Guest guest Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Dave Lambert wrote: <The Romans became lazy, apathetic and spoiled; they allowed weak and corrupt leaders to take over; they brought in foreigners to do work they considered themselves too good for – and they failed to secure their borders.> Gee, that sounds familiar! I strongly believe that any time a society does not do its own " dirty work " and invites people from elsewhere to do it, it sets itself up for trouble. The so-called dirty work is often the most basic and necessary. Like farming. Keeping the sewers functioning. I have no idea how to solve that dilemma in the short term here and now. One solution would be to honor that work and pay it well enough to make it attractive. You may say I'm a dreamer.... Ien in the Kootenays http://profiles./free_green_living Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 > I have no idea how to solve that dilemma in > the short term here and now. > One solution would be to honor that work > and pay it well enough to make it attractive. [Dave:] To pay people what they're really worth to society we'd have to rearrange our priorities. Certain folks (sports and media stars, CEOs) get an obscene return on their work while others (teachers, people who work with their hands) barely get by. We'll pay for this. > > You may say I'm a dreamer.... [Dave:] Me too. Keep it up. -- Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.11/494 - Release 10/24/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 AMEN!!! Has it ever seemed odd to you that those who do the hardest physical labor get paid the least. This seems backwards to me. , " Ieneke van Houten " <ienvan wrote: > >> One solution would be to honor that work > and pay it well enough to make it attractive. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 <<AMEN!!! Has it ever seemed odd to you that those who do the hardest physical labor get paid the least. This seems backwards to me.>> Yes, indeed. And I have noticed that those who have the difficult job of being responsible for our most vulnerable citizens--young children, the sick, the disabled, and the elderly--are also poorly paid and lack prestige in this society. And about those garbage collectors...they are, quite simply, indispensable. Here's an example: I have lived my entire life without engaging the services of an attorney but I'd be in big trouble if my trash service stopped for more than a week. No offense to any lawyers out there but it's not hard to guess who has the greater impact on my life. I just love those guys in their big, noisy trucks. I always make certain to smile and wave when I see them go by, just like I do with fire trucks. I want them to know they are appreciated. jaime,CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 <<AMEN!!! Has it ever seemed odd to you that those who do the hardest physical labor get paid the least. This seems backwards to me.>> And … those who have the difficult job of being responsible for our most vulnerable citizens— [Dave:] I never fully understood why it is that the people we all know we value and need the most – teachers, nurses, folks who make things and folks who fix them – are held down. I mean, I know why, I just don’t know why we all put up with it. Money is only one kind of power. But don’t get me wrong, I have absolutely nothing against prosperity nor even wealth as long as it isn’t obscene wealth. I’ve been within tickling distance of real money once or twice, and I liked it. I don’t even want to be the one to decide whose wealth is obscene and whose isn’t. But something is definitely out of kilter. Here's an example: I have lived my entire life without engaging the services of an attorney but I'd be in big trouble if my trash service stopped for more than a week. [Dave:] Thank you. I’m working as a janitor and those who work with me absolutely know that I’m one of the most important members of the team. I get treated so well. The shirts and ties could care less about that but I won’t be there forever and yes, they’ll miss me when I’m gone. Do I make what I’m worth? Absolutely not. But I couldn’t ask for a better work environment. Hey, it’s my job, not my life. No offense to any lawyers out there but it's not hard to guess who has the greater impact on my life. [Dave:] There’s a reason why there are more lawyer jokes than garbage man jokes, and none of them are nice. I just love those guys in their big, noisy trucks. I always make certain to smile and wave when I see them go by, just like I do with fire trucks. I want them to know they are appreciated. [Dave:] I like that. I wave at ours, too. BTW I’m also in CA. -- Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.11/497 - Release 10/25/2006 -- Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.11/497 - Release 10/25/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Dave-- I believe that every job needs to be engaged in with integrity and pride, whether it's " prestigious " or not, whether we want to be doing it or not, and whether we're being observed at it or not. It seems to me you share this philosophy. For me, it's rather metaphysical. I believe that when we undertake something we put an emotional imprint (for lack of a better term) on the act and into the environment in which it takes place. If you don't mind a corny turn of phrase, it's a sort of spiritual signature that issues from us, determined by our intent and whether the energy we put into the effort is positive or negative. Obviously, I realize that " energy " , scientifically speaking, isn't subjective like I've just described it, but I trust that you know what I mean. That said, I feel that our main job as humans, no matter what our professional jobs might be, is to add to the positivity of our life and world, not its degradation. If I borrow a phrase from thermodynamics and infer that there's a law of conservation of this spiritual kind of energy, then the more positivity that flows from us, the less negativity there can be. It can take different forms but the total amount of " energy " remains constant. If we have the power to determine which form it will take, then shouldn't we? And what a privilege, as well as a duty, to assist in the conversion of negative forces into positive ones. Maybe that all sounds silly and simplistic but it's not a bad guide to live by. It can't hurt, and it certainly might help...and if it only helps the individual practicing it to have a better attitude about life...then hasn't he just added to the sum total of happiness in the world? And isn't happiness a positive force? I think that when a person does his daily job with diligence he will feel better about himself than if he's just showing up for the paycheck and couldn't care less about the quality of his work. And I think that when a person does his job with not only diligence but cheerfulness, as well, then everyone around will also feel good about him, and he will then feel even better about himself. All these good feelings or positive energies don't stay trapped inside him, either. He transfers them to others in the form of a friendly salutation, a smile, a sympathetic word, an offer of help, a decision to be patient or tolerant or forgiving...how can this not be beneficial to the world around him? This doesn't mean we should go around annoying people like Pollyannas; it just means we should be striving to do our best whether we're arguing a legal case or bagging up office trash. We're going to expend energy one way or the other. Why not do it positively, for goodness' sake?! And I do mean exactly that: for the sake of goodness. BTW, Dave--I hope you're not in a part of CA where you'll be endangered by the Esperanza Fire that is currently raging. Noon was as dark as dusk here today (southwest Riverside County) because of all the smoke and ash. I had to wear a dust mask any time I went out, but so far I haven't had an asthma attack. Dreadful headache, burning eyes, and sore throat, though. For those of you outside CA, it's an arson fire and four firefighters have lost their lives, with a fifth in intensive care at the Arrowhead Burn Center. Legally, it's murder as well as arson now. Which kind of illustrates my point from the other way around--the arsonist has discharged his negative energy into the world and it is impacting us in many bad ways--homes burned, communities evacuated, people trapped in a park, rescuers in danger, animals suffering, habitats destroyed, and the economic impact it will have, too. Fortunately, there are a lot of people being forces for good during all this--firefighters, paramedics, the Red Cross, churches, news agencies, law enforcement, hospitals--and don't we all expect them to do their jobs with integrity? Should we expect any less of ourselves? jaime,CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 I believe that every job needs to be engaged in with integrity and pride [Dave:] Hear, hear! For me, it's rather metaphysical. [Dave:] I know exactly what you mean. That said, I feel that our main job as humans, no matter what our professional jobs might be, is to add to the positivity of our life and world, not its degradation. If I borrow a phrase from thermodynamics and infer that there's a law of conservation of this spiritual kind of energy [Dave:] I think that’s profound. I used to have a good friend who was a minister. One of her favorite expressions was “Create a good effect,” and she explained by pointing out that we have an effect on the world around us simply by virtue of the fact that we exist; we can’t opt out of this. We do, however, have the perpetual choice over what kind of effect we have. All these good feelings or positive energies don't stay trapped inside him, either....-how can this not be beneficial to the world around him? [Dave:] Ezzackly. BTW, Dave--I hope you're not in a part of CA where you'll be endangered by the Esperanza Fire that is currently raging. Noon was as dark as dusk here today (southwest Riverside County) [Dave:] Escondido, close enough to smell the smoke, but there are smaller fires burning closer. Three years ago we were surrounded by fire, but since then we’ve been spared. -- Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.14/501 - Release 10/26/2006 -- Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.17/505 - Release 10/27/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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