Last week, I was invited to speak at the Center for Christian and Public Life’s inaugural summit, “For the Good of the Public.” CCPL is a nonprofit civic organization focused on the role Christians can play in building a healthy, inclusive civic pluralism and a society oriented toward the public good.
CHRIS…PLEASE READ. We need a show like the old meet the press, in the 1990s. 1- republican, 1- democrat, sitting side by side.. being asked questions..that way, they can be debate, and correct each other, live on air, no bullshit..THE PEOPLE WILL SEE THE TRUTH THEN..
How about shortening the work week to, say, 30 hours or 28! Not only would it provide more time for building community, it would send a long overdue message that a fulfilling life involves more than work. What are people for? For so many, the purpose of their work is to serve people who are so remote and impersonal to them that they are virtual abstractions. It is very hard to find emotional, let alone spiritual, satisfaction in that. Keynes wrote almost a century ago that we would be working 15-hour weeks by now because of the tremendous productivity increases being achieved. There is no reason why we shouldn't be, but it sure hasn't happened. We have generated an incredible amount of wealth in that time and continue to do so. Is it too much to seek from those who have reaped the lion's share of it a distribution of some of that wealth in the form of time?
Regarding the Public Good, Pinchot's "Greatest Good", and social withdraw: Thomas Jefferson's bicameralism certainly increased it's prevalence as of the Civil War. The Federalization ended "States Rights" and implemented at the least the Department of Education Morrill Act "competent professionals in the primary industries of each particular state" ...and who other than a primary industry professional can work in each state? In Connecticut; if one is not a physician, in aerospace (fluid dynamic machines), or insurance, then, what jobs are possible? Well, I was arrested for "lonliness and social withdraw" in 1998, and have been sublimated at CTDMHAS for 29 years. My BS in Energy, Natural Resources and Environment saw 1998 newspaper ads for only retail associates, PhD level hospital machine operators, and truckers. A USA "Jobs in the Environment" book never arrived. I chose NETTS because UMass funding disappeared with 9 credits left. The primary industries and their competent professionals certainly dominate CT. Partisanship most certainly scuttles every form of Connecticut intelligence other than Medicine, Aerospace, and Insurance. Please, when you say; "Public Good" or "Greatest Good"; consider Simsbury's Pinchot Sycamore and Hartford's Spanish American Memorial. Then, compare "Hetch Hetchy" and "TVA Telico" as a bipartisan example that cites TR and your favorite FDR as two leaders, of two parties, who fought for the Public Good: "THE GREATEST GOOD".
Your points are well taken. Does lack of social structure lead to drug addiction, or does drug addiction lead to a lack of social structure? Either way, they somehow go together. The Haven in San Antonio succeeds with rehabilitation in part by creating some social structure, as spotlighted in the video “Beyond Homelessness”: https://youtu.be/-TdctR1yan0
We must not lose sight of single parent families. For they are under tremendous pressure. Not just financially, but lack of time and psychic energy for themselves and their children.
I was surprised to see one of the UAW demands was a shorter work week. I laughed in disbelief! But this is exactly what Americans need for a better life. I have three married children and nine grandchildren. They have better than average incomes, but are working like crazy. If it wasn’t for the recent trend of home grocery delivery, they would probably be eating pizza most nights because no one has time to grocery shop. “Church time” has turned into soccer games and house cleaning.
The word might be "Hermit" or "Hermetic", and I like the word "cloister" too. Yet, searching for Hermit or Hermitage leads to "The Hermitage" in Moscow. Further, Saint Benefict was a cave Hermit and St. Francis a worldly extrovert until retreating to nature. Armed with devices with capabilities beyond the wildest recalcitrant popcorn eating TV fantasies of previous generations, and with apps generative of next day delivery of any global origin consumer item (if under 40 lbs) at the push of a button icon... if you know the search terms,... well... Hermitages, "Device Hermit Culture", and the accordant Hermit lonliness indeed isnt inevitable, its optimal (except, admittedly, for the lonliness). Yet, our USA's transition to a "Device Hermit Culture" is necessary discipline for we heroes, and our cause needs fortification rather than your indominable nerd guilt trip, (PEYTORILL.com/thesis), because, as terminal organic fossil liquid depletion nears, we MUST be hermits! Except, perhaps, for COVID epoch emergency and essential service personel travel only. Think Reading Body EV's? So that, homebound yet capacitated by device, and led by the likes of Fedex and UPS, in theory and in practice, and with the addition of your new USPS federal leadership regarding homeland support system logistics, we can delay terminal depletion of organic fuels... and, I believe, anyway; simililarly delay the inevitable massive devastation by overburden teraforming for liquifaction of north american anthracite. Oh the things written in the books of a hermitage, no?
