Doing Good: The Solution To Economic Inequality?

"A rising tide lifts all boats".

The statement above is usually used to refer to the idea that a growing economy is good for EVERYBODY.

It sounds nice, but does it really work? I think it does.

The problem is that the majority of people in America are focused on "doing well" - specifically, better than their neighbor, the Joneses.  A person making $100k is happier living with neighbors who make $80k than he would be if they were making $120k.  He's still making the same amount, but compared to those around him, he's not doing "as well".  Doing well exists only in relation to others.

We need to change our mindset to that of "doing good" - finding ways for everyone to prosper, live a healthy and productive life, and have the freedom to do what they want (or at least the opportunity for these things).  Doing good means contributing to the advancement of society in a way that helps as many people as possible.  

For example, let's look at taxes.  In your state, one politician wants to raise taxes to fund projects that clean up pollution.  The other wants to cut taxes by reducing funding for that program.  For you personally, pollution doesn't really affect you directly.  You have clean water, and live in an area with fresh air and no hazardous waste nearby.  

If you're only goal is to do well, you'll probably see pollution (in this example) as a problem that doesn't affect you and vote for the politician promising a tax cut.  After all, a tax cut would directly benefit you.

If you want to do good, you'll see that pollution is a problem for your state as a whole - it's causing environmental and health problems - maybe reducing pollution would improve health and the land in your state.  Clean air and water and fertile soil are good attractors for businesses and residents, and improved health would lead to lower spending on healthcare.  Over time, the economic benefits might be WAY more than the initial tax cuts.  But you might not get to enjoy them - they could be 30 or 40 years down the line.  

So do you want the tax cut now, or the possibility of a more prosperous future, which you may or may not get to take part in?  People think the American Dream is about getting rich, having a big house and a nice car and vacations and the freedom to do what you want.  All of these things are about doing well.  Doing good means having a nice house, access to transportation, the ability to travel, and the freedom to do what you want.  It's a little less glamorous, but everybody gets a slice.  And over time, the slices ALL grow bigger.

Doing well means trying to lift YOUR boat, ignoring those around you.

Doing good means trying to raise the tide, knowing Your boat (as well as everyone else's) will rise too.