comfort in our daily lives to say things like "people are more important
than money," but the cold hard fact is that there are so many folks who
go to bed hungry, live on the edge of homelessness (or worse), and live
almost day-to-day.
For them MONEY, healthcare, food, and other things that can only be
purchased with money are (and should be) very important. Without it
they and their families are in constant jeopardy.
Therein lie the importance for them of expanded healthcare, a fair
minimum wage, job security, shelter, and other tangible goods, while the
rest of us divert our attention to ideas and ideals, the latest good
book we've read, which cruise line to choose, and where to plant the
rose bushes to get maximum visual effect.
But maybe this is what separates us from Republicans. While I don't
like to mix politics and religion, if I had to come up with a single
religious premise or theme for our party it would be the clause or verse
from Luke to the effect that "of those to whom much is given much is
expected." [For the longest time, I thought that was a line from Geo.
Bernard Shaw]
Rightwingers call us socialists, communists, and worse, but the point
is that it was our party that crafted Social Security and the notion of
a safety net, expanded healthcare for at-risk children, food stamps, and
Medicare. Whatever one thinks of redistribution of wealth through
progressive taxes and programs such as Social Security and Medicare,
those programs have been positive goods that emerged from Democrats.
--- In Dems2008@yahoogroups.com, isabelle_ms <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> I know some really poor people who are also miserable. At least when
> the wealthy are miserable, they can pay their electric bill. Some
> people just aren't happy by nature and sadly, I fear I am one of
> them. I should be happy but I think it's a genetic trait called
> being 1/2 Italian and cutting your teeth on feeling guilty and
> original sin and all that. But I am a grateful person and I'm
> grateful that I can pay the electric bill. I'm grateful my children
> are healthy even when they get on my last nerve. Happiness I think
> is overrated. I was happy when I was a child and every experience
> was brand new and exciting and I had energy. I miss having energy.
>
> --- In Dems2008@yahoogroups.com, "citation502" citation502@
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > * Actually (and this is not false modesty) my daughters have
> taught
> > me more than I ever taught them. It's not even close.
> > * As to the role of money and wealth in happiness, I'm struck
> by a
> > couple observations in my lifetime: (i) I've attended some very
> very
> > expensive weddings that were followed by very very expensive
> divorces
> > and (ii) when asked how much money is ENOUGH money, John D.
> Rockefeller
> > said, "just a little bit more."
> > * we've all known very well-to-do folks who live lives of
> misery;
> > not that the money caused their misery, but it doesn't help a
> miserable
> > person out of his misery.
> >
> > --- In Dems2008@yahoogroups.com, "Brian Causway" <brian_causway@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > That is beautiful. You have helped your daughter become a
> wonderful
> > > person and I admire both of your strong family members. People can
> > > become very wealthy without a single cent to their name. The
> humanity
> > > and willingness to leand a helping hand to someone you do not even
> > > know is such a wonderful thing we all have within all of us.
> > >
> > > Brian
> > >
> > > --- In Dems2008@yahoogroups.com, "citation502" citation502@
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > My wife teaches at an 1800-student public high school about 15
> > > miles
> > > > from here. I think the guidance dept counted a total of about 24
> > > > different languages spoken there (all speak English, but for
> many
> > > it is
> > > > a second language). She's been there more than 20 years. I
> > > enjoy
> > > > visiting that school because it is a LESSON IN MOTION about how
> so
> > > many
> > > > diverse ethnicities, nationalities, and races can get along
> > > together.
> > > > Rarely are there fights or disputes; when you enter the school
> > > (though
> > > > still predominantly white),you see kids from all across the
> globe;
> > > and
> > > > you can literally feel the "community" atmosphere that pervades
> the
> > > > place.
> > > >
> > > > Somewhat sadly, my observation is that one of the ingredients
> to the
> > > > school's social success is that it is very middle- to lower-
> middle
> > > > class, with few "rich kids." Our daughters, by contrast,
> attended a
> > > > lily white high school, in a better socio-economic part of our
> > > region,
> > > > and that school was marked by coldness, cliques, ostracism of
> those
> > > who
> > > > were different, you get the picture.
> > > >
> > > > Maybe the key is what my Peace Corps daughter has told me of the
> > > > citizens who live in the very poor Central American country
> where
> > > she
> > > > works (people whom we have come to admire and love on two
> visits).
> > > As
> > > > she put it, "they are very very poor, but they don't khow it."
> > > >
> > > > Put another way: they would give me the shirt from their back if
> > > they
> > > > thought I needed it. But in my country, they'd be rounded up,
> > > looked
> > > > down upon, denigrated, made fun of because they don't speak the
> > > King's
> > > > English.
> > > >
> > > > When we returned from a week's visit there, a friend
> said, "Really
> > > > makes you appreciate the United States, doesn't it?"
> > > >
> > > > My response: "Well, actually, if one of their citizens visited
> > > the
> > > > U.S., they'd probably more appreciate what THEY have back home."
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In Dems2008@yahoogroups.com, "Sandra Goodwin"
> <bridger82923@>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > I believe the diversity of this country is what makes her
> truly
> > > > > great. What other country in the world can boast of having a
> > > person
> > > > > from every and I mean every corner of the planet. I love it!
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > In Dems2008@yahoogroups.com, "citation502" citation502@ wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > another thought on our diversity: If we try to put too much
> > > > > emphasis
> > > > > > on things we share in common, the risk is that the majority
> will
> > > > > crowd
> > > > > > out or stifle the minority. Some of the most-dangerous
> folks out
> > > > > there
> > > > > > are those "traditionalists" (that's the most-charitable
> term I
> > > can
> > > > > use
> > > > > > for them) who insist that we are all flag-waving patriots,
> > > mostly
> > > > > white,
> > > > > > mostly Christian, mostly native-born, mostly this or mostly
> > > > > > that................they stress our MAJORITY characteristics
> > > because
> > > > > > they have an agenda...........and that agenda is to
> marginalize
> > > > > those
> > > > > > who are different: whether they are different because of
> > > language,
> > > > > > religion, sexual orientation, social stratum, fill in the
> blank.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The majority and the most-common characteristics don't need
> a
> > > lot of
> > > > > > protection. It is the minority characteristic that needs
> > > > > protection
> > > > > > and cherishing.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The majority wants us all to wear flag pins, wants us all
> to go
> > > to a
> > > > > > Christian church on Sunday, wants us all to think Perfect
> Good
> > > is
> > > > > > matched against Perfect Evil when we declare others out of
> step
> > > > > with
> > > > > > us.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > There is TOO LITTLE praise and nourishment of the diversity
> > > among
> > > > > us;
> > > > > > the common features will take care of themselves. What
> needs to
> > > be
> > > > > > fertilized is our respect and regard for the minority or
> offbeat
> > > > > > characters and characteristics among us. It's very easy to
> UNITE
> > > > > > everyone if the only features that are stressed are the
> majority
> > > > > > plain-vanillla features; our challenge (and I think the
> > > greatness
> > > > > of the
> > > > > > American experiment) is our ability to make room for the
> > > minority
> > > > > view,
> > > > > > the unpopular view, the radical viewpoint...........without
> > > > > denigrating
> > > > > > teh holder, and without tearing ourselves apart.
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Dems2008/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Dems2008/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:Dems2008-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:Dems2008-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Dems2008-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder