Ending the Depression

Uh, well, in the sense that finding someone who needs help is easier, sure...

I don't feel like my net power to help has been increased in the slightest, though.

On rereading, my comment sounds awfully insensitive. And I remember the Catsittingstill icon from comments on other blogs, but don't remember anything about your situation; if you're laid off and the unemployment is about to run out, I apologize.

The mental picture I failed to draw here is: When people have enough money to live on, but they stop putting it into the fantasy of unlimited economic "growth" and start making mindful choices about what they (and their neighbors) most need, they can do well while/by doing good.

"Can" doesn't necessarily mean "will." I'm a rich man's penniless widow. For the past seven years I've not been able to support people or causes I've wanted to help, or afford several things I need for my own long-term good. My income is so low that selling one secondhand book makes a difference...often in terms of how well I eat that week.

I'm not going to pretend that this is a good thing, that I "needed" it to make me aware of where and how I spend money and who's getting the profit when I buy something. Actually I grew up with that awareness.

Actually it's the mindfulness, rather than the ups and downs of Wall Street, that's empowering. I've kept my own financial thinking real through two "recovery," two "recession," and two "war" periods. But I've seen other people lose their heads, go into debt, crash and burn while the economy was "up," and I've seen people develop mindfulness while it was "down."

Your (generic "your," "one's") net power to help is definitely increased when you have more money to spend mindfully. Your power to help starts growing, however, when you think, "Do I want to buy something from a big international corporation, or from someone in my neighborhood? Do I want to impress people by looking flashy, or by supporting other people whose efforts I actually respect?"

I won't have time to reconsider posting this comment either, but I hope it's a little more helpful.

I kind of thought there was a good chance I was misunderstanding something.

No, I'm not in dire straits financially--we're not at the median income, but we're doing okay with what we've got, and I know I'm a lot better off than some.

I agree with you about spending money mindfully. And about one's buying choices having the power to do good in the community. I just didn't see that as really having anything to do with the recession, is all.