THE IMPACT OF BILLIONAIRE CAPITALISM AND A PHANTOM ECONOMY
Imagine a lion pride beneath a shade tree lazily surveying
the domain around them. Eyes are
blinking, heavy with sleep. A few of the
cubs playfully bounce around. All is
quiet and their tummies are filled after a successful hunt. Old and young, all part of the pride and each
contributing according to age, skill and ability. It functions as a unit. Some still growing up and learning, others
always watchful and looking out for each other.
Why this intro? What does it
allude to and what does it have to do with the title? Once upon a time we lived and functioned like
the lion pride. In our tribal or
community settings there was room for everybody. This article is not about equality or fairness,
but about belonging and connectivity. As
humans we’re busy creating two disparate worlds. One is for people who have everything, from
jobs and income to safety and security and everything in between. The other world is for all the people who are
being left behind. People who either do
without or with very little and who are leading subsistence lifestyles. Rapidly we are moving away from a natural
reality where all humans take part, no matter how small or seemingly
insignificant, yet all contributing and connected.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BELONGING
The world we are now creating is filled with artifice and the
promise of Artificial Intelligence and robotics replacing workers. The only room left is for a highly skilled
and trained workforce involved in the maintenance of systems and programming,
unless they too are replaced by a robotic workforce that is completely
autonomous; self-replicating and repairing.
There will only be room for a few people whose jobs will consist of
monitoring and pushing buttons. In the
eyes of billionaire owners, workers are an expense although one thing hasn’t
changed.
THE ECONOMY IS PEOPLE, NOT ROBOTS
There has always been a reciprocal element in our
economies. It is not one-sided. Employers and employees, producers and
buyers. An exchange of labor in return
for products or services. What are you
going to do when you exclude billions of people from being constructive
contributors? Billions of people
permanently parked on the sidelines.
AI and robots are not consumers and when you cut out the
labor force, you also cut out consumers.
There is a huge social cost to exclusion and if we look at all the
tension that has been created around the globe it is not solely due to
irresponsible political leaders, but a world that is struggling to make ends
meet. Billions of people feel left out
and disconnected, ignored and pushed aside.
We’re living in a finite reality and yet we’re pursuing infinite
schemes, of growth and wealth accumulation.
Are we so blinded by greed that we lose sight of our impact, on each
other and the planet that supports us all?
IGNORING THE CONSEQUENCES
Life should be about balance, purpose and meaning versus
quantifying everything through an economic lens that only cares about quantity,
earnings, profits, market share and accumulation. We like to pretend that we can keep
extracting, exploiting, destroying, polluting, squandering and wasting as if
there is no end to how much damage we can do to each other and the planet we
share. The multitudes (that will be you
and I) are no longer a blessing but a serious threat to survival and
opportunity. Our presence cannot be
ignored although in several regions of the world we actively try, through war,
conflict and ethnic cleansing. There is
no real outcry or global condemnation.
In a world of over 8 billion people that are struggling to make ends
meet few tears are shed over the millions that lose their lives and
livelihoods. The political world we have
created validates itself along global ranking, status, economic power and
influence. Throw into the mix the
natural differences provided by religious differences, geographic location,
language, culture and economic status, and it provides a perfect backdrop for
indifference and not reaching out. As
long as the conflicts don’t spill over.
As long as we are not affected.
We will hold that collective breath of ours and hope for the best.
WE DON’T LIKE TO DISCUSS OUR NUMBERS
None of us like to admit that we live in cramped quarters,
stockpiling people in cities bursting at the seams, cheerfully putting on a
brave face and commuting in traffic congestion; cars, buses and trains, busy
little bees swarming out and pretending that this is life. This is what living is all about. And now AI and robotics are taking over basic
labor and production while humans continue to multiply and multiply. The numbers don’t lie. We’re adding and not subtracting. It doesn’t matter where human growth numbers
take place and where not. Human
redundancy in the workforce versus an increased human expansion doesn’t make a
lot of sense, but we treading on holy ground when it comes to actively pursuing
depopulation programs and incentives.
We absolutely excel at waxing about human values, about what
it means to be human and the lofty goals we should try to attain, goals that
include equality and the equitable sharing of wealth and all the other things
we can and should do to make life and living worthwhile, that heaven on earth
kind of thing we should all be striving for.
