Message to America

It is, admittedly, difficult to always identify and face one's problems. And although being able to identify problems is a worthwhile skill, we often forget that democracy requires more than constant vigilance: it requires constants participation. And participation requires a belief that our actions can actually make a difference.

Solution #1: If you want better political leaders, run for office.

On November 9th, 2005, the town of Hillsdale, Michigan elected it's new mayor: 18-year-old Michael Sessions. Believe it or not, the kid actually won the endorsement of the local fire department during his campaign. Think that's outrageous? In 2001, a friend of mine actually ran for mayor of Los Angeles, receiving The Green Party's endorsement. Francis Della'Vecchia was 36 years old at the time and ran on a platform of complete transparency using the internet. Although he didn't win the election, he changed the conversation by challenging convention.

This time of year, folks line up to help feed the homeless. It's a touching act to witness. Consider, however, the rest of the year: can you afford to make a weekly commitment to a shelter or an organization that truly needs your help? Your weekly donation of time allows you to be of service to those less fortunate than yourself. It will also serve to remind you of how lucky you are to have the life and possessions that you do. Your children will think you're a hero and you can bring them along if you volunteer locally or internationally.

Growing your own food is one of the most primal and sexy things any human can do: it connects you with the planet, it's proven to relieve stress and it saves money and time at the supermarket. Plus, as parents, gardening is one of the greatest gifts you can teach your children: they'll learn how to work with the earth in order to plant, nourish and then eat their own healthy fruits and vegetables. The nicest thing about gardening is that you don't need a huge house or a lot of money to do it: you can grow a garden indoors, on a patio, or by the windowsill.

This suggestion comes from a reader: many thanks.

Solution #5: If you want to reduce your dependency on foreign oil, improve your air quality and save money, change how you travel.

These small changes to your routine have a HUGE impact. First off, if you're looking for a new home, consciously choose to live closer to where you work. Some states will actually PAY YOU small grants as an incentive to do this. Then, once you're settled in, consider biking to work instead of driving. The exercise will help you lose weight and you'll save a ton of money on gas and car upkeep. If your commute is too far to bike, take public transportation. Another option – even if you live in a big city like Los Angeles – is carpooling. Visit websites such as Craigslist or http://www.erideshare.com/ to help you connect with folks in your area who want to share the ride. When you factor in gas, insurance and upkeep, the real cost of owning a car is very high. Therefore, if you have more than one car, try living with just one. Believe it or not, many families learn to get by with one or no cars. So can you. Finally, there are more and more hybrid cars on the road from the major automakers. If you're in the market for a new car, buy a vehicle that uses less gas.

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When I am asked to speak in public about political matters, I am continually surprised at how many people, even educated and well-intentioned people, don't know how to go about making a difference. Mabye it's laziness, maybe apathy. I'm not sure. What I can say for certain is that beyond money, beyond career and beyond religion, there lies one, simple, unalienable truth: that if you have a better vision for the world, then you can't rely on others to give it to you -- you must be willing to do some of the work yourself to bring about that world.

# posted by yo : 12:05 PM