The tools we use to measure tell us a story
How the neoliberal story loves to disdain the poor. Worthless. Useless. A drain on society. Lazy.
I was raised on this story. I believed it until I found myself a highly educated single mother and struggling to pay rent.
If we use the Synergistic Accounting tool to consider poverty, we will find that our measure of what makes someone poor is completely inaccurate.
Our current measuring system looks through the lens of one domain, money.
In Synergistic Accounting, we look through the lens of 6 domains. 12 in total. Inputs and outputs.
Are we poor in things like housing, transport, and access to tools —computers, phones, books?
Are we poor in currency? Money? How much monetary debt do we have? Are we poor in time? Many people with money in extreme reserve have a complete scarcity of time.
Are we poor in knowledge? Not just education, but applied knowledge. Look at some of those people knowledging their way around executive orders. There is a strong argument to be made that they have poor knowledge of global systems, and certainly poor knowledge of morals, ethics and human decency.
Are we poor in tools and artefacts? Do we speak only one language, do we have access to the types of tools to give us a greater connection to society, the internet, and communication systems? One could also argue that those people with limited access to social media might have better health.
Are we poor in Warm Data? Warm Data refers to the relational and connective field. It includes community, people, intimacy, love, belonging, care, delight, and beauty. Is our soul full and nourished? So many people with obscene financial wealth have hollow bones when it comes to healthy, intimate, and connected real relationships.
Are we poor in well-being? Are we vital, able to move freely, emotionally and spiritually nourished, mentally grounded and strong?
The richest people in the world in the domain of money are quite often the poorest in the domains of true intimacy, connection and belonging. Some of the poorest people in the world in the domain of money are the richest in connection, community and beauty.
The tools we use to measure tell us a story. The story becomes the frame for everything.
The story we are telling is failing life, beauty, joy and love. We might begin to measure Synergistically.
Photo May 2nd 2023, Article written May 2nd 2025
