Our country is a mere 250 years old this year, just three of my lifetimes. By contrast, Egypt and Iran are both around 5,000 years old. In the US, we have much to be thankful for, much to ask forgiveness for and much to change for the sake of the health and happiness of people and planet.
We can be thankful for the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, a democratic republic with separation of powers, the right to vote, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, public education, roads, fire departments and police, the Civil Rights Act, and much more.
We must ask forgiveness and make retribution for the genocide of indigenous people in North America, the practice of slavery, not allowing women to vote until the 20th century, dropping atomic bombs on Japanese civilians, having the world’s largest, most costly military, being the most top-heavy advanced economy, having the largest number of prisoners in the world, spending by Americans on healthcare that far exceeds that of any other wealthy country and with worse health outcomes, having an unlivable minimum wage, and much more.
We need to make many changes in our policies and programs and create new ones including to establish mandatory voting, have voting holidays, make gerrymandering illegal, have multiple, viable parties, overturn Citizens United and disallow big money in elections and politics, fund elections from taxes, set term limits on government representatives and Supreme Court justices.
We also need to strengthen Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, have universal health care, racial and gender equality, a livable minimum wage, a wealth tax, universal basic income, stop the use of fossil fuels, support solar and wind energy, have policies of ecological regeneration, make monopolies illegal, reduce military spending, strengthen diplomacy and the role of the UN, regulate AI, limit data centers’ use of water and electricity, and much more.
The US can learn a lot from the Nordic countries about how to use taxes to provide cradle-to-grave support for all citizens.
How can you and I help make these changes?
We need to vote and help get out the vote. Over one third of eligible voters did not vote in the last national election that was won by a tiny percentage. We can be poll greeters on election day and make calls and visits to voters. We can talk with our family and neighbors and write OpEds. We can support and vote for progressive candidates.
We can contact our representatives with our views on legislation. We can share our views on social media, podcasts and videos concerning political, economic, cultural and environmental issues, and by writing and publishing books. We can join public gatherings to express our views.
We can support businesses that favor progressive social, economic and environmental change. We can join activist groups such as Third Act for elders, Indivisible or the Sunrise Movement for youth. We can create islands of sanity and care in our neighborhoods and communities. We can support nonprofits that help the hungry and the homeless.
How can we care for ourselves as we care for society?
Many of us are shocked and depressed by the corruption, misinformation and harmful policies of the current federal administration and many corporations. We can acknowledge our feelings but not be overwhelmed or harmed by them. We can practice mindful breathing, sitting, walking and resting to experience gratitude in each present moment. We can care for our body with enough rest, nutrition, exercise and water, and our minds with reading, reflecting and writing.
We should not hate the people who are practicing harmful behaviors. We can realize that they are suffering from fear, greed, anger, ignorance or hatred. We can try to help them come back to empathy and compassion by understanding that all people, all living beings and all ecosystems are our brothers and sisters.
We can be grateful for Americans like Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. AOC, Mayor Mamdani, Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Reich, and many others. I am grateful that my Scottish ancestors came to North America in the 17th century, that I have been voting for sixty-five years, and that I have promoted democratic and decentralized governance in many countries around the world when I was a UNDP policy advisor.
Let us dare to dream of an ecological, compassionate country and world. Let us do what we can each day to care for our neighborhood, community, county, state and country. Let us reach out around the world with our words and deeds to care for others. Let us be beacons of hope and possibility.
May our young country grow in responsibility, wisdom and compassion. May we give thanks for what is working well, acknowledge where we are failing and embark on a path of transformation. May we realize the promises in the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution to promote unity, justice, tranquility, defense, welfare and liberty.
May it be so.
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.