The Real Wealth of Nations
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photo credit: craig neal
Caring economics: What if our economic system had a mechanism to measure and value aseconomic activity the [everyday] life-sustaining and life-enriching cultural and community activities that are integral to an evolved society?
Our conversation with Riane Eisler, tonight's VisionHolder interview, introduced the partnership system and the domination system as two underlying possibilities for structuring beliefs, institutions, and relations that transcend categories such as religious vs. secular, right vs. left, and technologically developed or undeveloped.
She further developed the core premise that the greatest problems of our time--poverty, inequality, war, terrorism, and environmental degradation--can be traced to flawed economic systems that fail to value and support the most essential human work: caring for people and the planet.
She spoke to how our values are distorted by the economic double standard that devalues anything stereotypically associated with women and femininity; reveals how current economic models are based on a deep-seated culture of domination; and shows how human needs would be better served by economic models based on caring. Caring for our families, our communities; caring for our natural world, can become an economic imperative if the system is reordered to integrate the full spectrum of what creates a healthy society.
What are some steps for moving from our current structures to a new perspective? First, read the book, The Real Wealth of Nations, to understand the broader picture and the tools that Riane outlines. Then, believe that we can evolve the system to achieve the full measure of our humanity. Next, begin the conversation—with your legislators, community leaders, neighbors.
Last but not least, Riane's website http://www.partnershipway.org/ provides many resources and connections to local, national and international organizations that are partnering to this end.
