How we use money involves not just making change in the sense of getting coins back for bills, but also in the sense of shaping the world—hopefully toward a better version of what the world can be.
How do you use your financial resources to make change?
I regularly contribute to charities and organizations that promote kindly political change. However, I have learned to be careful about the latter organizations, in several ways: 1. I have learned that the request to “click here” to sign a petition, take action or to “stand with” whatever is actually a mind control technique you can read about in “Influence–the Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert Cialdini. It makes it harder to resist the follow up request for money, and I have read that the effect of those petitions on lawmakers is counter to what we want. So if I agree with the purpose of the petition, instead of signing their petition, I call my legislators at state or federal level, depending on where the legislation is pending, and I compose my own wording, which makes it even more effective. 2. I got to a point to where I got too many requests from too many redundant organizations. So I picked 4 to which I contribute on a quarterly basis, not in response to an email, just go their website on my own. 3. When I do contribute off my quarterly schedule, I try not to do so in response to an email that emphasizes what we are against, because I believe in the law of attraction–we attract more of what we focus on. Rather, I try to reward the behavior I would like the organization to repeat by contributing to an email about positive things they wish to, or have, achieved.
Very good analysis and reasons for response, Margaret. Thank you.
For more years than I can remember, I have had “added $1” affixed to my electric/gas bill to pay for others who may not be able to do so. I have to just have blind trust that it is used for its intended purpose; I was brought up that way. Hopefully this will provide an opportunity for some in need. I hope this leads to a positive distribution in our total energy use.