A More Perfect Union ... Where are We? Who are They?

It's Labor Day ... a good day for holy beggars, as we are the quintessential laborers, working for our selves and helping society redistribute the currency, to keep the micro-socioeconomic juices flowing.

But today, I want to talk more to the macro, about Unions.

"... to form a more perfect union ..." is the first reason that the US Constitution was established. It's right there, up front in the Preamble ... We the People, in order to form a more perfect union ... do establish this constitution for the United States."

I find the efforts on the part of the hysterically blinded TeaPublicans to get rid of too much government treasonous! Just what is "government", except "we the people" who have formed "a more perfect union" of workers. Swashbuckling their way through a useless "balance sheet", they seek to dis-employ all that is "government" and swell the ranks of the unemployed. It's really disgusting.

On another note, why have the unions been all but nonexistent during this war against the profiteers?

After being laid off from my nonprofit employer of over 5 years due to the "corporatization" of what is otherwise a  bunch of well meaning people doing good work for a good reason I tried to rejoin AFSME. I had been a member of another nonprofit staff that was unionized and for good reasons. (The more recent NPO forbid unionization ... pity as the workers really needed it.)

If all former union members were to be welcomed back into the ranks of our working brothers and sisters, we would constitute a true force. The unions, like the corporations, became top heavy, staying alive to serve those who are priviledged, not advancing the rights of able-bodied (and disable-bodied) humans to have right livelihood.

Your holy beggar is not promoting anarchy for the sake of her own needs, but for the sanity. Don't even get me started about the need for a tax deduction for volunteer work.

Solidarity Forever!

And remember,

No Matter What

Don't Forget to Ask for the Money!

Sacred Giving, Sacred Receiving: The American Indian Giveaway

The latest (Summer 2011) issue of Parabola is dear to your Holy Beggar's heart because it addresses the essential activity (not just human!) of giving and receiving. Joseph Bruchac's article, titled above, is all about the natural proclivity to maintain relationship through exchange. Exchange is one of the key Kabbalistic modes of interaction. More about this later.

And remember,

No Matter What

Don't Forget to Ask for the Money!

Clean Up Toxic Assets: Everyone Starts With 1

Your Holy Beggar is on a campaign to clean up toxic assets ... take the money from the "bad" guys and put it to some good use. I'm not talking about bio/chem/nuke weapons waste per se (although that is what Global Green USA is all about), but I'm becoming an advocate of accepting a hand-out from anyone who can help.

As I've said before, being generous is critical. Generous with a request and generous with a thank you. By doing so, we gain a modicum of trust. What I'm about to propose is not in full alignment with another strong feeling I have, but I have a sense of another, compelling possibility.

On one hand, it is useless to turn someone into an 100% villain, as horrible as they (using the corporeal "we") may be. Gas companies are adopting "green" energy subdivisions because they think it's a desired marketing approach. Yes, of course. But it is not a here-today-gone-tomorrow fad. I want to take the money and clean up those toxic assets.

I came to this conclusion in the course of ranking donors based upon their capacities to give to a new fundraising campaign. I decided to give everyone at least a 1, rather than start with a 0. Why? Because there is some good everywhere and the more we recognize and amplify it, the stronger we will be as a society. By giving everyone at least 1 point, there is now the possibility of participation. The rank can go up or down from there.

The notion of "selling out" is an ego - based fallacy that ultimately leads to isolation. Check-Mate.

What do you think?

And remember,

No matter what,

Don't Forget to Ask for the Money