( note for clarity: I chose to not take any political side on this issue, because i think no matter the party in charge, the economy, and politics still move us in the same general direction. As well as I think we are all facing the same issues no matter how we view them. )
I work in techsupport for a local service provider, and I talk to a lot of people everyday in my job. I can honestly say i don't think i've met a person who thinks that there is nothing wrong with the way the world is. Everyone collectively feels like we are in a machine heading toward a cliff, and we all think we can not do anything to change this.
You can trace every issue back to the effects of how this machine works, and where it is heading. Everyone deals with it differently, some enrich themselves by speeding us up on our journey to the cliff, some can't face the reality of it, finding ways to hide from the truth in bottles, or pill containers, and others attack anyone who stops pushing the machine forward because they can't accept their own feelings of hopelessness. Many figure that since the system is corrupt, why hang on to our morals, which only seem to make it harder, and more depressing to push this machine towards the cliff. Many even choose to end their lives now, rather than waiting for the slow march to bring us over the edge.
Sure we have changed some things. We used to have kings, but have since created elections to determine who gets to sit on top of the machine, where the controls are. First couple had great ideas, wanted to improve the controls, making the machine easier to run, but at the time the cliff was very far away so many didn't think about changing direction yet. So we built up the machine, made it easier to push, and everyone thought this was great because they had to work less. We made rules, so now we work in shifts, and after a certain age you could get on and ride the machine, because you earned it. But after a while, it became clear that some it was no longer easier to push, because more and more people were taking a ride on the backs of the future generations.
Now the cliff is coming into view, and even if we have not seen it, we've heard rumors of it. Some even go so far as to deny there is any cliff at all, saying that the world goes on forever, and might even be flat. While many are caught up in debating reality, many others are apathetic to the cliff issue all together. They figure they probably won't reach the cliff in their lifetime, and at least they get paid well to push, compared to when there were slaves who pushed for the rich folk. Heck if you are in the right position, you can push with one finger, and make more than almost anyone else.
Currently it seems we are fighting about inequality in the push to pay ratio of some people, but for a few, it's started to bring to mind a really important question. Why are we pushing this machine towards a cliff? This machine doesn't move without us pushing it, of course the media will never tell you changing direction is possible, only what the value of the current GDP(Gross Domestic Push) is. If anyone does talk about changing direction, they are quickly attacked for being crazy. You can't stop the machine because if you change direction, everyone else is still pushing forward. You won't get paid, you'll be homeless, hopelessly pushing against the current of everyone else. Worse yet, the machine itself will try to run you over, because the leaders at the top don't want to stop the machine that keeps them on top.
But I say, don't think about what everyone else is doing, decide only whether or not you want to keep going over this cliff, or change direction. Once you decide for yourself, then no one who sees you can say, "I cannot change, because no one else has". Or better yet, find a community of people who want to change, and believe the direction of the machine should be controlled by the people who push it. Together they can building a decentralized control system, that allows us all to change the direction together, without interference from the top, and people no longer get run over by the machine while trying to change it's direction. Some have even gotten rich creating these new directional systems, some even have lost sight of the goal they first set out to do. But we as a collective need to keep our eyes focused on the road ahead, looking for the next opportunity to turn, and others who are willing to join us in the push for change.
I really hope you enjoyed my writing, I've had these ideas in my mind for a very long time, but it was not until i found Steemit that I felt ready to express them. Thank you so much to the Steemit community for everything so far, I really feel like i've been welcomed here.
This is my first blog i wrote, kinda feel it's a bit of a rant that goes all over the place, but figured if i waited till I wrote the perfect piece i'd be waiting forever. Feel free to give me tips on ways to improve my writing, as I am just starting out,
https://steemit.com/blog/@howweroll/a-little-bit-about-myself-and-how-i-came-to-think-the-way-i-think-blog-1
If that got you feeling a bit low, or you just want something less serious. Watch me hurtle down a mountain with a bunch or other skaters:
https://steemit.com/entertainment/@howweroll/giants-head-freeride-2017-bonus-run-before-the-rain
Or watch this dog skateboard down a hill!
https://steemit.com/dogs/@howweroll/jasper-the-skate-dog-beagle-down-maryhill
As ususal, if you enjoyed this and want to see more, please give me a like, vote, and comment!
