Hello,
As I mentioned in my
recent interview with the Vancouver Sun published today, I learned from Nobel Economists that our unsustainable economic system causes an increase in cancer, pollution and disease.
It also increases loneliness -- and studies show loneliness is worse than smoking 15 cigarettes per day, and twice worse than obesity.
Most people agree the system is broken. But now what? What should we do about it?
It may sound naive, but I believe love and kindness is the answer!
I cannot buy or sell love and kindness BUT I can give it away freely!
So I decided to stop buying, selling, and trading -- and instead,
I simply give and receive. I want a public debate about our economy, and our government to change our policies.
I believe a
"gift economy" can remove the causes of my cancer and disease, just like Okinawa Japan, Ikaria Greece, Sardinia Italy and the world's healthiest places with the highest concentration of centenarians who have gift economies!
The first thing I need to transition from the market is housing. Since I'm looking for a gift of housing by June 30th, I thought... why not give what I seek? (24th June update: I have received a gift of housing.)
So I'd like to pay your rent as a gift, or help you pay your mortgage.
(June 7th update: I paid a stranger's rent for a year. The Vancouver Sun reports: "Unemployed man offers to pay a stranger's rent for a year".)
Here's her cheque.
She took a picture when she received it.
From: Vicki Lucille, a chronically ill mother of 4 kids, Pennsylvania US. Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2014
Dear kindhearted likeminded souls out there,
I'd like you to meet Brice. This man is unlike any other person I've ever encountered.
I've learned so much from him. But what really blew me away and melted my heart was his generosity.
You see, he offered to pay my rent for an entire year!
I was flabbergasted and asked, “why?”
He explained that the money exchange system of buying and selling is flawed and ultimately leads to illness. We need to give and receive freely to others. Only then can we truly understand human love and compassion. He desires a society in which people take care of each other like this.
It brought tears to my eyes when I realized he has cancer. [and unemployed]
And... He took money out of his own personal savings to help me, a person he's never even met outside of Facebook. But then I understood his reasoning. We often will only receive what we are willing to give. The universe is like a boomerang or echo– what you send out is what you get back. So Brice is sending out waves of love to others and I'm sure he will receive just as much, if not more, love in return.
It is my sincerest hope that us people in this world will see the massive effect they can have on others and their community, if they simply care for one another.
I gave another person left a comment on my blog below.
There are a few more that I didn't bother reporting yet.
This is a big risk and cost on my part. But this may be the only way to start a discussion about our broken economic system.
Sometimes, you need to take risks to change the world, like this man.
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| (c) Timothy Allen |
Everyone should receive housing as a gift.
It has nothing to do with affordability. No one should have to trade money in exchange for housing or anything.
Especially if they can afford it. In fact, studies show the wealthier you are, the more psychologically disconnected and dependent on money you become. So the wealthiest 1% ironically need to experience giving and receiving the most.
I can confirm this from family experience.
According to The Wall Street Journal:
"In a survey titled "Joys and Dilemma of Wealth" by Boston College, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Calibre Wealth Management, the wealthiest set revealed they are an unhappy bunch -- worried about appearing ungrateful, rearing bratty children and failing to meet expectations."
The article writes:
Would $25 million make you happy?
Not if you're a member of the ultra-rich.
In a survey titled "Joys and Dilemma of Wealth" by Boston College, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Calibre Wealth Management, the wealthiest set revealed they are an unhappy bunch -- worried about appearing ungrateful, rearing bratty children and failing to meet expectations.
Here are ten fears of the uber-rich:
Money
A respondent reported he wouldn't feel financially secure until he had $1 billion in the bank.
Ungrateful
Survey respondents report feeling that they have lost the right to complain about anything, for fear of sounding — or being — ungrateful.
Trust Funds
Those who are parents worry that their children will become trust-fund brats if their inheritances are too large — or will be forever resentful if those inheritances (or parts of them) are instead bequeathed to charity.
Friendships
The respondents also confide that they feel their outside relationships have been altered by, and have in some cases become contingent on, their wealth. "Very few people know the level of my wealth, and if they did, in most cases I believe it would change our relationship," writes one respondent. Another says, "I start to wonder how many people we know would cut us off if they didn't think they could get something from us."
