We Need Something New

If I’m being brutally honest, the system I would argue that isn’t working is capitalism. Some would argue that it’s working exactly as intended–by the few. It is not working as the many intend, though.

Because the top 1% aren’t the only participants. They are malicious participants, they are the problem with society, yes. But we are all participants, every time we go to work, take a paycheck, buy anything with the money that capitalism has decreed must rule us all.

I don’t have all the answers. Hell, most of the time, I don’t feel like I have any answers. But I do know the system is destroying us and everything around us, and there are those who want to watch it all burn, there are those who couldn’t care less as long as they get their next hit–drugs or dopamine–and there are those screaming at the top of their lungs that things have to change, and there are a very few actually trying to make those changes.

And I get it. I fall somewhere between those screaming and those trying to make changes–but I can’t even figure out what nutritional guidance to follow. Maybe unregulated information on the Internet isn’t the best idea, but who’s going to regulate it? The government? Off the top of my head, I can’t think of many countries right now who would say they would trust their government with the power to choose what information they can access, without restriction.

It could very easily be a slippery slope to becoming cut off from the rest of the world, locked in an endless cycle of government-sponsored lies.

Again, I don’t have the solutions. Just a lot of thoughts and the hope that maybe, if we all talk about it and share our thoughts enough, just maybe…we could all come up with a solution together.

That’s the only way we’ll defeat any of what’s going on right now. Unity. Standing together. It’s why certain people are trying so hard to keep us divided. Hating each other instead of the puppet masters robbing us blind. It’s how we scare them. There are few things as intimidating, impressive, and awe-inspiring as a solid wall of humanity saying “we are better than this.” and succeeding at building a brighter future. How many movies and shows do we see this in?

It’s funny, in an ironic sort of way, that they gave us the vision. All those Disney movies about hope and aspirations and friendship. All the dystopian novels we read portraying the same type of reality we would face–lack of jobs, lack of healthcare, homelessness, famine, pandemic, mismanagement, corruption, greed. Stories about kidnappings and daring escapes. Hidden truths coming to light.

We’ve been given the key. We’ve had the door slammed in our faces. We’re holding the key right next to the lock and somehow still haven’t put it together. What is really holding us back?

What is holding each of us back? For me, it’s…wading through all the misinformation. I want to know I’m fighting for the right side and not for, say for example, a company that pretends to be ethical and humanitarian while using child labor under the table. Verifying accusations and digging through the Internet A) takes time and B) is exhausting. And C) isn’t really a one-person job. But knowing who to trust in the era of bots and LLMs is a whole other set of problems.

What’s holding you back? Fear? Do you or your family belong to a group that might be targeted if you take action? Do you have something precious you’re afraid to lose?

What are we willing to sacrifice to keep our comforts as long as we can?

Are we willing to sacrifice our world, the world our children will inherit?

What will it take for us to stand together?