inequality the issue, not diversity

The Trouble with Diversity: How We Learned to Love Identity and Ignore Inequality (Hardcover)
by Walter Benn Michaels (Author)
Some unique and extraordinary insights and recognitions:

Judging the truth or validity of anything based on judging the source
On page 191 of this new book, the author makes a remarkable observation:

The validity of an argument does not depend on the virtue of the person making it.

I would add this applies to any assertion, not just an argument. This also applies in any case were the person's life doesn't seem to show evidence that they have followed this assertion.
If we look to substantiation of an idea in the person's life, i.e. in their behavior or their results, our observation and judgment can be based on the wrong things. First we may not notice where this applies in their life, if at all. Much more important we don't explore for substantiation of its truth openly on our own.

It's not about honoring differences (not that differences don't deserve to be honored)
On page 192 he points out uniquely that the solution doesn't come from being nicer to homeless people, it's that

no one should be homeless.

He suggests that the issue is inequality. I'd suggest a more accurate distinction would be helping people to see their full power to create the results they want, whether it be a home or any thing wanted.
We'll never solve problems of lack by giving things to people or being more humane. I've found that to be true in a careful study of how economics actually works.

I've created a program I call Infinite Economics TM. In this original perspective I boil down all of economics to the fulfilling of wants. I then asked how many distinct ways are there to have what you want. After I asked this question and explored all the possible ways, it occurred to me that money was not any of those essential ways. It could be part of any of these ways but did not have to be for any of these ways to work. By understanding these ways, 7 of them, we could use each way as an abundant pathway to have anything we want regardless of the access to money or not. This recognition I've come to recognize is liberating and be a guide to economic growth for anyone starting from any point. These seven ways are asking, trading, receiving a gift, sharing, finding (what belongs to no one), creating it and last divine intervention (a gift from God, if you will. I've created a seminar to empower people to expand economically starting anywhere, even with seemingly nothing.

If you'd like to learn more about Infinite Economics TM and/or starting a group to develop these ideas, contact me via e-mail on this site.

Upside thinking and energy

I've coined a term I call

would-working

. That is, when taking on a project or possibility, instead of figuring out why you can't do it or why it will be

difficult

, that you look for the reasons you can do it and the advantages and support you have going for you. This is a form of upside thinking. Looking for rewards and benefits of an action…
and looking for anything you can use or that will help you get the result.

Remarkably, when you take this approach, an upside approach (optimism) you get supported from within (an optimal result). To quote an article in Parade Magazine,

6 Ways To Have More Energy

, (P. 4 October 8, 2006): Every thought…is accompanied by a cascade of biochemicals called neurotransmitters.

In general, thoughts that are optimistic, grateful and loving result in feel good neurotransmitters called endorphins.

The same feel good chemicals are produced during exercise [ANY activity physical and/or mental], love-making [any expression of love] and meditation [any experience of serenity, peace, ease]. By contrast, thoughts that are fearful [especially when inappropriate, i.e. based on false conclusions] angry [same] or hopeless [especially when hardly any possibilities have been explored] increase levels of stress ( stress is not an accurate characterization for them) hormones, which make us feel tired, anxious and irritable.

Learning to focus on the positive (what I call the upside) can do wonders for energy levels.

I have explored this effect for decades and can verify that you can pretty well count on this phenomenon to increase energy.

Posted by drtalsky at October 09, 2006 05:22 PM