Born On Third Base - Part 1
In part I of Born On Third Base, Chuck Collins introduces himself as the great-grandson of the Chicago meatpacker Oscar Mayor. He says that he won the lottery at birth. He grew up in a wealthy and advantaged family with all the benefits that proffers: country club tennis lessons, internationals travel, elite private schools, access to quality healthy care and healthy environments, a debt-free college education, a trust fund. He claims he was clueless as to how advantaged he was. At the age of 26 he gave away his half a million trust fund because he believed that the inherited wealth interfered with him finding his own way. The decision to give away his trust fund enabled him to live his life more aligned to his values. He says that he does not regret this decision.
In part one, Collins shares his own experience as an activist and campaigner on wealth inequality and climate change issues, and as someone born into privileged circumstances. Over time, he realizes the limits of fomenting "class antagonism" and learn that the rich are no different from the rest of humanity. Norris mentions that there is an empathetic barrier to change. Those of us in the top 1 percent rich are steeped in a mythology of deservedness, confusion, shame, and fear for the future. Cracking hearts open is one of the steps along our path to healing and transformation.
He mentions that we have the potential to build a powerful movement to reverse the inequalities in wealth. But in order to succeed, we need to enlist allies among the 1 percent and many awaiting to be called. For this reason, the class antagonism strategy will not get us to where we want to go. There are limits to the kind of change we can build from anger and stoking resentment. Collins mentions that in the United States, we are more likely to get Donald Trump regressive populism than Bernie Sanders's progressive populism. If we don't see the "commonwealth," or commons, that is the primary source of wealth and well-being, then we succumb to the myth that wealth is entirely the result of individual actions. The myth of deservedness says, My economic status is solely a reflection of my effort, intelligence, and creativity. The myth of disconnection says, An injury to you doesn't really matter to me. The myth of superiority implies, I know better, and blinds us to the resourcefulness, skills, and wisdom of less-privileged people.
In part one, Collins shares his own experience as an activist and campaigner on wealth inequality and climate change issues, and as someone born into privileged circumstances. Over time, he realizes the limits of fomenting "class antagonism" and learn that the rich are no different from the rest of humanity. Norris mentions that there is an empathetic barrier to change. Those of us in the top 1 percent rich are steeped in a mythology of deservedness, confusion, shame, and fear for the future. Cracking hearts open is one of the steps along our path to healing and transformation.
He mentions that we have the potential to build a powerful movement to reverse the inequalities in wealth. But in order to succeed, we need to enlist allies among the 1 percent and many awaiting to be called. For this reason, the class antagonism strategy will not get us to where we want to go. There are limits to the kind of change we can build from anger and stoking resentment. Collins mentions that in the United States, we are more likely to get Donald Trump regressive populism than Bernie Sanders's progressive populism. If we don't see the "commonwealth," or commons, that is the primary source of wealth and well-being, then we succumb to the myth that wealth is entirely the result of individual actions. The myth of deservedness says, My economic status is solely a reflection of my effort, intelligence, and creativity. The myth of disconnection says, An injury to you doesn't really matter to me. The myth of superiority implies, I know better, and blinds us to the resourcefulness, skills, and wisdom of less-privileged people.
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