Let me start out by saying this post goes out to my very best friend Amanda, someone who has much more knowledge and experience on this topic and has graciously bestowed upon me a small fragment of her passion.
We have all been disapointed and felt the heartbreak when we were expecting our government or any large organization to come up with a solution to a problem, only to fail to do so. We think in our minds that our government or anyone with power is there and should be there to protect us and make our society right. To some degree I agree with this. A governemnt's primary purpose should be to ensure the well being of all its citizens and work diligently to help compromise with all the different wants and needs that will come about. Things like education, healthcare, fitness programs, transportation, safety, food; these are basic needs that every American has a right to no matter how successful an individual may become. However, beyond making all of these facets of society accesible and adequate, I personally believe it is then the job of the community to take it from there. I believe that communities are the places where the magic happens, where people form meaningful relationships and where significant changes can start. Yes, many communities in this country are not as fortunate or as equal as others. Although I think that a certain amount of inequality is bound to happen, and might even be neccessary, I also think that is where the state governemnt can step in to act as an equity builder and promoter of "sharing the wealth." Whether in the form of shifting around tax money or spending more money and having more projects in certain areas, the governemnt can aid in reducing gaps in our society. However, the communities themselves need to take a stand and put forward a voice, only by working together and caring for one another can any accomplishments be made.
Take a large and successful corporation for example. Pretend this corportation is an analogy of a typical small community. In order to be successful and make profit, there needs to be someone at the top with long-term goals who works with a smaller group of people who fine tune those goals and initiate short-term steps in order to reach them. Then, by providing structure and support to all employees, everyone is given a task based on their skills and by working together the corporation moves along. Communities are a lot like this. It takes structure, support, input from everyone involved, and a sense of togetherness. I think what I have seen some communities lack in the US is that sense of togetherness, a feeling of ownership and pride.
I really want to start getting more involved in the communities I live in and watching how people interact and maintain a strong bond within them. So far, I have seen some really really strong emotions and passion present and it makes me really believe in the power communities can have on individuals and on our society in general. Reading the book, "Deep Economy" has really pushed me on this adventure and I highly suggest it as food for thought for anyone interested in this topic. Hopefully I can create a school system built on this premise of working for and with your community!
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