nursingforsocialjustice

Is it a legitimate fear to think that if many people who have nothing get something, that that something will directly lead to you having less? Like in an apocalyptic way? A strange spiral of catastrophizing, no? Do you ever stop and think about how terrible that sounds? But that’s how the rationalization process happens by which we not just understand, but forgive and continue to do things like dump our garbage in developing nations.

It’s curious to think about how something like universal basic income or a living wage extinguishes the possibility of you being the next Bill Gates. Let’s face it, you and I aren’t going to be nor were we ever going to be the next Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. It’s strange logic to think that the super rich are going to be the ones to bring prosperity to and alleviate suffering for all, globally. It’s also strange to think about how invested and attached we are to something like a new TV or the latest iPhone that it we choose that over someone getting paid enough to buy their family food and pay the rent. I’m not innocent of this. I am very much attached to the idea of having more stuff too. And personally it causes moral distress.

Here I go, having an another existential crisis. If the point of all of us doing any of this isn’t so that everyone can live in a world where they feel wanted, and valued and needed and connected and loved, then what’s the point of any of this?

We do so many things, that are deeply, deeply embedded in a structure that makes people feel like their otherness and shortcomings in terms of an average normal and highly marketed opulent was something that they have done to themselves, that they would change if they wanted to and that they deserve because isn’t that just the way the world is?

Think of the value that is placed on productivity and the monetary value that is given to certain things. I think about this all the time when I look at my 4 kids and think about how this is necessary work that has to happen, people having children and raising them and having communities in which they are valued and loved. It’s so much work. But we don’t get paid for it. Should we? Does it make it more legitimate if we do? Or should we ask society just want to invest resource in this?

I’m thinking deeply about women’s work in the context of my historical research on psychiatric nursing in BC. In the 1940s and 1950s there was a critical shortage of nurses. There was a need to include more people to work in the healthcare system to make it work.

Is it okay to not want more power and more money?

Love,

Michelle D.