Toward A New Economics, continued

We have been sharing new visions of economics offered by David Korten, Anita Roddick, Serge Latouche, Sr. Jose Hobday, Naomi Klein.

“The Return of Columbus in Spain, 1493” – cultural genocide, kidnapping and sex slavery. Painting by Ricardo Balaca, 1874. Wikimedia Commons.

The economics that built America stole the land and destroyed native peoples and their cultures; then it enslaved millions to run its crop industries. Don’t take my word for it!  Listen to President Trump who declared on July 4 that “the American way of life started when Columbus landed in America” (though actually he landed in the Caribbean). 

Fast forward to today when many citizens are again hiding their heads in the sand while Wall Street rapes Main Street.  The last time they did this, in the crash of 2008, from which many ordinary citizens and small businesses have still not recovered, it was Main Street that had to bail out Wall Street. 

“Buddy, can you spare three TRILLION? – New Yorkers Protest the US$850 BILLION (US$3 TRILLION) Wall Street BAILOUT: Wall Street, NYC – September 25, 2008.” Photo by Alane Golden on Flickr

Back then no economists, no manipulators of junk bonds and junk real estate went to jail! Many are still at it.  

In my opinion this is the number one reason Mr. Trump got elected: Because working class people saw no one pay, no one hauled off to jail, when the Obama administration let them all off scot free.  The kind of rage that engendered in the working classes aroused a sentiment something like this:

What?  Are you kidding me?  F*** the system!  I will vote for someone who hates the system as much as I do.  I will vote my rage.

We need a new economic system.  Now is the time for substantive change.

Recently I received the following note from a British friend which I think captures the zeitgeist of our times. 

“New Evidence Shows Nero Was In Fact Fiddling With His Phone While Rome Burned” Artist unknown; from post by Paul Duncan on The Out And Abouter satire site, November 2017.

I hope you are bearing up well in the current political madness. There is definitely a feeling of final collapse of Empire in the West… I mean the scale of corruption and sleazy decadence couldn’t be more vividly imaged than by your First Family and also by our own current leaders … and now Bloody hell… they all make the decline of Rome look like a vicarage tea party! haha!

My sense is that the collapse has to be complete so the new can be born, then these signs can begin to flourish.  That is why all of us are working so hard to prepare the way. The pandemic couldn’t be a more urgent and powerful spur for radical change. People do see that, but it will require unusual courage and resolve to help that happen.

“BLACK LIVES MATTER MURAL MARCH at BLACK LIVES MATTER PLAZA, 900 16th Street, NW, Washington DC 4 July 2020” Photo by Elvert Barnes on Flickr

Yes, we need courage and resolve to ground ourselves with a deep spiritual grounding.  I think creation spirituality exists for this moment. 

After all, creation—the Earth as we know it—is at stake when climate change and the viruses it spawns are knocking at our doors.  And creation—the wonders and gifts of the universe in its 13.8 years of giving is returning to our hearts and souls.  Thomas Aquinas: “The most excellent thing in the universe is not the human; it is the universe itself.”


See: Excerpt from Trump address recorded by @TheHill, July 4, 2020: https://twitter.com/i/status/1279552916450312197

See Matthew Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion

Also Matthew Fox, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth.

Banner Image “Climate Protest, London” Photo by Kit on Flickr

Do you agree that “the American way of life” (and economics and politics) began with Columbus?  Does that give you pause?  Meditate on what would be an authentic and moral way of life for Americans today.

Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth

Fox’s spirituality weds the healing and liberation found in North American Creation Spirituality and in South American Liberation Theology. Creation Spirituality challenges readers of every religious and political persuasion to unite in a new vision through which we learn to honor the earth and the people who inhabit it as the gift of a good and just Creator.
“A watershed theological work that offers a common ground for religious seekers and activists of all stripes.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice.

Upcoming Events


Registration is open until July 15! Sign up today and view Lessons One and Two in recording. Put your faith into action, joining spiritual seekers throughout history who’ve followed Aquinas’ trailblazing wisdom — and cultivate compassion, courage, and resilience to meet life’s greatest challenges. Seven-week live video training started Thursday, July 2.
Join Matthew Fox for this exciting free online event, July 7-10, 2020
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE or scroll to the bottom of the page.

Share this meditation

Facebook
Twitter
Email

Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox is made possible through the generosity of donors. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation

Search Meditations

Categories

Categories

Archives

Archives

Receive our daily meditations

Leave a Comment

To help moderate the volume of responses, the Comment field is limited to 1500 characters (roughly 300 words), with one comment per person per day.

Please keep your comments focused on the topic of the day's Meditation.

As always, we look forward to your comments!!
The Daily Meditation Team

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join us in meditation that supports your compassionate action

Receive Matthew Fox's Daily Meditation by subscribing below: