Ep97 [2/2] Ramona Massachi: We are in this together, whether we like it or not.

Welcome to episode 97 of Activist #MMT. Today’s part two of my two-part conversation with Ramona Massachi. Last week in part one, we discussed our new interview series with MMT candidates. As I read these words, we’ve already scheduled seven. Today, in part two, we talk about various concepts we’ve learned in the past year, all centering around the idea of taking care of those at the bottom. This is something that our of-by-and-for-the-rich laws and media make extremely difficult. Taking care of the poor is not just a virtue and the right thing to do, it’s necessary for saving our species. If you think of all humans as a single person, that person has a terribly infected foot. It’s now spread up to his knee, and there’s a dull but obvious red line connecting the two. We pretend that foot’s not part of us. We’re deceived into thinking it’s not part of us or connected to us. Soon enough, however, that red line will work its way to the rest of our body and will become unstoppable. We are all in this together, whether we like it or not. The longer we keep neglecting those at the bottom, the sooner we – me and everyone listening to the show, with their comfortable homes and cars, and affordable health insurance, will become those at the bottom. We will start dealing with these problems and control our destiny, or we can enjoy our second-class amenities in blissful ignorance until the waterline reaches our staterooms. And yet, as Mr. Rogers says, in a crisis, look for the helpers. We have no choice but to take a breath and learn the true cause of our problems, and our own role in exacerbating them. Part of that is recognizing our own privilege. There is no other planet for us, there is no other government for us, there is no political savior. We are all we’ve got. As Ramona says, reality is what we think it can be. If something is physically possible, then we can do it. So let’s envision what’s possible and start doing it. Start discussing it. Because what else is there? And now, back to my conversation with Ramona Massachi. Enjoy.