Tag Archives: philanthropy

RISE OF SELFISHNESS

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And how to overcome it as well as unbridled meanness….
Or: “There will always be someone out there who needs what you have to give.” I just read this on Facebook this morning, and it got me thinking (Oh! No!). Sometimes people are just mean, and I just don’t get it. They lash out when they are uncomfortable with a subject or person who disagrees with them. I have noticed that men and women speak differently when discussing an uncomfortable subject or when they want you to just agree with them, even if they are wrong. They just want you to believe in them no matter how you feel. It is hard for some men to listen without interrupting a conversation with a woman. Sometimes I think they just want to make their point without an argument, but, hey, if we women don’t agree with them, aren’t we allowed to argue back? In this age of the biggest bigot/misogynist in office, apparently, women aren’t allowed to ask questions and demand answers. Apparently, they are just supposed to smile and look pretty and agree with all the lies coming out of his mouth. (Thank you, Kaitlin Collins, for standing up to you know who.)

 I grew up in the South, where women were supposed to just smile and look pretty. But it was interesting to note the dynamics when the men left the room. Yeah, we were supposed to do most of the cooking and cleanup, but when we women got together, all I could say was: “Lawdy, Mercy!” Look out for what we all had to say! We had this kind of conversation where we all talked over each other, but we heard it all. And even if we disagreed, we could come to terms with it and still love the conversation. No one got too mad, and we still cared about each other in the end.

So it’s not wrong to disagree with each other, we just have to understand that we come from different mindsets. We as women tend to be helpers. And yes, sometimes we are mean to each other and selfish, but we can come to terms with it and do what’s right for our families and friends. Most of us aren’t too petty with each other. And sometimes we rise above all of it and agree on something our men say. Amazing, isn’t it? I would like for all men and women to get along, rise above petty, selfish government, and do the right thing. Mr. Rogers said it so well: “Look for the helpers. There are always people who are helping.”

My point is, this rise of selfishness wasn’t invented by the ugly, ill-tempered man in office. It’s been around a long time, and many interesting books have been written about it. One suggestion I have is a book by James Lincoln Collier, published in 1991. It is enlightening to see that this idea hasn’t gone away, even though we wish it would.
https://www.amazon.com/Selfishness-America-James-Lincoln-Collier/dp/0195052773

Andrew Carnegie believed in giving away wealth during one’s lifetime. His 1889 essay, The Gospel of Wealth, includes one of his most famous quotes: “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.” Carnegie’s message argues that the wealthy have a moral obligation to act as trustees of their wealth and distribute it for the public good during their lifetimes rather than hoard it or leave it behind. 
Context: Carnegie, who rose from poverty to become one of the wealthiest people in history, believed that accumulated wealth should be used to benefit society, not merely passed down or wasted.
The Philosophy: He argued that surplus wealth is a trust fund to be administered for the community, aiming to help those who will help themselves, such as through libraries and education.
Application: Carnegie lived by this creed, ultimately donating roughly 90% of his fortune ($350 million) to various philanthropic causes.
Legacy: This statement is considered a foundational document in modern philanthropy and a direct critique of selfishness. He believed that failing to use one’s wealth for the benefit of society was a profound moral failure.

Let’s hope the billionaire cult leaders take heed and do the right thing in the coming years. I love you all on this beautiful Super Bowl Sunday. Take heed, but it’s okay to have a little fun on the way!

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11/12/25

When Will You Stop Believing the Lie?

Everyone should have the opportunity to eat a meal and be able to survive. Every child should never go hungry.
Every PERSON, whether adult or child, should have the opportunity to receive an education.

If you make a billion dollars, you should pay your fair share in taxes to support programs for ALL OF US, just like the rest of us.
If you make a million dollars, you should pay your fair share in taxes to support programs for ALL OF US, just like the rest of us.
The middle class should NOT have to bear the burden, but we do it, because IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

In Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben’s book, Gone Before Goodbye, the protagonist encounters many of the richest people in the world in Dubai. Her comments about them hit home:
–“Dubai is a playground for the rich and their most hedonistic urges. It’s Disney World for grown-ups who don’t want to be grown-ups. It wants to be salacious and gritty, but it is hard to blend that with the baser need to be safe and comfortable.” [Coben, Harlan; Witherspoon, Reese. Gone Before Goodbye (p. 197). Grand Central Publishing. Kindle Edition.]
–“…no one looks happy the day after. It all feels a tad desperate and sad. These people are rich and successful and powerful and have everything, but it isn’t enough. That’s the problem. It is never enough. Human nature sees to that. We get used to every luxury. Even the richest men in the world, we’ve seen over the past few years, can’t be satiated, no matter how much money or power or yachts or women or offspring or hero worship or attention or whatever they have….” She also quoted from Bruce Springsteen: “…the poor man wants to be rich, the rich man wants to be king, and the king ain’t satisfied until he rules everything.” [Coben, Harlan; Witherspoon, Reese. Gone Before Goodbye (p. 198). Grand Central Publishing. Kindle Edition.]

People who feel cheated by this administration believe in THE BIG LIE. Powerful people need to keep the little guy on edge, and it angers everyone who feels they are being taken advantage of by others, even when those others are suffering. They feel a need to hold onto what they have and forget about everyone else. Well, I think that everyone should pay their fair share. Why do we still believe it? Why don’t we care about each other, no matter who we are and how we got here?

And why is it so important to be in that uber-rich class high above the rest of us? Why do we hold onto all the money we have and not share it with the rest of the world? People like those oligarchs just want more money, more status, more of everything. And yet they aren’t very happy at the end of the day. Money did not buy happiness after all for them. Apparently, power is more important than people in this world. And yet, rich people continue to buy their happiness by purchasing others’ support. Is this because they need to control the world? It’s sad for me to think that this is the way the world works.

So, I am putting it out to the Universe to keep reading, keep giving, and enjoy the moments you have on earth. Take a breath and enjoy the week. We can only do what we can. Anxiety might be high right now, but we can help each other no matter what. Sometimes we need to shift our spiraling thoughts and go out and join others in the spectacular Northern Lights’ display. It can humble us to realize how small we truly are in the universe we inhabit.

I love you all on this cloudy day. I am hoping for rain!