up or wrote and asked them to kill a few hundred thousand people somewhere in the world in their name; so they could sleep better at night?

  Here, from our neck of the woods, the neck that seems to be chopped off from the other Washington, here we have Fran & David Korten and YES! magazine. Just one article will give you a taste of the difference in thought process between those looking out for all of us, and the planet, and those who think we sent them to D.C. to cuddle up with the NRA, AIPAC, WALL ST. execs, and all the "good ol' boys" in the military-industrial-corporate club.

  Check out this article:

 http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/a-resilient-community/10-ways-to-solve-the-jobs-problem?utm_source=wkly20100903&utm_medium=yesemail&utm_content=init&utm_campaign=mrKortenF

with Annie Leonard

The Story of Stuff

The Story of Stuff Project has another video about "Cap and Trade". more information at www.storyofstuff.com

The Olympia Film Society is now accepting applications for Volunteer Coordinator. Application packets are available online (www.olympiafilmsociety.org/about/jobs-opportunities )and in the theater lobby. Applications must be received by Friday, July 24 at 6:00pm.

What does the current downturn in the economy, global warming, civil unrest and natural disasters have in common? Come and discover how these and other current events are setting the stage for an unprecedented global crisis that will impact the lives of us all. ***SEE ATTACHED FLYER FOR MORE DETAILS*** You will come away from these amazing Scriptural-based Keynote presentations clearly understanding how you can face these coming crises unafraid and with absolute confidence. LOCATION: Java Flow Coffee House, Washington Street & State Avenue TIME: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. every Thursday night CONTACT: Liberty of Conscience Ministries at 360-402-1154 for more information. Thanks for looking. . .see you then! Scott

Desire Video wants to either build a Winco, or provide drive-thru adult entertainment. I hope it's the latter since strippers make good tips.

Which of you will be the first to come see me?