Chapter 200 : Bruce is happy

Today Bruce is happy. It is his birthday. He is happy with the Beyblade he has just received. He then shows me how to spin a  Beyblade. He plays a game against me. I then manage to increase his happiness. I do this by playing the game like a know-nothing old man and losing worse than the Giants did.   

He then tells me about the names of all the Beyblades he wants in the future.

I don’t want him to live in a society where he gets anything he wants anytime he wants. He understand this. He also understands that Beyblades costs money. That somebody somewhere has to pay for it. Either his parents, his friends, himself or me.

I want him to look forward to a new Beyblade; to dream about it and anticipate it. To eventually get it and eventually enjoy it.

He has been to many birthday parties but he knows that birthdays are about giving as much as about receiving. He gets a lot of pleasure out of giving exactly what that person wants. He reaps what he sows.

We then watch the TV news. There are is a cavalcade of stories about what should be done. They should spend more money on the hospital, housing, roads, or at his school. They should stop ramping; they should increase the number of hospital beds; they should build a new bridge; they should employ more nurses; they should employ more firefighters; they should do something about the traffic; they should build more public housing.

He agrees with everything that should be done. He agrees that everybody should get what they want and do what they want.

I imagine him living in a better society than what exists at present.  A society which spends more on health, education, public housing and our roads. This society will need more money to pay for more spending. I imagine this society will have increased GST or increased income tax or users will pay more.

I dream of him living in a society where people love paying tax. Where people love contributing to their society. At present people are proud to crowd fund for the unlucky few, love volunteering or happily donate to help cure cancer.  I want them to be as proud about paying tax. To welcome it as an opportunity to support and help others in our society.  Those who are mentally ill, disabled, unemployed, pensioned or suffering in a foreign country.

I want Bruce to think of the government’s budget the way he understands his family’s budget. He understands that in his family money comes in which pays for all the food, the clothing and toys. He understands the amount they spend is similar to the amount of money coming in.

I imagine him living in a society where he will continue to watch the daily news. Where what he says and thinks matters. That he contributes to the general conversation via newspapers, radio, TV or Facebook.  I imagine him, in the future, using these opportunities creatively and compassionately.

In the future I imagine him feeling connected to the politicians. Thinking that it is a worthwhile activity talking to the politicians. That they listen and do the right thing.  That they do what is right and best for his local community, his nation and his planet.

In the future when I imagine him talking or writing about some issue I imagine him as doing more than saying more money should be spent on... I imagine him talking about the raising of money. He will suggests increasing income tax or increasing the GST. He will talk about new taxes and different ways of raising money. Or creative ways of getting the user to pay more. Ways the council, State or Federal government can raise more money.

As I dream about taxes Bruce is in touch with reality. He gives me tips and advice on how to spin a Beyblade and then does it much better than me. He is happy.