Wow. Such thoughtful words. I've been thinking a LOT about what you've been saying especially on the heels of a recent experience. The church I go to needs expensive roof repairs but doesn't have the money to get the job done. An idea came to mind to raise money and, to make the story shorter, the idea came to fruition. When I went to the vestry to present the idea -- thinking they would shoot the idea down -- they simple said: "... go for it". So, another church member and I did just that. It was a huge success financially (raising more money than expected or imagined even though we still need a lot more money to reach the goal), but more importantly it was successful for me personally on a number of levels. The comments I received from people who attended the event have been most meaningful giving me more "food for thought". Let me back up a second. The event, as imagined, was designed to include the whole congregation. Shakespeare's "the world is a stage and each must play a part" kept coming to mind and, as I saw it, everyone had a role to play. So, the comments I received from people who attended the event ranged from: had a great time; it was so much fun; to comments of appreciation for bringing the community together. One person expressed appreciation for a "community building event". The church is organized around a particular purpose and work that is needed to be done, but it's got me thinking about what we do to build community for ourselves. I'm reminded of a steward/ess on a plane saying to put one's own oxygen mask on first before helping others. I'm still thinking this all through, but your comments in the speech you gave are helpful. Having said all that, I still do think that we need to organize against corporate greed. As someone who receives SSA as a sole source of income, it's hard to have friendships and keep them going when I don't have the money to go out and do things with friends b/c every bit of $ I have goes to keeping a roof over my head and having a bit of something to eat. It doesn't seem to me that you're going to give up on your approach and/or thoughts on the topics you've been more recently presenting. GOOD! I really get a lot out of listening to you and I would like you to know that I'm playing around with your ideas in my own life. Thank you so very much, Senator Murphy!
CHRIS…PLEASE READ. We need a show like the old meet the press, in the 1990s. 1- republican, 1- democrat, sitting side by side.. being asked questions..that way, they can be debate, and correct each other, live on air, no bullshit..THE PEOPLE WILL SEE THE TRUTH THEN..
Your thoughts., thank you Gary
How about shortening the work week to, say, 30 hours or 28! Not only would it provide more time for building community, it would send a long overdue message that a fulfilling life involves more than work. What are people for? For so many, the purpose of their work is to serve people who are so remote and impersonal to them that they are virtual abstractions. It is very hard to find emotional, let alone spiritual, satisfaction in that. Keynes wrote almost a century ago that we would be working 15-hour weeks by now because of the tremendous productivity increases being achieved. There is no reason why we shouldn't be, but it sure hasn't happened. We have generated an incredible amount of wealth in that time and continue to do so. Is it too much to seek from those who have reaped the lion's share of it a distribution of some of that wealth in the form of time?
Regarding the Public Good, Pinchot's "Greatest Good", and social withdraw: Thomas Jefferson's bicameralism certainly increased it's prevalence as of the Civil War. The Federalization ended "States Rights" and implemented at the least the Department of Education Morrill Act "competent professionals in the primary industries of each particular state" ...and who other than a primary industry professional can work in each state? In Connecticut; if one is not a physician, in aerospace (fluid dynamic machines), or insurance, then, what jobs are possible? Well, I was arrested for "lonliness and social withdraw" in 1998, and have been sublimated at CTDMHAS for 29 years. My BS in Energy, Natural Resources and Environment saw 1998 newspaper ads for only retail associates, PhD level hospital machine operators, and truckers. A USA "Jobs in the Environment" book never arrived. I chose NETTS because UMass funding disappeared with 9 credits left. The primary industries and their competent professionals certainly dominate CT. Partisanship most certainly scuttles every form of Connecticut intelligence other than Medicine, Aerospace, and Insurance. Please, when you say; "Public Good" or "Greatest Good"; consider Simsbury's Pinchot Sycamore and Hartford's Spanish American Memorial. Then, compare "Hetch Hetchy" and "TVA Telico" as a bipartisan example that cites TR and your favorite FDR as two leaders, of two parties, who fought for the Public Good: "THE GREATEST GOOD".
