Can anyone imagine a way....

to work with those who "have" in the immediate future, in order to help those who "have not" or "have very, very little"?

The knee-jerk reaction by most -- including myself -- is "hell no." Most of us feel this system which exists to benefit the very few must be destroyed or it's the death of Humanity and Justice.

Some may feel we're already past the point of no return in this regard.

But bear with me, please...

I'm a big proponent of co-ops, grassroots efforts, definitely Main Street over Wall Street. I believe Naomi Klein's "Shock Doctrine" is right on the money.

Yet while we work to shift the system itself -- a system which exists to benefit a very chosen few -- can you think of ways to work WITH those who have the resources, a way with integrity, in order to alleviate suffering of fellow citizens NOW?

Can you envision a two-pronged approach: Focus on efforts to change the current system which promotes income inequality while simultaneously thinking of creative ways to retrieve resources the "haves" have hoarded in order to help the many in need?

Legally. ;)

I don't mean working with them in a way that benefits them and continues to provide a customer base to take advantage of (such as their "loan programs") -- and not in a way that simply provides tax write-offs for them (even if that does help others along the way) -- but a way that can truly help our communities without it feeding and prolonging the current system that is so out of balance?

Can you think of any creative ways to start shifting the balance more -- beyond tax revision (which takes so long) -- so that we can get help we need now from those who have the resources to do so? I have a few Pollyanna-ish ideas I'd like to implement in this regard via Wishadoo!, but I'd love to have more input.

I fully expect this thread to be full of "pitchfork" and doomsday comments, but if anyone can suggest ideas or insights -- no matter or idealistic they may seem, I'd really appreciate it.

Unlike many here, even though I fully recognize the pervasive corruption and how multinational corporations have invaded every aspect of our society like a cancer, I do believe there MAY be some of The Haves who see that, in the long run, the destruction of our society is not to their ultimate benefit. Perhaps there are some who DO care about the future generations and recognize that a more balanced, equitable society is for the benefit of Humanity.

I doubt there are many, but even a few can help turn things around.

Of course, they must HAVE an ounce of Humanity within them to be able to realize this. There may be a few out there who do. I'm aware of the billionaires meeting in Arizona recently, and I've posted about other groups who reject tax cuts for the wealthy and are working to legislatively overturn that.

I bristle at the idea of "charity" in the sense that it doesn't correct the underlying systemic issues -- and I also loathe the reality that most people engage in charity mainly for the tax write-off.

That said, I believe we have to multitask, in order to alleviate suffering as we work toward systemic change.

Can you think of creative ways to engage them with the intent to alleviate more of the suffering in our communities -- here in the States -- without simultaneously supporting a corporatocracy agenda or selling one's soul?

Corporate philanthropy has been around for a long time; it's nothing new. On one hand they're seeming to "do good" within the communities, and no doubt those who benefit from the charity are grateful, yet the very foundation of their business is destroying any just and equitable framework of our society.

There MUST be a creative, innovative way to balance this shit out. Anyone else willing to explore this, rather than cutting off our noses to spite our collective face?

:shrug:

:hi: