Breaking Point

Have you noticed that we've reached the height of information and acceptance in the truth regarding socio-economic disparity? We've reached the height of frustration with the knowledge that the poor are getting poorer, the middle class is disappearing and the rich is getting richer? Throughout history this always seems to be the moment where a revolution leads to change. It's the natural progression when the pressure builds and moments later, there is a burst of anger, of momentum followed by change. It happened with the French Revolution, the American, the Civil Rights movement, the period of unrest in the 1960's thanks to the Vietnam War. And it's about to happen now. So take a moment and witness what is happening.The foundation of America is on shaky ground. The balance will need to be restored. And who knows how this will happen. What will change and what will remain the same? Will New York City become a playground for the rich or will De Blasio divert the flow of money so that we can all enjoy its bounty? Will universal healthcare finally pull people out of poverty? Will the yearly cost of college continue to soar or will a generation finally put an end to a nonsensical system meant to keep the unwanted out of their ivy gates? Will there be a pivotal event that signals or forces change or will the change be more gradual? Will it get worse before it gets better?

David Simon, creator of the Wire shares his take on the stunning divide that our capitalist society has led to - a system, he argues, that is not the answer to universal happiness. As much as capitalism creates wealth and prosperity, the market does not nudge people into caring for the needy, making financial sacrifices to protect the environment or generally compel them to do the right thing.

Andrea Elliott of the New York Times spends a year profiling the life of a girl who is an innocent victim of a system that has failed her through Invisible Child. Entirely blameless, Dasani is trapped in a system that does not do what it is supposed to do. In fact, her family is literally treated like animals, being housed in a poorly kept shelter without even the freedom to heat up their own food. This is most evident at the end of the article when the family is given the opportunity to leave their home of several years. The catch is that they only have a few hours to pack up their belongings with no knowledge of where they'll end up. The system assumes they have no emotional ties to their surroundings, their belongings or their fellow neighbors. So like animals who are adopted to new owners, they must appreciate the new opportunity while ignoring any emotions that come from leaving - a feat that anyone would struggle with.

So when will our world change for the better?

Tipping Point

Last week, I stopped by a fruits and vegetable mini grocery store in my home town (suburban NJ) and was delighted to find veggie juice; i.e. kale, lemon, ginger, apple, etc. for only $4.50. I put it on the counter at the register and an older woman in her 60s said "What is that supposed to do?" And next to her was another older couple discussing their happiness at finding juice at Julio's (the store), mentioning that they were following some sort of diet by Dr. Oz. I explained to the woman that juice had tons of nutrients and that kale was awesome. It made me think, does this conversation mark what would be called a "tipping point?" Obviously healthy eating, juices and the idea of "alternative medicine" has been around since the 60s. It has gone slightly mainstream thanks to Whole Foods but could still be considered limited to a wealthier consumer or even younger demographic.My suspicions were confirmed a few days ago. The NY Times recently posted an article marking this shift. National food chains are offering healthier options at the demand of their consumers. We've reached a tipping point. Corporations are looking towards sustainability and even pharmacies are carrying fresh fruit. In the coming years, I believe there will be a societal pressure to eat healthy and live more sustainable just as we've pressured each other to quit smoking, wear seat belts, and not drink and drive. I'm hoping that the obesity epidemic, crazy weather and political strife around the world is one of those situations where it has to get worse before it gets better. Will everything will be uphill from here?