STATE OF THE UNION - 2015

The state of our Union on this cold January day, 2015, is Divided.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand," said Abraham Lincoln 150 years ago.

If one looks at our nation over time, it has always been divided: By the haves and the have nots, by the right and the left, by the hawks and the doves.

We call these divisions Democracy and praise America's undying (or dying) commitment to it.

President Obama will give his State of the Union address on January 20th.  One topic that is receiving a lot of attention of late is his desire to increase taxes on the wealthy to afford more spending power to the rest of the country.  While noble in theory, a starving man cannot move beyond his economic status on "crumbs" alone, which is what such well-meaning actions provide. Soon the "crumbs" are devoured by rising costs and the cry to buy, buy, buy!  Consume, consume, consume!  Our economy cannot survive without these actions, and the vicious cycle continues with no relief!

The only way for those with less to rise from the middle, or from the bottom, is for our country to change the way money is valued.  No one should receive a $20 million dollar salary when far too many workers make less than $15/hr.  In our world today, money really means nothing.  It means nothing because it does not do what it should do, provide every human being with  quality of life.  Economists who see only numbers, will argue that you cannot define "quality of life" for every person, therefore it cannot be achieved.

In our gut, we all know what a quality life is.  Nourishing food choices, decent housing, excellent healthcare and education, enjoyable employment, and leisure. Never having to worry about our next meal, a roof over our heads, or health services when in need.

In our world, the economic pyramid is inverted.  The point is being shoved into the earth by the weight of the accumulation of wealth at the top.  Money in the hands of a few trickles down only in proportion to the amount needed to keep the wealthy, wealthy.  And yet, all employees are invested in the commerce of our world.  All make the "world turn" so to speak.  They deserve their fair share!

Don't give us crumbs.  Restructure salaries so that everyone gets paid to live a quality life. And those who cannot provide for themselves?  Yes, they get the same.

In America millions are left out of our wealth.  So they act out. We need visionary leaders. We need true "people persons” who will create a world where people come first.

Money has become a means to an end.  And it is slowly killing our spirit.

We have a divided Congress.  This is not Democracy.  It is a nation divided against it self.