One of the lessons I have learned from the Old Testament prophets is how poetry is more powerful than prose to uncover the depth of our social ills. So I have attempted to write poems on social topics. I have called these \u201cteaching poems,\u201d for I do not pretend to specialize in the art form of poetry. Here is a poem on a topic that still characterizes the current news media.<\/p>\n
Ronald Reagan was wrong
\nto make \u201cregulation\u201d a curse word
\nand create disdain for government,
\npolitics, and politicians.<\/p>\n
I say, let us love politics
\nand piss on the private sector.<\/p>\n
Let us make business obey the rules.
\nand let us create better rules\u2014
\nstricter rules\u2014and enforce them
\nimmaculately.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If any business persists in
\nbelieving that it has \u201cno limits,\u201d
\nlet us take away its incorporation.
\nLet us outlaw its very existence.<\/p>\n
If billionaires insist on doing
\nwhatever they like with the
\nbillions that we earned for them,
\nlet us tax them into millionaires.<\/p>\n
And welfare?
\nLet us put everyone in society
\non welfare.
\nLet us build everyone parks
\nand common facilities
\nand schools, and environmentally
\nclean places, and fresh air,
\nand fresh water, and sound ground
\nand nutritious food,
\nand safe products of every sort.<\/p>\n
Yes, let us put everyone on welfare
\nby giving everyone a minimal safety net,
\nfor all may fall, at any moment,
\nin this fast changing era,
\ninto dire needs.<\/p>\n
Yes, let us assure everyone
\nof a minimum of elemental support
\nwhether they wish to work or not
\nwhether they can work or not
\nwhether they are sane or not
\ndrunk or not
\nchildren or not
\nelderly or not<\/p>\n
Let us decide together
\ncounty by county
\nwhat that minimum support
\nshall be,
\nand let us take pleasure
\n(those of us who have
\nmore than the minimum)
\nin sharing our more
\nwith those who have
\nless than the minimum.<\/p>\n
And let us also honor work,
\nsocially meaningful work.
\nLet us spread the privilege of work,
\nand let each of us be properly
\nrewarded for our meaningful work.
\nLet those who work receive more
\nthan the minimum of social support.<\/p>\n
But as we work for our proper remuneration,
\nlet us not loose sight
\nof the truth that good work is fun,
\nthat good work is a privilege,
\nthe privilege of serving
\nour sister and brother humans
\nand our sister and brother living beings
\nwith contributions
\nthat are meaningful
\nto them
\nand therefore to us.<\/p>\n
Work is not a curse
\nor a necessary evil\u2014
\nthe not doing of which
\nmakes us unworthy\u2014
\nunworthy of social support,
\nunworthy of basic esteem.<\/p>\n
Our existence alone
\nmakes us worthy of support.
\nWork, meaningful work is a privilege
\nand meaningful work needs
\nto be economically supported
\nso we can keep on doing
\nthis meaningful work.<\/p>\n
If our work is not meaningful,
\nif it is destructive or unnecessary,
\nlet us refuse to do it.
\nLet us starve;
\nlet us go homeless;
\nyes, let us even walk, rather than ride,
\nbefore we do meaningless work.<\/p>\n
But more than that, let all of us
\nwho have the privilege of meaningful work
\nmake certain that no one starves
\nthat no one goes homeless
\nthat no one is denied the minimum
\nof transportation, health care
\ncultural enrichment, and meaningful work.<\/p>\n
Yes, that is my politics:
\nPUT ALL OF US ON WELFARE,
\nfor each of us may need it.
\nAnd let us make this welfare
\nan affirmation of our existence
\nnot a disgraceful condition
\nor a temptation to
\nlazy indulgence.<\/p>\n
And let us admit that all of us are lazy,
\nthat all of us are indulgent,
\nthe billionaire as well as
\nthe impoverished dope head
\nroaming the streets
\nin a daze.<\/p>\n
Let us admit that the
\nbillionaire is also in a daze
\nthe daze of having no limits.
\nLet us cure the billionaire
\nof this daze
\nby assisting him or her
\nto support the minimum
\nneeds of everyone who exists,
\nas well as the needs of the Whole-Earth dynamic
\nthat makes serving human needs
\n(and frog needs)
\npossible.<\/p>\n
Let us convince
\nthe billionaires
\nand even the millionaires
\nthat only a small part
\nof their wealth is their very own
\nto do with whatever they like.
\nThe rest of their wealth
\nis a public trust
\na pool of public, not private, possibilities
\nwhich they must work out
\nwith the rest of us.<\/p>\n
Indeed, let us move toward
\nthe realization that all
\naccumulations of wealth
\nare a public achievement
\nand a public trust
\nwith which to serve the public
\nand to serve the public
\nas the public itself
\nchooses to be served.<\/p>\n
Yes, let us piss on the private sector,
\nto whatever extent the private sector
\ndoes not voluntarily
\nabolish its private omnipotence
\nin public
\nservice.<\/p>\n