Why Do We Work?

March 29, 2024

The easiest answer would be, we need to work so that we can make money to survive. But, this answer is the result of modern economics. We will do things, we will work, whether we are paid or not. Work is a result and extension of our necessity, curiosity and identity. It can be mental work or physical work. We know each other by what we do. " You will know them by their works."

Beyond " the pursuit of happiness."

In order to pursue happiness effectively a person must solve the necessity of basic needs: food, shelter, education and healthcare. To accomplish this within the societal agreements of our present involves a pact with "for profit" economics. Economics plays a most profound part in every person's life. We cannot make any move without considering, "how much will it cost?"

In the United States we have honed the functions of a Capitalist Economy to their finest edge, warts and all. We have all benefited from "free" markets, but the long term effect is that they enrich only a few; who for many years after the great depression voluntarily or involuntarily (because of an inspired tax structure) considered their workers and enhanced their lives with living wages and healthcare. That all ended with the Ronald Reagan administration. Breaking the Unions, introducing "trickle down economics" and changing the tax structure from very high taxes to the low 30's, stopped the faint motivation that companies had to consider the welfare of workers. Profit became the foremost concern. Consideration of the worker was labeled "socialism" defined as communist fascism, and as a result a very bad word.

So, what do we have now that everything has been swept aside as unimportant, except pursuit of profit at all costs? Worldwide, people are electing dictators. They are looking for change. Unfortunately they will not get the relief from pressures they are feeling in this way. For many, money has become the "root of all happiness," the only way to balance their aspirations. A closer look reveals that change in economic practices is the way to better living.

There is an urgent need to define the value of Humanity. Individual Human works in cooperation make economics possible, make society possible. We are of intrinsic value. For that reason our Human value must be equivalent to the reception of Human Basic Needs Worldwide; food, shelter, education and healthcare. Only a healthy, educated World population can meet the challenges of the future. As has been described in previous letters, Energy Currency, a parallel currency, can pay for all basic needs without inflation or taxes. The result will be Human autonomy, which will propel us all into a future of enhanced stability, curiosity and peace.

Finally, I come to our initial concept, the Human Energy Renewable Measure, HREM. What is it? It is the energy measurement that has been left out of the economic system. It measures input of Human Energy. Energy that is just as important as fossil fuels or other renewable energies that propel economies and societies. Establishment of an HREM measurement will function as a way of understanding and calculating the financing of Energy Currency.

Directors Letter, 11/5/23

Susan Caumont

"The laissez-faire market- centered approach confuses ends and means. Rather than being a source of dignity, work becomes merely a means of production; profit turns into a goal rather than a means of achieving greater goods. From here we can end up subscribing to the tragically mistaken belief that whatever is good for the market is good for society."

Pope Francis, "Let Us Dream, the path to a better future" 2020

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Hospital, Sydney, Australia

February 23, 2026

After all our planning for Jeff's next operation and waiting out the days till we arrived in Cairns, Australia, we finally flew to the Sydney airport. It was evening when we got there and both of us were exhausted. We both thought why call an Uber, there are a bunch of taxis hanging around, just take one of them to the motel. That was a mistake. We ended up paying $100 for a 20 minute trip in no traffic. Uber would have been half, I found out later. Since then we have taken several Uber rides in electric cars. And they have been excellent experiences. Australia has been importing Chinese made electric cars. We got to ride in a BYD and Uber drivers like to talk. We conversed with a Japanese driver and an Indian driver, both men. Both had been in Australia about 15 years. They seemed to like being in the big city. Both agreed it is generally too expensive. The driver from Japan, his wife works in the hospital and they have children, he likes the flexibility of the job so he can be involved with school and activities. The Indian driver has a son and would like to return to India so his son can experience his homeland. We are resting at our motel and I am outside watching the wild cockatiels.

Sea days

February 11, 2026

We have several sea days before we arrive again in Cairns, Australia. This means we will not see land for a while. The rhythm of sea days is very different from shore days. There are a variety of activities you can participate in. Almost anything you can imagine is being invented as a result of the variety of people onboard, some of whom want to duplicate the entertainments they enjoyed where they used to live. This is a residential cruise ship so a lot of the passengers are onboard long-term, meaning many months or years or the rest of their lives. The longest stay, if you “buy” your cabin, is 15 years. When Jeff and I bought our cabin that was all that was offered. Now you can buy a cabin for 5 years. Each circumnavigation takes about three and one half years. We are going to try to stay onboard for at least one circumnavigation. Before the sea days began, we visited two of the islands of Tonga. At the first stop, people scuba dived over a reef right next to our ship

French Polynesia, the islands

January 27, 2026

The float of cloud drifts and encircles a mountain leaving just the very top, a pointed witches cap poking through. These islands have the most magnificent mountains. They brood around the harbors, snagging the clouds that pass. No doubt they have inspired fantastic stories. The cloud shadows create chameleon-like changes on mountain surfaces, making them even more expressive than oceans that amuse themselves by hiding what they contain; mountains are hysterical by contrast. Always looking for attention. “Look. Look again!, what about this?” They may hold a pose for a while seeming docile, then you look up and they have disappeared. White mist covers just a grey suggestion, then suddenly black silhouettes like broken giant teeth rise defiantly. So much animation, millions of years after volcanic upheavals shook these mountains from the sea depths.

Notes from Fiji hospital, Oceana Hospital system and Denareau private hospital

January 13, 2026

Medical emergencies all have a similar feeling. Intensity, urgency, a changed perception of time; only events and human encounters progress, time seems warped, unimportant. After several sleepless nights because Jeff was having difficulty peeing and he was beginning to have pain, he went to the onboard clinic to get catheterized. There were three attempts with successively larger catheters. This was painful and distressing for him, though he kept joking about it, “this is not good sex!” The attempts were unsuccessful. He was given pain killers and an ambulance met us at the dock for a 10 minute ambulance ride to the hospital. Jeff is an 80 year old man with an enlarged prostate so he normally has trouble peeing. But this time it stopped altogether and there was blood. We are waiting at the hospital for the urologist. Nurses and a general practitioner have spoken to us in English. Very kind, polite, casual and patient. The urologist arrives and talks with Jeff. He is going to get the operating room ready and put Jeff out. Then he can do the operation. We wait in our curtained off cubicle Jeff is lying on a bed. A woman who came with her husband, who has high blood pressure, is behind the curtain to the left of us. He had collapsed. She is reciting the Lord's Prayer and Hail Marys over and over in an emotional whisper. She is crying. A young man is in the cubicle to our right. He seems to have broken his arm. It is all wrapped up in white gauze. Earlier a man had been stung by something and ointment was applied. A pregnant woman has come in. This is a modest hospital, very basic, two floors. They have what they need. A few flies buzz lazily around, but most are killed by the electric device on the wall. A very slight smell of urine is in the air. We arrived here about 8:30. It is now 2:00. Jeff has had an ultrasound, blood pressure checks and an EKG. Now he is in a wheelchair waiting for the nurse to take him to an operating room. The waiting room has about 10 people waiting. About 50 chairs in all. Not terribly busy for a Saturday. Light and darker coffee colored skin, attractive, rounded features and large expressive eyes set apart the native population. They are only a little curious about us. There is no rushing here.

Why Do We Work?

Hospital, Sydney, Australia

Sea days

French Polynesia, the islands

Notes from Fiji hospital, Oceana Hospital system and Denareau private hospital

Ch 17, South Pacific Countries, islands

Palau

Indonesia

Yap Stone Money, CH 15

Philippines, reflections

Chapter Eighteen - Philippines