Dear President Obama,

Today President Obama critiqued the Republican economic theory that wealth flows down to the laborers from the upper class, saying "In this country, prosperity has never trickled down from the wealthy few."

I think it is a fair criticism. Although money does trickle down in one way or another, what does trickle down is so polluted, diluted and picked over that it does little more than sustain the working poor. 
It does not provide opportunities for the advancement it promises.  It does not quench the thirst that it creates for justice and prosperity.  It comes with strings that turn the poor into puppets, entertaining the system as they are forced to jump through hoop after fiery hoop.

Money can only trickle down at the whim and direction of the powerful.  Any attempts at creating a fair system, to impliment a minimum wage, improve working conditions or to fill the gaps with social programs, are met with screams of protest from those in power as they claim their liberty is being ripped away. They demand that the poor work longer, work harder and sacrifice more.

The greatest flaw to Capitalism is that the poor have no choice but to hope that the weathy are just and fair. They must believe that their employers have the best interest of the workers at heart.  They can only hope that their employers do not struggle with greed.   Despite the evidence of what they see and the pain that they feel, they must believe. If they don't believe that the intentions of the wealthy and powerful are pure they will become angry.  They will try to demand change and after they awaken from the impact of what little power they have, they will become hopeless.

I am a Republican. My father and grandfather were Republicans. I have never, not even once, voted for a Democrat.  I believe in Capitalism as a basis for economic stability.  But the time has come to bridge Capitalism and  Responsibility.  It is not a new idea.

Saint Francis of Assisi believed that our skills and  labor should be gifts of service to the greater community, not the means to an end of gluttony and self-indulgence.  We can maintain individualism, joy, success and competition while practicing generosity, selflessness and love. 

Peter Maurin,  despite being, well, perhaps a bit off his rocker, was an idealist.  He believed with all his heart that society, not just individuals, but society as a whole could reform and transform into something greater. 

The best part of all of this is that it is an easy fix!! All it takes is a change in attitude, a shift of focus, an additional element of compassion for every living soul on our planet.  Then we CAN do away with government programs of food and welfare because we will be caring for one another.  We will trust God and each other that our needs will be met. Hallelujah!


"The world would be better off
if people tried
to become better.

And people would
become better
if they stopped trying
to be better off.

For when everybody tries
to become better off,
nobody is better off.

But when everybody tries
to become better,
everybody is better off.

Everybody would be rich
if nobody tried
to become richer

And nobody would be poor
if everybody tried
to be the poorest"

Peter Maurin