IMHO #1 And the Meek...
56And the Meek...
AND THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH
HEADLINE: Humanity Sets Course for Oblivion.
As recently as 2002 one of the most important books ever written regarding our environment was attacked by the Reason Foundation, a Libertarian, market friendly “think tank”. This champion of privatization and advisor to the Bush administration deemed Rachael Carson, author of the renowned Silent Spring, “ignorant”.
The suicidal rush of free market capitalism towards the oblivion of an uninhabitable planet seems unstoppable. Nothing, absolutely nothing, seems able to penetrate the greed, the blind insatiable lust of capitalist dementia. No amount of science, however irrefutable it may be, has the slightest impact. No reasonable discussion is tolerated if it suggests a halt to the nihilism of acquiring limitless wealth. As fantastical as it may seem, it must be true. The smallest portion of the human race, which controls over ninety percent of its wealth, consists of a primitive, irrational, unreasoning priesthood that believes there are no bounds to the destruction it can wreak and yet suffer no repercussions.
I find myself at a loss to comprehend the thought process behind this headlong race towards certain destruction. When faced with so many tangible and irrefutable facts how can any individual or group ignore or deny them? Is this some form of blind faith akin to the worship of a deity?
If I drive a car, at 100 mph, directly into a cement wall will the wall just disappear if I have sufficient faith that it will?
If I took Bill Gates to San Quentin, locked him in the gas chamber with his entire fortune of fifty or sixty billion and flooded it with lethal hydrocyanic gas, do you think his power and money would keep him alive?
If I put Warren Buffets’ entire fortune, an amount similar to that of Mr. Gates, in one of those steel freight containers and dropped it on him from a height of twenty feet or so, would his wealth and power prevent him from being crushed?
Why is there such a storm of controversy over what we’re doing to our environment? Who cares about mountains of scientific evidence one way or the other? One need only take a look at a multitude of observable phenomena and apply a modicum of common sense to reach the only possible conclusion; we are causing irreparable damage to our life support system.
Every minute we waste arguing over why it’s happening, if it’s happening, who is to blame and who should fix it brings us that much closer to living a nightmare that will make the black death a joyous frolic in the park by comparison.
I have written other pieces on this subject with references, links and quotes from the most qualified sources. No more. We are all qualified to open our eyes and see the reality.
To those of you who wish to continue living in denial; I hope you survive long enough to be forced to explain to your children or grandchildren why your immediate, personal gratification was more important than their survival.
Unless there is a great awakening, a global epiphany, the future will be lost and history will have to begin again. That, perhaps, is not the worst thing that could happen.
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Comments
Thanks for reading CJ.
Your observation is certainly valid. A genuine addiction is usually beyond the control of the addict.
Capitalist greed and the pursuit of endless wealth don’t strike me as being anything quite as organic as chemical addiction or even psychological dependence. It is far too calculated and premeditated. So, in this rare instance, I think we’ll have to disagree.
Even assuming that your paradigm is correct, isn’t there a point, when the addict becomes a danger to himherself and others, where intervention is required? Oh, wait! I think, in this scenario, it’s been defined as violent revolution!
My point with Bill Gates and his ilk is that the wealthy CAN'T be protected indefinitely. At some point, and every new report moves that point a little closer, all that wealth won’t be worth squat.
You can’t buy survival on a planet unable to support human life.
from what I have read also I agree with CJStone; and I really believe that countries and governments should not kowtow to these influences, but actually they should adopt more of the Robin Hood principle and raise the taxes on the wealthier people so that a fairer distribution occurs in addition to the slowing down of mass accumulation of expensive goodies by the greedy.
Don't stop writing as that won't help educate those who are not qualified to understand. Keep going. cheers.
Peter Russel wrote a marvelous book back in 1998 called "Waking Up In Time." Obviously, those who are perpetuating what has the appearance each day of our coming demise never read this appeal to our awareness. I doubt if they ever will.
To what level must our planet's degradation go before they hear the wake up call? But it's not just the wealthy and the powerful who are causing the problem. Just about everyone seems to be locked into the system that is creating this coming disaster. Only a few have turned to a different life style. Will the few become the many before it's too late? This is real drama we are living, and our time may be the final act. So, I keep on composting, drive very little in a car that gets 50 miles to the gallon, grow as much food as I can - in other words, make as small a footprint as I possibly can. Yet, still, I am a part of the problem. But wait. A miracle might happen. Something no one can anticipate might happen. There's no time to figure things out. We are reaching what the futurist call the point of singularity - when change occurs so rapidly, no one knows how to deal with it. Something like this is happening in the money market. The brightest people dealing with the situation haven't a clue about what to do. Interesting, eh?
