Reaching Owning-Class People
For many years, owning-class RCers have been working on issues related to money—being open about how much we have, noticing that many of us have more than we need, and giving it back, especially inherited wealth. We have done good work. We have tried to look honestly at our financial situations and take appropriate action. And we have more work to do—to discharge and regain full connection with ourselves, with others, and with the world and to give back money that’s come from exploitation, money that we do not need for our lives to go well.
Another policy is to use our backgrounds and positions to impact policies and practices in the wide world. Part of this involves reaching for owning-class people.
I have been leading a group of Co-Counselors who are reaching for fossil fuel executives and their funders. Eight to ten people attend regularly—from England, Australia, and the United States. Another five to ten attend occasionally. Almost half of the attendees were raised working or middle class. We meet every two weeks to discharge about reaching toward people who are leaders in or funders (bankers and insurance industry executives) of the fossil fuel industry. We have been exploring our connections with extended family members, school classmates, former coworkers, and so on, whom we have tended to “run away from” as opposed to reaching for. We have been working to reclaim and rebuild our relationships with them. Our goal is to influence them so they will support the rational policies that are needed in order to avoid climate catastrophe.
I have learned the following:
- We know more people than we often realize. Group attendees had “aha’s” [sudden realizations] about a brother-in-law, a high school or private school classmate, and a former co-worker. We had “forgotten” the roles these people have in the world and that we have personal relationships with them.
- Our relationships are more meaningful and connected than we can easily remember. I recently reconnected with my boss from thirty-five years ago with whom I had not had any contact for over fifteen years. He is now in a position of far greater influence than before. I remembered that thirty-five years ago he had trusted and relied on me and realized he would likely be open to hearing what I think about controversial issues. We were eager and excited to talk with each other.
- We all have feelings about owning-class people, regardless of our class background. We need to discharge these feelings as we move in their direction.
It’s been important for us owning-class people, for our own liberation and for the world, to reclaim our relationships with other owning-class people. We inherently love owning-class people (after all, we inherently love ourselves). We don’t want to give up on anyone, and this includes our own people.
I am also reaching for white working-class folks and People of the Global Majority. I need to reach for everyone I can possibly reach and be stretched in every direction.
USA
(Present Time 203, April 2021)