Gift-Giving
Some wealthy people stopped looking forward to the holidays "because they were always expected to give really good presents," said Robert Kenny, one of the organizers of the survey, when interviewed in The Atlantic. When you're a millionaire, Kenny says, expensive gifts merely meet expectations. "That was a pretty good present," the recipients might say. "But last year, you gave me a car."
Anxiety
"Wealth can be a barrier to connecting with other people," writes the spouse of a tech wizard who cashed in to the tune of $80 million. Rich people often feel they can't share the stresses in their lives, for fear someone will say, "Yeah, wouldn't I like to have your problems." It can get awkward when the check comes at a restaurant and there's hesitation over who will pay.
Careers
One wealthy survey respondent who worked in the nonprofit sector says she would feel insecure about her position if she resumed working. "If I decided to get a job in the field, I think I would have trouble being seen as a colleague and not a donor," she wrote.
Entitlement
Many express relief that their kids' education was assured, but are concerned that money might rob them of ambition. Having money "runs the danger of giving them a perverted view of the world," one respondent writes. Another worries, "Money could mess them up — give them a sense of entitlement, prevent them from developing a strong sense of empathy and compassion."
Inheritance
"I have grown up with a father who never wanted to give up control of his business but kept taunting me with the opportunity to step into his shoes." His wife adds, "It has been difficult to feel financially independent when [my] spouse's parents hold tight control over [our] children's inheritance."
Poor People
"Nobody has the excuse of 'lack of money' for not being at peace and living in integrity," writes one survey respondent of his family, with a touch of bitterness. "If they choose to live otherwise, that's their business."
The gift isn't the money, it's the experience of love.
So when I'm offering you to pay your mortgage, taxes or rent --- the gift I'm offering you isn't just the money, it's the love -- the experience of receiving and giving.
The gift I am offering you is the experience of removing transactions which isolate you from others, and leads to disease.
And on the big picture, it contributes to the psychology that creates unsustainable economic conditions that harms us.
What we do with money is our choice. We can buy or sell, or we can give and receive.
In an ideal world, we wouldn't need money. Unfortunately, most of us don't live sustainably off-grid and are dependent in the monetary economy. But what we do with money is still our choice. We can trade and exchange money for housing and services, but that will further disconnect us, harm us, and contribute to an unsustainable economy.
OR...
We can freely give and receive money, housing, and food with no strings attached.
Just like we do with family and friends. That will solve many of our global crises today.
The choice is ours. And I choose to give and receive!
All I want is people to question this economic system based on trade, and to consider alternatives.
So here's my offer:
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Seeking Homeowners: I'd like to pay your tenants rent, or mortgage.
Hello,
I'm looking for housing but instead of buying or renting a home, I'd like to pay your next tenant's rent so they can receive free housing, or help pay off your mortgage, or property taxes.
I understand this sounds unconventional.
The reason why I'm doing it is because although I'm taking a risk, I believe that
giving and receiving without trade is the only way I can heal myself from cancer, and save others from the disconnection that the market economy creates.
If you'd like to know why I decided to stop trading, bartering, buying or selling, you can learn about my story in the Vancouver Sun here:
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Forward+group+takes+root+Vancouver/9915767/story.html
If you're a homeowner interested in receiving this gift, I'd love to hear from you.
Please let me know what you think.
Brice
PS: The short answer is we never trade with family and friends, only strangers and enemies. And this disconnection led to many of our worlds global crises.
PPS: You may ask: "If you can afford a home, why not rent or buy one yourself?" Because that's a trade. Instead, I am giving you is a gift with no strings attached. I don't expect you to repay me. Otherwise, that would be an exchange, not a true gift.
A real gift is about love, not trade.
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Of course, I cannot help everyone as much as I would love to, or I would quickly be bankrupt. Please don't take it personally if I don't answer your request. But I will do my best.
But let's hope my action will get others to do the same?
To read more on how I believe the gift economy will remove the causes my cancer,
click here.
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