Thanks for reading ajcor. Your comments are appreciated.
vitaeb, thanks for your feedback.
I agree that the consumer delirium has most of the populace locked into an unsustainable way of life. It is, however, the self appointed masters who have, with malice aforethought, brought about this indoctrination of the masses.
The ravens of ill omen have finally come home to roost.
We have sown and now we shall reap.
We will all do what we can and hope for the best.
CWB,
I have read most of the articles by R.G. Price at this link. The newest article is on the top, so you have to scroll down and start in the middle to read in Chronological order.
I think you will like his work as well as his references, they are excellent.
http://www.rationalrevolution.net/articles/index.h
TMG
Thought provoking hub CWB - thanks! Is it greed or is it power? Power is usually the most corrupting of all ills - blinding one to everything else. Through history, it's been drinking from this cup that seems to have set civilisations on the road to disaster - the power hungry few who have always controlled. Greed I feel is the virus they spead around to keep people addicted to their cause - be it consumerism, conquering other nations, plundering the goodness of the earth. The only way out of the trap might be education of the right sort - the Internet is at our disposal, not yet totally controlled by the power hungry. It could just be our lifeline to change.
I'm hopeful that this recession might help buy us a little more time. But only a little, and meanwhile the manic consumption continues in places where the people can afford it, like the Gulf States. I tend to agree with Shalini that it's driven by a power craze. Another problem is that modern cities are geared to consumption and it's actually difficult to live moderately within them. (How did you get on with Illich by the way?)
Hi CWB, it is pretty discouraging, I agree with you there. A professor from Western Michigan University wrote an editorial for the local paper last night about greed and about how the U.S. can't be a 'consumer economy' if no one has any money to spend except the top one half of one percent. (Duh!) He said that the CEO of Lehman Brothers, right up until it went bankrupt, made $400 million EACH DAY. That was his salary--$400 million per day, and he knew it was that much, and he was not uncomfortable with that or with trying to make it more by pistol whipping his staff into ever higher profits using ever riskier strategies.
Part of me wants to see this all fall down. I know it will be very hard. But I do kind of think we just need to start over, reboot. It's all too rotten at this point. I do have hope that if that can happen, something better might replace it--but easy? No, it'll be hellish.
Hi CWB,
You know, when we start talking about salaries and bonuses and personal fortunes that look like telephone numbers to you and me, you start wondering what exactly they mean to the recipients. They probably just look like telephone numbers to them too, but by the time they get to that level of success they've largely disassociated themselves from the relationship that money has with the necessities of life.
Another worrying trait I've encountered amongst the 'haves' as opposed to the 'have nots' is that they really do think it's tough luck if you happen to be poor or sick. The attitude is very much one of 'they're not having any of my money'. I've had run-ins with a few hubbers along those lines, and I've found the lack of compassion very concerning. Not everyone on benefits is a scrounger, and not all socialists are jobless. In fact, I always believed my own politics to be slightly right of centre until I joined Hub-Pages, and suddenly discovered that I'm actually a raving Commie! (LOL) Well in some peoples eyes at least.
My own hope is that the human race will endure in one shape or form and that this Age of Capitalism will pass into an Age of Reason. We can but hope.
I agree with Amanda--I hope our capitalistic ways are simply setting the stage for a more reasonable age, characterized by socially and environmentally conscious mindsets and actions. And I think Shalini brought up a great point about the promise of the Internet--this is something we can "own" and shape to serve our purposes, and a wonderful organizing tool for change.
You've mentioned that nothing, to this point, has seemed capable of halting the destructive rush of capitalism, but signs of its retreat are emerging all around us; in the sputtering economy and the results of our presidential election. Yes, the events that have led up to this point are discouraging, but we are creating a new reality in every moment, and I believe that reasons for optimism will continue to make themselves known to us as we strive toward a better future for all.
Thanks for the link TMG. I've bookmarked it so I can get to it later. I'm always in the market for more information to absorb.
Thanks for reading.
I agree with you Shalini Kagal. I like your separation of greed and power. I guess the indoctrination, resulting in what I refer to as consumer delirium madness, is based primarily on greed. That, in turn, helps the self anointed masters maintain their power.
The internet could definitely be a great tool for education. Television once held that same promise. Look how that worked out. If net neutrality can be preserved maybe the same fate can be avoided online.
Thanks for your comments, they are appreciated.
Hey Paraglider. Thanks for chiming in.
With my severely limited budget I’m not able to buy books. I have to pilfer them online. I’ve had some luck finding PDF books at a site called ScribD (http://www.scribd.com/). I’m currently reading Crossing the Rubicon by Michael Ruppert.
Problem is, searching by author generally just brings up books about rather than by. I managed to find Deschooling Society but haven’t been able to get to it yet. Can you give me a few of his titles? If I search by title I should have more luck.