Your points are well taken. Does lack of social structure lead to drug addiction, or does drug addiction lead to a lack of social structure? Either way, they somehow go together. The Haven in San Antonio succeeds with rehabilitation in part by creating some social structure, as spotlighted in the video “Beyond Homelessness”: https://youtu.be/-TdctR1yan0
We must not lose sight of single parent families. For they are under tremendous pressure. Not just financially, but lack of time and psychic energy for themselves and their children.
I was surprised to see one of the UAW demands was a shorter work week. I laughed in disbelief! But this is exactly what Americans need for a better life. I have three married children and nine grandchildren. They have better than average incomes, but are working like crazy. If it wasn’t for the recent trend of home grocery delivery, they would probably be eating pizza most nights because no one has time to grocery shop. “Church time” has turned into soccer games and house cleaning.
The word might be "Hermit" or "Hermetic", and I like the word "cloister" too. Yet, searching for Hermit or Hermitage leads to "The Hermitage" in Moscow. Further, Saint Benefict was a cave Hermit and St. Francis a worldly extrovert until retreating to nature. Armed with devices with capabilities beyond the wildest recalcitrant popcorn eating TV fantasies of previous generations, and with apps generative of next day delivery of any global origin consumer item (if under 40 lbs) at the push of a button icon... if you know the search terms,... well... Hermitages, "Device Hermit Culture", and the accordant Hermit lonliness indeed isnt inevitable, its optimal (except, admittedly, for the lonliness). Yet, our USA's transition to a "Device Hermit Culture" is necessary discipline for we heroes, and our cause needs fortification rather than your indominable nerd guilt trip, (PEYTORILL.com/thesis), because, as terminal organic fossil liquid depletion nears, we MUST be hermits! Except, perhaps, for COVID epoch emergency and essential service personel travel only. Think Reading Body EV's? So that, homebound yet capacitated by device, and led by the likes of Fedex and UPS, in theory and in practice, and with the addition of your new USPS federal leadership regarding homeland support system logistics, we can delay terminal depletion of organic fuels... and, I believe, anyway; simililarly delay the inevitable massive devastation by overburden teraforming for liquifaction of north american anthracite. Oh the things written in the books of a hermitage, no?
Wow. Such thoughtful words. I've been thinking a LOT about what you've been saying especially on the heels of a recent experience. The church I go to needs expensive roof repairs but doesn't have the money to get the job done. An idea came to mind to raise money and, to make the story shorter, the idea came to fruition. When I went to the vestry to present the idea -- thinking they would shoot the idea down -- they simple said: "... go for it". So, another church member and I did just that. It was a huge success financially (raising more money than expected or imagined even though we still need a lot more money to reach the goal), but more importantly it was successful for me personally on a number of levels. The comments I received from people who attended the event have been most meaningful giving me more "food for thought". Let me back up a second. The event, as imagined, was designed to include the whole congregation. Shakespeare's "the world is a stage and each must play a part" kept coming to mind and, as I saw it, everyone had a role to play. So, the comments I received from people who attended the event ranged from: had a great time; it was so much fun; to comments of appreciation for bringing the community together. One person expressed appreciation for a "community building event". The church is organized around a particular purpose and work that is needed to be done, but it's got me thinking about what we do to build community for ourselves. I'm reminded of a steward/ess on a plane saying to put one's own oxygen mask on first before helping others. I'm still thinking this all through, but your comments in the speech you gave are helpful. Having said all that, I still do think that we need to organize against corporate greed. As someone who receives SSA as a sole source of income, it's hard to have friendships and keep them going when I don't have the money to go out and do things with friends b/c every bit of $ I have goes to keeping a roof over my head and having a bit of something to eat. It doesn't seem to me that you're going to give up on your approach and/or thoughts on the topics you've been more recently presenting. GOOD! I really get a lot out of listening to you and I would like you to know that I'm playing around with your ideas in my own life. Thank you so very much, Senator Murphy!