Personal mission statements

The corporate structures of this country that have come to dominate this planet are huge ships that turn very slowly. The reality is that we are not going to take over the world by boycotting Snapple just because Rush Limbaugh plugs it. An old reference, I know, how bout stop eating at McDonalds to protest the destruction of the Brazillian rainforest?

The tower of lies at the top of the government and corporate structures are starting to be exposed but they are hardly starting to tumble. Its funny how the sense of ethics in this country is now about abiding by whether its our team or theirs. I love the bumper sticker -- When Clinton Lied No One Died. But how much newstime is A Million Little Pieces going to take up when the daily messages change on Pennsylvania Avenue and met with only shrugs. There is protest in the papers that the average Joe ain't reading. People are angry at Enron and Tyco? Why? They lost their pensions. This is not an emotional shift but a uniformed sigh -- ah, more liars -- they will always be among the rich and powerful.

Unfortunately, the fissure between rich and poor is becoming quite a canyon and I'm hoping that when the housing bubble breaks, some of the apathy out there will break too not unlike the New Orleans levees. The hopelessness of the American public about futility in changing the rich infrastructure of this country is a sad state.

In business, companies use mission statements to help them to make their toughest choices -- if their mission statement is to do what's best for customer, then they dont do things that will jeopardize the customer down the road. What about a personal mission statement? Where do I want to go? What kind of person do I want to be? How do I plan to get there? Once that is in place -- the questions about ethics are not so difficult. I don't steal becuase I want to give back to my community. OF COURSE, I don't steal because that's not who I am but the same thing goes for lying -- I don't lie because to keep my truths simple is an easier way to live and relate to people. The mission of the Republicans and of the heads of companies like Tyco, Adelphia, Enron? Get rich. Get rich quickly. Get rich by any means necessary. That is the sensibility that our country is reinforcing as the key to happiness. When the WTC was hit... our leadership said "Go shopping, it'll make you feel better" Money will save America. Having money is fine but if that is one's personal mission statement for life, but the pursuit of happiness for me can not rest in finanical pursuits. I have to get more happiness from family, relationships, a good book, and most importantly, a clear conscience. Otherwise I can't enjoy any of it.

Of course, I've had enough money in my life to know its not the solution to all my problems. Tell that to the people who lost their homes in Katrina. Reality television is extremely popular because its full of devices to convince people that their souls, their credibility their integrity can be bought -- because once the check is delivered, the Hummer is bought, their problems will be solved.

I volunteer in political non-profits where I can, I give blood when I can. Its not perfect, its not daily and its not enough but at least its part of a personal mission statement to take the next right action as a member of the global community. While I was working on my degree I was certain I would find an artistic way to 'stick it to the man' but found that I can be much more influential by working from the inside out. You'd be amazed by how many of us liberals work on Wall Street and in the financial sector. Everyone's hands are dirty but at least I'm starting to take one little action at a time.