I’ve gotten some Marx, whom I’ve never read, some Nietzsche, everything from John Maynard Keynes to Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
I’ve got quite a bit of reading to do.
Hi pgrundy. Always good to see you!
I think you and I have come to basically the same conclusion. Reformat the hard drive and start over from scratch.
And yes, it will be a nightmare. But hey, what's going on now isn't?
Welcome Amanda.
I couldn't agree more about that attitude you mention. Wait util you read the Hub I hope to be putting up today. It addresses that very thing in a not too polite manner. I'm so sick of that elitist attitude I just can't take any more of it!
Thanks for reading and contributing to the conversation.
Hi Melissa. My favorite eternal optimist!
I've always known what would put an end to capitalism; capitalism!
I’ve said on more than one occasion that it was born with the seeds of its own destruction as part of its “genetic code”. It is, by its very nature, self defeating.
I know that there may be better days coming. I’m just overwhelmed with sorrow at the suffering that has been and will yet be required to get to them.
As I replied to Shalini, the internet could certainly be a very powerful tool for the people. Television once offered a very similar opportunity and look how that worked out!
As long as we can keep the net from being totally privatized by capitalist corporations it can be a tremendous force for unity on a global scale.
Net neutrality is vital.
Actually, I think television is starting to come around--there are some fantastic shows now, both for entertainment, and for expanding one's knowledge, or both. And capitalist corporations don't have the will or the means to take control of the Internet (IMHO, of course!) ;)
Melissa.
The FCC would have handed it to them some time ago if not for the flood of emails, phone calls, letters and faxes that jammed their lines and crashed their servers! So, sometimes, the will of the people can be done!
Assuming Obama is what he represents himself to be there is a chance to bring about the real changes we need. But he won't do it by himself. We can't sit back and imagine everything is now OK. It's time to redouble our efforts to make our voices heard in Washington.
The Internet certainly has the potential to spread affordable learning and to counter ignorance and oppression. However in many parts of the world it is heavily censored. Mostly the censorship is aimed at pornography, but religious/political cansorship happens too.
CWB - the titles I've read are Deschooling Society, Celebration of Awareness and Tools for Conviviality. There is a bibliography on his Wiki page to.
Thanks Paraglider. I'll see if I can download Celebration and Tools.
The net could make a world, literally, of difference. IF it can be kept free.
I've just heard that in order to wind-up Lehman Brothers they've taken on ex-staff at Lehman Brothers and are intending to give them the same kind of over-the-top bonus' that they have always been used to. They also say it will tak a number of years to complete the process. They still haven't finished clearing up the mess of Enron yet. Who says that capitalism doesn't work or that recession is a bad thing? Some people are doing very necely thank you.
Yes, some are CJ.
The largest of the institutions receiving this corporate welfare will be using a large chunk to pay the head honchos the compensation and bonuses they were promised. They will use much of what’s left to acquire smaller players who are failing and don’t qualify for any of the handout. As far as I can tell, much as I expected from the start, none of that money will be used to help the people who actually need it.
And, lest we forget, there’s always that two trillion more that’s being doled out to…? The fed ain’t sayin’! In any case, it brings the whole mess up to a total of something like $3.5 trillion.
Can I find asylum in England?
Actually, I doubt things are very much different there by now.
Hi CWB
On the surface things are still not too bad, and the government is making all the right noises. Gordon Brown somehow seems to have pulled enough rabbits out of hats to convince the more gullible that he's some kind of a financial saviour despite the fact that as our former Chancellor he definitely had a role in our current predicament!
Meanwhile, however, the house a few doors along from me has been re-possessed. A friend recently lost his job completely unexpectedly when his employer suddenly ceased trading. Another acquaintance who owns a health food shop told me that her trade is down 25% in the last two months. The signs are there that things are not too great under the surface.
Amanda, welcome back.
Some companies here are closing their doors because they can't meet their payroll.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D94EV
This just keeps getting better every day!
It is interesting to see other peoples point of view. Thanks.
It is interesting eovery. It's even more interesting when you look at them with an open mind and give them serious consideration.
CJStone says:
13 months ago
CWB, I think greed is an addiction just like alcoholism. You know you can tell an alcoholic that his drink is doing no good, that it will kill him, that his liver will explode, and show him photographs of the consequences of alcohol abuse, but will that stop him drinking? It needs a change of heart on a very deep level to do that, and as long as the wealthy are protected against the consequences of their greed, they won't care. Let other people suffer. Actually I don't think it is even Bill Gates, wealthy though he is. I suspect an even more shadowy, and even wealthier, elite than Bill Gates. I read somewhere that 17 families own half of the world's wealth. That's an extraordinary thought.