The New Economy

I'm convinced our economy will shudder to a near halt without one signicant shift in awareness. Unless we begin considering our personal wellbeing as in important part of the economic picture, we will not have a valid measure of economic health. Without valid measures, predictions cannot occur-- and unpleasant downturns and depressive slides will happen to cost us billions and billions.

When we believe personal well being is as important as the number of loquats shipped out of the country, we will be following in the footsteps of other countries that consider happiness, health, and contentment important and quantifiable.

Riane Eisler gets at the heart of our economics problem in her book titled, "The Real Wealth of Nations," where she discusses what's not measured in our current economic system and why that lack is dysfunctional. Without valid standards of product, output, sustainability, and future, growth has no meaning as the distaff side of growth is not considered.

So look for more distributed production points, more sole-proprietors and more mom-and-pop businesses to occur. That growth in output may be the only thing to save us from a disastrous economic slide.

The tipping point will come when the multis are moved aside, and universal healthcare is in place in the U.S.A. That single action will enable the sprouting of small businesses like this country hasn't seen since small businesses grew to their highest percentage along with the flowering and valuing of learning that arose from the G.I. Bill.

As people begin more social investing, education gains favor; universal education will begin occuring for the first time since it was swept away by the Reaganomics of tuition at state colleges and universities. Universal education will take millions of youth, adults, and elders off the streets and alleys of an unemployment system broken beyond repair. Like Roosevelt's CCC, universal education mixed perhaps with universal service can create on-the-job training for public works and public buildings to marvel our 21st century. People of all ages can benefit from this type of renaissance. The economy will match the health and glow of well being. You just watch.

And if you want to be a part of it, be thinking of what your small business will be and whether it will take the form of an LLC or a cooperative. Check that spectrum carefully.