Wow, mate. You sure know how to bring a complete stranger to tears. That's one heck of a manifesto. It shows a keen insight into your values and the sacrifice often required to pursue them. Before being forced to "retire early" due to disability, I worked in supporting marginalised teens and refugees to not just survive, but find/create a reason for living, and so often this revolved around arts, theatre and music.
Personally, I have always had a fascination with sounds, and even after decades of playing in bands, and losing much of my hearing as a result, I will still catch myself striking two knives on a benchtop to hear the different harmonics, or playing a lick on a rubber band holding closed a box of crackers. So, I was super excited to come across your website and can't wait to see where you go with it all.
My friends often ask me why I am so passionate about the idea of a Universal Basic Income. This is why. Not because I'm a "commie", but because I believe that what truly defines humanity is not our ability to make money, but to express our values through the act of creation - creating art, music, theatre, space, hope, joy, community. But we need the financial freedom to do so. Not to become millionaires, but to have enough. Enough to be able to invest the time and energy in the act of creation. My hope is that you will have the means to continue with your acts of creation, and this will inspire your family, friends and community to do the same. I have no money or expertise to offer you. I wish I had. I'm no mentor or coach, but I'll gladly join your cheer squad. GOoooo Ross!
Thank you Dwayne, that really means a lot! It sounds like you've been through a lot but haven't let it crush your spirit - I'm sure those marginalized teens and refugees will remember how much you helped them for the rest of their lives and will pay it forward to future generations too. And I hope you never stop your rubber band improv jam sessions either!
I personally believe that capitalism has its utility and helped create a prosperous modern world, but its great limitation is that some of the best aspects of humanity aren't rewarded by it - especially caring for others and the arts (with some exceptions). It does feel like people are waking up to the fact that money for money's sake isn't a life well spent, and hopefully people in the future will have it much better than we do now.
Wow, mate. You sure know how to bring a complete stranger to tears. That's one heck of a manifesto. It shows a keen insight into your values and the sacrifice often required to pursue them. Before being forced to "retire early" due to disability, I worked in supporting marginalised teens and refugees to not just survive, but find/create a reason for living, and so often this revolved around arts, theatre and music.
Personally, I have always had a fascination with sounds, and even after decades of playing in bands, and losing much of my hearing as a result, I will still catch myself striking two knives on a benchtop to hear the different harmonics, or playing a lick on a rubber band holding closed a box of crackers. So, I was super excited to come across your website and can't wait to see where you go with it all.
My friends often ask me why I am so passionate about the idea of a Universal Basic Income. This is why. Not because I'm a "commie", but because I believe that what truly defines humanity is not our ability to make money, but to express our values through the act of creation - creating art, music, theatre, space, hope, joy, community. But we need the financial freedom to do so. Not to become millionaires, but to have enough. Enough to be able to invest the time and energy in the act of creation. My hope is that you will have the means to continue with your acts of creation, and this will inspire your family, friends and community to do the same. I have no money or expertise to offer you. I wish I had. I'm no mentor or coach, but I'll gladly join your cheer squad. GOoooo Ross!
Thank you Dwayne, that really means a lot! It sounds like you've been through a lot but haven't let it crush your spirit - I'm sure those marginalized teens and refugees will remember how much you helped them for the rest of their lives and will pay it forward to future generations too. And I hope you never stop your rubber band improv jam sessions either!
I personally believe that capitalism has its utility and helped create a prosperous modern world, but its great limitation is that some of the best aspects of humanity aren't rewarded by it - especially caring for others and the arts (with some exceptions). It does feel like people are waking up to the fact that money for money's sake isn't a life well spent, and hopefully people in the future will have it much better than we do now.