Look at what we’re doing to each other in the real world and you know
that all that pontificating about bringing out the best in us is nothing but
absolute drivel. We talk about it; in
church, community action groups, political platforms. Even international meetings that promise a
lot, but never deliver. We pretend. But no real progress. In 2023 global harmful emissions and fossil
energy use went up by over 2 percent, not down!
BILLIONAIRE CAPITALISTS ARE TAKING OVER
As a writer, a student of philosophy and history, as a
humanist, I would love to think or believe that as a species we are improving,
but we’re not. Those who follow my
writing and thus my thinking, know that everything in the universe is driven by
energy and momentum and that includes humanity.
It is not a benign force. It
lacks soul and compassion. As a force it
simply is. Greed is a natural
accumulator of energy and therefore a natural accelerator and the more of it
you own or control, the greater the odds for survival, even if lesser forces or
entities have to suffer. In the eyes of
the Ultra Wealthy lesser people are nothing more than collateral damage. Look no further than the current conflicts
and the indiscriminate damage inflicted on completely innocent people. Our destructive, discriminating behaviors are
not improving, they are getting worse, the treatment of each other more callous
and indifferent. A lot of brave people
are genuinely trying to make a difference, but they are swimming against the
current of energy and momentum and its selfish nature.
In the natural world there is the simple acknowledgement of
the moment and it comes with a level of acceptance we have abandoned when we
left the jungle to pursue a life as uprights.
The consequences have been horrendous and it is getting worse as
billionaire capitalists show a thirst for acquisition that knows no
boundaries. They want to own and control
everything and in the face of exclusive wealth generation there is the painful
reality of a glaring and growing discrepancy between haves and have-nots. We’re in the process of reducing billions of
people to subsistence living versus quality living. Deny opportunity and a reason for living and
you deny life itself.
GREED IS BLIND
Billionaire capitalists couldn’t care less if half the
world’s population disappeared overnight, as long as they are net-negative
contributors and therefore good riddance as they won’t be missed. There is a level of indifference amongst the
rich and powerful that is absolutely frightening in scope.
But! Even the rich are
well aware that when push comes to shove they are a vulnerable minority when
faced with an uprising by the have-nots.
The most extreme forms of governance emerged during the past two
centuries, starting with the French revolution, anarchism, socialism, communism
and fascism. One of the bright lights
that emerged from the American war of Independence was a fledgling form of
governance called democracy, but it too is showing signs of early wear and tear
and is crumbling all over the globe.
In the natural world there is a level of acceptance that
humans consistently ignore. The forces
of energy and momentum are as powerful as ever and the worst mistake we make
over and over again is pretending that somehow we’re in charge and in
control. Instead we’re flying by the
seat of our pants, keeping our fingers crossed that we can manage, that all
will end well. We have always turned a
blind eye to disparity and inequality, to some having it all and many scraping
by. With over 8 billion people vying for
a slice of the pie this has turned into a ticking human time bomb.
The alarming rise in global migration patterns, perilous
journeys undertaken by hundreds of millions of people willing to risk life and
limb in search of a better life, is a sure sign that all is not well. Getting away from poverty, oppression and
persecution. A rise in global
connectivity through a vast array of media devices also connects the downtrodden
of the Earth to disparity and discontent and all the things they are missing
out on. All of us are aware of how the
other side lives! Our failure to stop
indiscriminate violence and killing, our failure to protect the most vulnerable
people, is a blatant failure of our humanity.
This is now our global reality.
A phantom economy is an economy that lacks strength, endurance and compassion because only an equitable sharing of wealth amongst all provides for an enduring and solid economic foundation. Throughout my writing career I have been inspired by phrases that popped up in my mind that would often provide direction, impetus and a degree of validation. I will end this article with a few of them.
“By the time we realize that bad behavior is out of control,
we’ve already lost control.”
“Evolution has not been kind to our intellect. When it comes down to our humanity few of us
excel and most of us disappoint.”
“The poor can’t hide their poverty, but the rich are experts
at hiding their wealth.”
“A loss of civility is an indication of a lost society.”
Most of the articles on my blog dovetail into each other,
like pieces of a puzzle. Not a single
article, book or even entire library will adequately explain the human journey
and where we are headed. This is but a
snapshot in time. Writers are observers
and interpreters. If we can point you in
the right direction we’ve done our jobs.
Feel free to share my blog and encourage others to read them.
Purchase my novel: Energy & Origin by W.M.A. Bes on
Amazon.ca
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