Come election time, voters (certainly in N. America) invariably put the Economy first, but this seems to me illogical and as much a spiritual issue as a political or economic one. Some thoughts to ponder:
• If other issues – environment, security, health care, education etc. – top the opinion polls at non-election times, but almost always give way to the “economy” at elections, it strongly suggests that the “economy” is the key/fundamental / underlying issue to most people, whether “left” or “right”.
• The “economy” seems to be code for “I want more”, which is eminently understandable.
• The present Right wing neo-Cons in N. America assert that we can all “get more” by giving cart blanche to the big corporations and to the richest, cutting taxes and regulation. They reason that “rising water raises all boats” and are somewhat correct, taking society as a whole.
• However, studies show that the discontent and stress of the less privileged in the developed countries are related to relative poverty rather than an actual amount of material goods. Thus, undeveloped countries envy the developed ones and the poorer citizens in the rich countries envy the most privileged, who are becoming ever richer because of current Free Market policies...increasing the “envy gap”.
• All of these current 21st century dynamics point to an underlying truth that the great spiritual teachers have taught for well over 2000 years – that for most people, there is never “enough”. Even, the richest, most famous, most beautiful do not have “enough”. Since we live in a consumer society, we tend to think more consumption will satisfy us..but it does not, even though the average N. American’s standard of living is a distant, unattainable dream for most of the planet’s population.
• In changing the world, very few think to change themselves, but we and the world are interconnected as One...a fact that should be becoming increasingly apparent. Real change – transformation – takes skill and perseverance and is as necessary for personal fulfillment as for harmonious global advancement. Occasional positive thinking and affirmations are not enough.

Getting back to the upcoming election, think of the kind of world you want and the political leadership that will move you in that direction..or at least not take us in a negative direction. Most people, including our elected representatives, don’t understand the economy...that at least I know as a former accountant and economist. So think of what else is important – honesty, integrity, compassion, tar sands, nuclear energy, the environment, vision for Canada (which is not a carbon copy of America’s conflicted one).