I posted these links with a few words about capitalism today on my Facebook page. It started an interesting conversation. First, I must say that I value everyone's opinion greatly, even if it is different from my own. Any argument that any one makes is a learning experience for me. I think it's funny that I got accused of being a Marxist and a Socialist. Or, then again, maybe that was simply my own perception. But here's what I had to say...
I need to live on a planet where there are no social, economic and political systems because it is all flawed in my opinion. Maybe on this planet, I would be considered a Socialist or a Marxist. I would just like to live in a place where everyone’s basic needs are met and if you want more than your basic needs, you work for it. I’m not going to go march on Wall Street, but I admire the people who are voicing their opinions and exercising their right to try and live how they want to live. In my opinion, we all have a right to live how we want. We all have one life and we should have the freedom to live this existence how we would like. It’s just too bad that there are so many of us on this planet that it isn’t possible to live that way without being forced into some kind of system or intentionally or unintentionally hindering the way in which others would like to live. People who believe in capitalism and want to live in a capitalist society should be free to do so, but I should also be free not to.
Well, if capitalism can be "contained" then it can work very well. In a world where corporations aren't regulated properly and we just let them regulate themselves, then everything will go crazy. We're seeing the repercussions of this at the moment, since the market crashed in 2008. Could it have been prevented? I think it could have. The major problem with capitalism however, is that money corrupts. Lets look at the US for example, now I don't pretend to be a expert on this subject by any means, but the corporations are influencing politics so much that it is becoming. Lobbyism has become a major force in politics, not only in the US, but in most western countries which has capitalism. That for me are the biggest flaws of capitalism, it simply allowes corporations to have massive power over a given country. let me know bout the unflawed planet, i wanna move there to! i love the lifestyle you seek! good post money sucks lol
ReplyDeleteI don't know, I find it interesting that people get all defensive of our capitalistic society (not that you are by any means). I just think that since we were born into this society, that many of us can't see things being any other way, or can't come up with something better. I believe humans could live peacefully and productively in a society with no currency whatsoever. What kind of social and economic framework did your ancestors live in? I bet it was something completely different. I admire the way in which your people, even today, live in community and come together to help one another when someone is struggling or is ill. To me, that is is what being human is about, supporting each other and working with each other toward the greater good of all (including the Earth). Capitalism has a way of turning people against one another and fostering an extreme form of individualim, where people become selfish and don't consider the needs of the whole. This is understandable however, it is a survival tactic, and we need money to survivie. I find this ridiculous, because the Earth provides each of us with everything we could ever need to survive (and free of charge!). That we have created a world where we must pay for our survival seems completely insane to me.
ReplyDeleteThe day i started realizing and understanding at such a young age, i was deeply touched and facinated by my culture and way of life. just from listening (at times i was a bit nosey too lol) to the teachings of my elders, shamans, medicine man, parents, the way they talked about how things were so much simpler back when they were kids, i was so interested. the way they talked bout true Indian bravery, folk wisdom and deep understanding of nature and their relation to it in the ecology of things.
ReplyDeleteI learning at such a young age, i was deeply fascinated with their deep relation to nature, the earth and the spirit world. it seems like there was a basic and common philosophy of nature and spirit between the peoples. the first principle is that we are embedded in a sacred circle of life and we resonate with it. we have responsibility towards life around us because in this circle of life, we affect everything and everything affects us. there is a deep rooted interdependence in the existence of things, a concept i believe that echoed in the Buddhist beliefs and modern scientific thought. they built there homes, they hunted, and farmed. only taking what they needed from the earth and nature, nothing more. that was the simple way of life.
A very long time has passed from their youth to now, and some of the unspoiled cultural life have been completely embellished by the frenetic spread of the infinite short sightedness and destructive greed of Man's collective ego. i say this on behalf of many other tribes, sadly some have been completely wiped of the map.
Politics, Slave society, capitalism, consumerism, some things i find deeply saddening! we live in a fucked up generation. my ancestors lived without pain, suffering and always giving back to the Earth. they lived simple.
You know what I think when I read this? That you need to write that book about your dad and if you wanted, you could put a twist on it so that it could be a book about what our modern world can learn from the wisdom of the ancient world. We can never go back to living simply as your people did, but we can incorporate the wisdom and ideas, and in my opinion I think it is necessary to our survival. You could interview elders and ask them what wisdom and advice they would share with today's society and the society of the future. You would be giving them a voice that otherwise might not be heard outside of their small community. And a voice that will live beyond their existence...You have a unique opportunity to do something like that...
ReplyDeleteThe act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes me think more deeply about life, which helps me regain who i really am. our language, tradition, and culture is fading. it would be a great honor to write, extend some knowledge, our cultural wisdom to those that actually do care and want to make a change. thanks for the encouragement, it means a lot, this is very important because of who i am.
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