Dear Alfred Nobel,
On January 19, 1998, over 100 years after your death, I was driving through Colorado late one night searching for something on the radio to keep me awake. I came upon Governor Michael Leavitt of Utah, delivering his “State of the State” address. In his address he tells a story of participating in a panel discussion with some very bright people charged with discussing the future. The discussion started with this scenario: “Look forward to 2015 and tell us what will be the most surprising.” When it came to his turn to speak, Governor Leavitt said, “I will tell you how the Nobel Peace Prize in Economics will be won in 2015.”                                                                                                     I listened to the rest of his address waiting to hear his answer. Finally, after all the political platitudes, he returned to his story. “The big surprise is that the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2015 will not be won by an economist, but by a sociologist who comes up with a new economic theory called the Economics of Goodness.” I was awake now. I am a Sociologist. I had just finished five years of teaching different Sociology courses at the College of the Redwoods: Intro to Sociology, Marriage and Family, Human Sexuality, Race & Ethnic Relations, and of course, Social Problems. The first thing I said to myself was; “2015, we can’t wait that long for economic goodness.”
Seventeen years later, my research is done and the new economic theory, the Economics of Goodness is ready to surprise. This brings me to the reason for writing this letter to you, Alfred. After reading your last will and testament, I found no mention of a Peace Prize in Economics. It appears Swedish Bank jumped on your coat tails in 1968 adding Economics to the prize categories. I have attached a copy of the Economics of Goodness to this letter for you to judge for yourself if it meets the criteria set forth in your will. I have done my best to incorporate your last wishes to promote peace between people and nations. The Economics of Goodness can not make peace happen any more than violence can. The Economics of Goodness can not change the past. The Economics of Goodness simply reminds us, both peace and violence are choices. Peace is possible if, we choose it, we teach it, and we live it. Talk is cheap.
Finally, it is very nice to have met you, Alfred. You spent almost all of your dynamite money searching for the peace we all have in our hearts. Thank you. I have tried my hardest to understand the relationship between dynamite and Peace. Two things I know for sure: we can choose dynamite or peace, and goodness is somewhere in between the two. Unfortunately, current conditions on the ground suggest we are still closer to dynamite than peace with seemly endless supplies of suicide bombers wearing dynamite vests and endless Peace plans at the end of a gun that do not deliver peace to everybody.                                                                                                                                    I believe the Economics of Goodness came from you, through Governor Leavitt, to me. I believe this after my exposure to your efforts to find, promote, and reward peace, somewhere, in this crazy violent world with your dynamite money peace prize award. Caring about the group and individuals is good for your soul and mine. Thank you, as you have inspired my soul with hope and purpose to help us choose peace. I have sociologically fortified the Economics of Goodness to go out into this crazy violent world to remind us; we can choose dynamite or Peace. I have posted this letter and a copy of the Economics of Goodness at economicsofgoodness.com. Sign if you believe. Randy Miller