What about love?

The economy is in the toilet. (And actually, that’s the nicest metaphor I’ve heard for it lately.) The price of healthcare is outrageous. Yet it’s nothing compared to the price a person pays without it. And don’t even get me started on the state of education in our country. Maybe with better education (and a stronger sense of self responsibility) so many Americans would not have fallen prey to predatory lenders. 

Now, I want to be careful here because I myself am not financially savvy and I truly am not pointing fingers at innocent consumers. (Let’s call them all Joe the Used-To-Be-Homeowner, shall we?) It’s just one vicious cycle, though, isn’t it? 

My theory is that we should try something government has never done before. We should focus on love. (Cue “Kumbaya” here.) 

Think about it – maybe if all people could enjoy basic human rights, regardless of their income, age, gender, sexuality, religion and anything else I’m forgetting, there would be less hate. Fewer crimes. More honest jobs. Less for us to prove to other countries. 

Or at least the difficult times wouldn’t feel so bad.

Today, I sat in mixed company and discussed the hard reality of the economy. And I realized I was the only non-married person in the room. It’s scary supporting yourself. But why should any of us have to feel so alone? Why are we so every-man-for-himself in this society? I think it’s because we are taught to succeed first, love later. 

Well I can honestly say, I am successful. But I never, ever felt rich until I found love. And now I can only imagine what an impact we could make if we focused on humans first, oil later. 

It may sound simple, but as a white, young, middle class, gay, Christian, female, that’s my hope for my country. And yours.