The DOW crossed the 10,000 mark today for the first time ever. This is a significant milestone event. It is interesting that this should occur just shy of the millenium. Though, with its ups and downs, it may take it awhile to stabilize above 10,000 for good. This is one indicator that the economy seems to be in good shape. Though it is not clear what the value is based on. Why should a stock be worth what it is worth. The market decides this by providing a place for people to buy and sell so that each stock settles down to what people are willing to pay and what people are willing to accept for each stock. However, the stock itself has nothing that sets its intrinsic VALUE at any particular level. It is as if this is all illusion, based on company earnings and projected continued earnings over time. This process makes each company worth many times its yearly gross sales. It is not clear that such a valuation makes much sense. But who said it had to make sense? Further, customer fear and emotions add substantial instability to the system resulting in both short term and long term swings.

So, what is the market measuring? It seems to be measuring our collective trust in our economic system ... and the companies that provide goods and services within that system. Crossing beyond 9999 brings us to a new territory, one in which the opportunities for using the economic system for the good of all becomes a distinct possibility. However, this requires that we alter distribution in such a manner that the fruits of the entire system are more equally distributed throughout the society. Yes, this is socialist thinking ... yet why should such glaring inequalities exist in our system. It is not that people are not applying themselves and working hard ... sometimes at multiple jobs. It is that "equal opportunity" does not really exist in our society because we have not chosen to make it so. We could have massive abundance in our society. We do have it for many, but not yet for even close to a majority. We have the capacity to produce more of whatever is needed, but we are blocked in doing so by a lack in ability to consume additional capacity due to insufficiency of funds.

This we can fix. This is a problem in distribution, pure and simple. Proper distribution should assure that what is needed is received, whether it can be paid for or not by the receiving party. This should be true for goods and services. This would force a change in the accounting system. We should each have a social security card that is debited when we consume goods and services from others and is credited when we create or provide goods and services to others. The basic rule of the economic game is to never take more than you give. So long as we abide by this, we are never in the red. Counselers can be used to educate and assist those who have trouble staying in the black within this system. This is true security. The society backs up a contract with each individual. Each individual is to give of their talents and abilities in service to society to the best of their abilities. Society in return assures that the needs of the individual are satisfied.

The current system is set up so that one can take as much as one can pay for either through cash or credit. However, one does not necessarily have the opportunity to sell ones services for sufficient wages to pay for all that one wants or needs. We don't recognize the special abilities of individuals in our job environments. Openings are filled via application procedures which don't really distinguish at an individual level. An engineer is an engineer. A secretary is a secretary. One person in a given position is interchangeable with another. For many jobs, the very nature of the work and the way the job is structured makes this so. However, there are better ways though they may require more planning up front. If we think in terms of people being the main resource that a company has; and the skills and abilities of those people the chief asset, then we can start to think in terms of building an environment that facilitates people in doing their best on whatever task is at hand.

We need to find better ways of allowing people to channel their natural skills and creativity into solving problems and tackling the challenges that we face as a society. This is what allows people to give back to their society is a measurable way that truly benefits all of us. In this area, everyone can contribute something. We all have things that we have learned, experienced, or observed that can be of value here. We just need a means to express it and then for the collective expression to be integrated into a framework that provides means for the betterment of our collective reality.

My sense is that much of this is already being done behind the scenes. However, it is time that we choose to do this consciously so that we can reap its rewards in our world. Cooperation is the key to achieving a greater collective level of existence. This does not occur by a minority living high off the suffering of a majority which to some degree is what we in the west do. We have claimed far more of the world's resources than are rightfully ours for far too long ... sustaining a way of life that is the envy of the world. Yet, what has this cost us? What have we lost by living and acting as we have? And, is it worth what we have gained? Good questions, all.

On one hand, we have not had free choice in the matter. As a nation, we had a role to play ... one which demonstrated what a free nation could do in this world. As nations go, we are still quite young at 222. Our Declaration of Independence is still a landmark expression of consciousness in our world. However, it is time for a new statement of our collective goodwill, in a Declaration of Cooperative Interdependence. In a world that is ONE, there can be no "independence"... there can only be interdependence and this is only good when it is cooperative. Over a year ago, I was moved to create such a declaration, but have not received support for it to date. Perhaps that is because I have been limiting my output to certain modes of expression, primarily on the internet; trusting that consciousness would somehow bring those who needed to see my work to my website. I've tried a few times to reach a wider audience to no avail. I interpreted this to mean the time was not right for this to occur. I guess I could also have seen it as a wall or challenge that I needed to overcome. Hmm ... but, even now such does not seem right. I am not moved to express to another specifically, I am moved to express to ALL. This I do by posting my work for any to see. I know of no other way to express yet. Though, this is always subject to change if spirit should move me to do otherwise.

Be Happy and Create Well! In Peace, Love and Light,

Wayne