Want to get a torrent of reaction from people in a big hurry? Begin talking about some of the research studies that receive public funding each year. 鈥淢y tax dollars funded that?" is often the cry of incredulity as people hear about the topics of academia receiving grant money, particularly if it is in an area of no particular interest to the people with strong opinions.
Since my academic background is in sociology I have little problem with money spent on behavioural sciences and I therefore shouldn't turn around and complain about the dollars spent studying birds or historical architecture. Those projects are just as relevant to those fields as ones I find relevant to my own. However you can really stir the pot with this discussion.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 What I loved about studying sociology was that every sort of human interaction is a legitimate topic of study since this field is all about how people function in groups. It follows then that everything people do, say, witness and experience is open to observation and study. One of the best classes I ever took was called Sociology of Sport because my term paper was 鈥淭he Media Construction of the Olympic Games鈥� and I got to analyze how TV networks selected, packaged and brought us their version of the Olympics. This of course required many hours of study in front of the TV watching Olympic coverage. Work, work, work.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I wouldn鈥檛 disapprove of public money being spent to fund such works but there are others that furrow my brow simply because they鈥檙e not in my range of interest or experience. To be on the committee choosing which studies or programs to fund and which ones not to is a thankless job. For each person expressing support for your selection you will have twice as many critics. But decisions need to be made.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽Economists speak about governmental mandatory and discretionary spending; the first being what is automatically obligated by previously enacted laws, the latter being the projects and programs that are optional.The same applies to our household budgets. We have items we must pay for each month related to the cost of living, and any residual can be used for the non-essentials-- as defined in whatever way we may choose.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Equating our use of money with the idea of exercising discretion may seem to be at odds--particularly in the western world where conspicuous consumption is an economic watchword. Yes, we have the right to act according to our own judgement when it comes to our money, but it is in the exercising of that freedom that we must recognize we wield tremendous power. And often times we question the discretion of the purchaser.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A billionaire had a $2 million marble deck installed at the front of one of his properties so he could access his $200 million yacht. The National Science Foundation in the United States spent almost $900,000 training captive mountain lions to walk and run on a treadmill so researchers could measure oxygen consumption at different activity levels. The money I spent on chocolate last weekend could have provided food and clothing for an orphaned child for an entire month. We can stand in judgment or we can look again at what we have the resources to do. See, it's not about pointing fingers at how others spend their money but about understanding the power that is at our disposal.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 We are free to determine whether we want to tour a castle or buy a car or purchase a condominium. But having that kind of power demands we think beyond ourselves to the life-altering impact we can have on others. Those who are struggling to function with so much less than we have or amidst challenges greater than what we are facing can have their circumstances positively impacted each time we are willing to forego something not entirely necessary to us and then directing those resources to others.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Perhaps the greatest economic turnaround is not one promised by government or studied by economists. The greatest change of fortune in our lifetime would be one in which we demonstrate tremendous discretion toward our own needs, while exercising complete extravagance toward the needs of others. The things we can live without could very well provide what someone else needs鈥o live. That's my outlook.
