Am I a Capitalist?

I just had a brief conversation with a colleague about how evil this capitalist system is.

Well, I don't agree in entirety. I don't agree the tool of currency is evil. Grant it, I do believe some insanely bad things have been done to the agreed value of LOTS of money.

I am actually glad that someone decided that non-material things also had value and that currency is an effecient system that allows people to carry value with them easily. It's also interesting how people have adapted to that.

So now if you're not a land owner with 7000 heads of cattle, you can still purchase clothes and goods and transportation and not barter for it. How much would you barter for an iPod? Your car? That PHRESH shirt you just got? How about a birthday cake? Or a chance to hike pristine trails in Utah?

If you're like me, your value is measured by how someone thinks of your non-tangible work. I know how to work with computers on some level, but I don't OWN any computers or manufacturing of computers or components.

An assessor would look at my collection of curios and clothes and cups and perhaps give me a couple of pidgeons in barter value. Not to say that pidgeons DON'T have value, but I doubt I could trade two birds for a week's worth of groceries or vitamins and supplements. I could be wrong...maybe they are valuable pidgeons...

Anyway, I ramble. I am glad that my work can be worth something I don't have to carry with me to prove my value. My working with youth and technology earns me a certain salary. BUT if it was all bartering, I don't know what my skills would earn me. I don't OWN anything to start creating things to BARTER with. I am GLAD my worth can be carried in my head and heart.

I don't have access to credit to expand my worth beyond what I earn except for cash advances and that expands my worth at a two week interval, so I am what I earn. And I reduce my debt at that earning rate and I purchase what I need within that window of earning. So I earn and spend within my means. I don't borrow extra pidgeons to buy a cloth for the week only to have to give six pidgeons back. (And would I breed those pidgeons to get the six pidgeons I needed to pay back?)

I'm all confused.

I felt like my coworker may have thought I bought into a system that says your worthless if you don't have assets. That's not true. I struggle with the idea of being worthless. I may be worth less than, say, Bill Gates, but I am really rich in relationships. I wouldn't barter those for Noah's Ark worth of pidgeons.

I also use my sweat equity wherever I can to experience that which I cannot pay for. With that I have earned river rafting, construction on solar housing, gained access to special events, AMAZING food, and a LOT of t-shirts. Sure, I'd love to convert some of my time into car repair or a hair appointment or a trip home every so often, but that's not how the bartering system works that I am aware of.

I need to do some research on economics and how we developed our money systems and agreed upon them. If anyone can recommend a book to explore this topic, I would LOVE it.

Til then, I am thankful that my ATM card links to my bank account and allows me to spend my Hamiltons without having to carry them all over the place with me.

I Voted

I also trained as a FED this weekend to make sure that the election process runs as smoothly as possible within a county and city of almost a million people.

I am FED #44. That's Federal Election Deputy in layman's terms.

Grant it, I am a passionate person. I definitely have my opinions. But as I drove in my city-rented official deputy mini-van along with the 50+ other FEDS who fanned across the city to stake out their precincts, I had the distinct feeling that there really are folks who want the system to work.

This afternoon, after I got unwoozy from yet ANOTHER bout of food unhappiness, I voted early in the basement of Alameda County. People were in line. I was asked to fill out an absentee ballot form and was given my new ballot which had the arrow connecting. It's FUN to complete the arrow!

Oakland doesn't have too bad of a ballot. Two pages, front and back. Much simpler than the 5 pager, double-sided tome in San Francisco.

I felt a little unsure of the Judges race. Basically you vote yes or no...without having any info on the judges as a cheat sheet on the ballot.

Other than that I had my little crib sheet for the state propositions and other races. It was interesting to see the candidates who don't have a million glossy posters up. There are about 5 candidates running for governor in California, for example. There are 3 candidates for Congressman.

I'm actually jealous of friends and family living in more heated parts of the country. Friends in NY, Mass., Florida, and Virginia have interesting gubanatorial races. Some interesting races in Oregon, Ohio , Washington, and Rhode Island, too.

I may have a lot of opinions, but what I appreciate about this process is that there is a general invitation for ALL to participate. We can vote early. We can have access to accessible voting places and methods. We MUST demand them, however.

The legal requirements are written down so someone doesn't get sued for screwing up...but let's be a little less cynical about it...democracy is meant for ALL the people - the worker who takes my toll when I cross the bridge, the school teacher who is teaching 7th and 8th graders history, the CEO who is deciding to make the business public, the gelato scoop person, the homeless person. As long as we're 18 it is our right.

Get your sticker. Get out there, make your choice and then let's get on the phone and email or whatever and discuss it.

Make Mama Democracy proud.

Bottle of Vomit with French Fries

Just to gross you guys out...here's the bottle of wretch. I found a french fry in it!

My scientific brain is just so excited about how this all works.

It does not gross me out. Other things like war or injustice grosses me out.

My own bile with items floating in it just FASCINATES ME!

Food poisoning is NOT right, however. I do NOT recommend it.

From now on I'll keep it a little more kosher...perhaps only one dead animal per meal I choose to consume them....

P.S. I was balled up in fetal position in my car on Sunday night before Houman rescued me from a continued sense of UGH...food poisoning returned.... YUCK!