This conversation lit a thought that had been intermittently sparking for months.  So, instead of introducing Gerra where no introduction could do the sheer unicornian awesomeness, I figured I'd share the thought.  Please stick with me now...and listen to the podcast after.

I don't want it for just me, I want it for everyone.

(It = The ultimate goal or achievement of a specific cooperative human endeavor)

Say that phrase out loud.  Let it clank around in your consciousness for a moment.

I don't want it for just me, I want it for everyone.

Okay?

Now place yourself in a religious/spiritual/ethics mindframe.

For our purposes, I'll say that "It" regarding all three of those related mind frames is, "Pure, unaltered, and complete knowledge of that which is knowable, or ultimate Truth."

Anyone can get behind that to some extent, I imagine.

Do you have yourself in that mindframe?

Now, I don't want it just for me, I want it for everyone.

Is this statement true?

Great, hold that answer in your brain.

Now I'm going to present to you two different mind frames.

Next, think about economics as you understand them.  (Few of us have advanced economics degrees but all of us have to contend with systems of economics.  Money, credit cards, debt, taxation, etc.  Right?

For our purposes, I'll say that "It" regarding how economics pertains to any person is, "The ability to easily live the best life possible."

Again, I feel like anyone can get behind this definition to some extent.

Do you now have yourself in an economic mind frame?

I don't want it just for me, I want it for everyone.

Is that statement true?

Okay, now hold that too!  One more endeavor.

Get yourself in a political mindframe, whatever that means to you.

For the final time, I'll attach what I believe to be an uncontroversial and general definition of "It" as it pertains to personal politics, "When government perfectly supplements and supports the natural social and cooperative tendencies of humans.  No more.  No less.  Perfectly."

Can you dig that?

Great, thanks.  Now, I don't want it just for me, I want it for everyone.

Is THAT statement true?

...

If you led with "yes" but countered with "no" for either of the additional two, I would only ask that you contemplate why the discrepancy.

And I know, a comment might be, "Well of course I want IT for everyone.  But, I want my definition of IT."

I would then ask you to contemplate...why your definition of "it?"  Are you certain that your definition of "it" is THE definition of "it?"

Because if it's just your definition of "it," then I'd finally ask you to consider if you really do want "it" for everyone.

...

Please join us for a conversation spanning all that seemed important at the time.  Still does.  Which is why I'm sharing it with you.

-G&G Muzak Factory