by Lee Stranahan
The economy is, of course, all about numbers. Facts and figures. Balance sheets. But just look at the headlines about the economy. Collapses of institutions, mass layoffs (sometimes by profitable companies), misuse of public funds, even simple theft on an unprecedented scale. There are many causes, many culprits but one thing is very clear to me.
America has a big spiritual problem.
The crisis is really about greed, thoughtlessness, selfishness, and disconnection. Treating corporations like people. Treating people like machines.
Perhaps the most important thing about Barack Obama is that he recognized this. He talks about values in a way that was hijacked by the Republicans for decades. The GOP’s problem wasn’t that they talked about values and spirituality – it’s that they had a contradictory and disastrous system of values.
To really solve our country’s problems, we need to thoughtfully reexamine and question the underlying values that brought us to this place. All the big problems – economy, environment, torture, foreign policy, human rights – come down to values.
We’re headed for a time of tumult because this is about something bigger than policy or political party. The soul of America needs to change and that’s never easy. Self-examination is painful. That’s really the challenge ahead, for everyone.