If you want to help me go on more trips to film more videos, please donate if you can! Thank you!
I'll take any coin, but here are just my main wallets
Bitcoin
1NGMaFgC3SdthJsSopSATYh1fVuoYEMwnm
Litecoin
LezuQfZjHGbABZujyxVbdemmAZdJSFpHGP
Ethereum
0x6725232a20973aa177db4820fe6519387c6a5876
CryptoKitties
0x892e297c9d412feb1bc8d8fdb506da458f15d961
I like the idea of decentralization. But otherwise the article seemed more like post-modernist / Marxist theories. Not exactly a lot of definitions, like changing directions, from which direction to which? The machine, can you define the machine? Also seemed to miss the idea of political sovereignty which in a real constitutionally limited democratic society, the machine would be incredibly limited or small. Everything decentralized and each family owned land a type of sovereign micro-nation. In this way if you thought your government was becoming a big oligarchy machine, you would just withdraw your donations.
Otherwise it was a depressing read with not many solutions but not bad. Maybe capitalize "I" more :) Read my article on political sovereignty. It's only half an article actually but I'd love to hear your thoughts! SteemIT!
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Well I was kind of trying to not pick any one political side, or agenda, because I am talking to people of both sides of the political spectrum, and no matter how they word it, they seem to all feel we are doomed. So many people avoid talking about it because it depresses them, because they all feel hopeless. The ending is saying that just that act of not conforming, helps others change. As for the politics, choosing liberal, or conservative is not going to change the direction of the machine, it would only change a few rules, budgets and how they tax the people. I personally feel the direction we should be pushing towards is a sustainable path for our world, one that has a chance at a long future, that we can almost all agree on (unless you think the world is flat, and/or you think nothing you do matters.)
As far as the politics in that future, they will work themselves out as the economy changes, and we no longer value things based on profits to be made, but by what value things/actions have to us as a whole. Our current system only values what resources it can get out of the environment, but we could redesign a value system that reflects the sustainability of our environment as priceless. People who protect, or heal the environment by regrowing forests, would be rich in the sense they they would earn the use of more resources, since they have a positive effect on the world. this alone would drastically change human behavior in a generation, if not our own generation. But that is going to be a blog for another day.
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This I think is the difference though I don't think even for a second that we are doomed haha I don't have that feeling and I know many people who don't. There are post modernist types on the left and right who think that. I think it's exciting that all the ground work for some of the most incredible human rights changes and movements is in place. Who knows what the next 10 years will unfold! People as a whole naturally see the value in protecting forests and waters. Just not everyone, and those who disrespect reality are becoming fewer and fewer and all the while more publicly visible because of the internet. I agree with the sustainability thing, I have been arguing that a Universal basic income is a bad idea because those who are political downtrodden financially barren need a Universal Basic Homestead to really be free. But our current governments won't have that haha. Basic income is dependence, basic homestead is independence. And curbs the stresses of feeling like you can't provide for your basic needs.
I think we need to realize the philosophic, rational principles of the ethics that founded the west which basically means if you are a Liberal you are a Conservative and if you are a Conservative you are also a Liberal. But nowadays we are disillusioned and ping-ponged back and forth between two versions of the same Socialism/Communism/Collectivist-group-think.
Revitalize the Centrist! Resurrect the Non-Aggression Principle!
Dang we should rewrite these comment posts as independent articles haha
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Well the friends we keep are a bit more aware than the average. Also, I don't really feel like writing a whole novel, so I'm speaking if the people I've met, who do feel this way. There are lots if perspectives all existing at once after all.
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@originalworks @originalworks2 Like my work?
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