It's the economy, stupid!

Economies slough off their value when they become unjust. This is due to a simple fact which I express mathematically as:

Economy = Trust

What is money but faith?

If I take a dollar bill to the butcher in exchange for meat,
he trusts that he can take that same dollar bill to the baker for bread,
who trusts that he can take it to the candlestick maker.

An economy is at it's core a trust relationship, and this explains why honesty is crucial to maintaining an economy. Even a crook can understand that an honest man is the best choice for counting his cash.

What does it mean to have a president whose sworn word is no good, and whose administration is embroiled in corruption, in a position of economic stewardship?

Aren't our current banking troubles caused by dishonesty in accounting practices?
Wasn't the collapse of Enron dishonesty induced?

Here are messages, however incongruous they may appear, that may help our economy:

Part One (Hopi):



Part Two (from tree communities to corporate governance):



Part Three (pulling your horse):



It is difficult to hear and believe wise teachings. It is much more difficult to incorporate them. You might say, metaphorically, that it is as difficult as passing through the eye of a needle.

Those adorned with power seem to believe that if you say something enough it will become true. So maybe the trick is to listen enough to that which is beneficial?