The Social Contract

Tonight we did what we've done too many nights. Scrambled for money to pay for things that are essential. Not essential in the sense of "Boy, too bad if we can't do this." Essential in the sense of "People will die if we don't do this."

We found the money, I think, I hope. To pay for the essential things, anyway. The nonessentials, well, that's a little harder.

We talked about that a lot this evening. What it means to cut back on the things that make people happy, that make it seem as though there's more to life than waking up and slogging off to work and then slogging back home to sit inside, alone, watching television. These amenities, art and parks and celebrations, they may be nonessential but they give meaning to what we do.

For a long time, it seemed as if that didn't matter. Our humanity measured with a balance sheet, our dreams only important if they could be patented. It's changing, I think, I hope. People are remembering what it's like have friends and neighbors, to count on them and let them count on us. Remembering why the nonessentials matter so much to us.

In the meantime, we'll do what we can.