Life, Work, and Capitalism -Just another scheme

Life, Work, and Capitalism -Just another scheme

11/10/2023

1:10 pm

It has been a few weeks since I last wrote anything.

Life continues.  I have been busy finishing up this course, taking certification exams, and living day to day.

I woke up a few days ago and decided it was time to get back to losing weight and becoming healthier, again.  It seems like this particular train of thought stops by every year about this time.  I usually end up sticking to a routine for a couple of months, drop some weight, and then slowly stop doing anything by springtime.  It’s this endless cycle that I am trying to break. Only time will tell if I am successful. 

That is not the topic I am writing about today. In this pursuit of not only making my body healthier, I have to also focus on my mindset and thoughts. 

I normally turn to more reading, writing, and just watching more documentaries to gain some sort of perspective on things going on in the world.

The last few days of documentaries have been focused on not only overall health and well-being but also how we fit in this giant machine called capitalism.  Every person out there in the world is affected by this system.

I have read and seen some posts about the notion of going back to a bartering system.

Barter – the act of trading goods or services between two or more parties without the use of money…involves…one good or service by one party in return for another good or service from another party.

For it to work, everything would have to be converted over to this system including housing, food, medication, clothing, utilities, etc.  The list goes on and on. That is not a very realistic idea.

Capitalism – an economic system in which private actors own and control property in accord with…interests…demand and supply…set prices in markets in a way that can “serve the best interests of society”. The essential feature…is the motive to make a profit.

We cannot escape capitalism; it is too entrenched in our way of life and our daily dealings. If people were to see it for what it is, a form of control, then we could change it. To have this system actually “serve the best interests of society” as is stated in the definition of capitalism from the International Monetary Fund website.

I have had this discussion before with varying people that I have worked with over the last 30-plus years.  These individuals ranged from wealthy leaders in their fields to high school wage earners and everyone in between.  

The issue, in my opinion, is that no matter where you work, it all ends up being a pyramid.  There is always a base upon which everything is built. In this example, customers, employees, and other workers are always at the base of this system of capitalism. 

Yet, when I mention this idea, the automatic first response is regarding the multi-level management or pyramid schemes that tend to fall outside the standard business practices. Those companies or corporations whose business concept can be somewhat sketchy and most have heard about. People swear that is not what they are a part of or their company is about but if you look at this graphic, we actually are and always have been, no matter where you work or live. It is a hierarchy. It is how things have always been set up from the beginning.

There is always some sort of leadership or person at the top that sways or convinces others to believe in them or their goals, ideas, or even products. To be willing to follow them and help them achieve that goal in the hopes that it will better you as well. The followers at the bottom of this pursuit are the ones putting in the work to achieve it. The exchange of products or services for wages or salary. The person at the top makes the most from profits.

The only issue that affects or disrupts capitalism are those outliers in society or what people call “Free spirits”, “Freethinkers”, or “Nonconformists”.  In some political hierarchies, it is liberals versus conservatives. In systems of belief, it is a devotee or follower versus an atheist.  The ones my mother used to call “militant”.  Yet, that is typically a very small group overall but they do and can make a significant impact sometimes.

Everything that I have experienced in life, no one has ever come up with the solution to fix these problems or be willing to compromise no matter what they believe in. 

The only ones that suffer from this lack of compromise are those at the base of the pyramid, everything just filters down, and we take it as just being that is how “life” is.

I question “Why?”  Why do we believe that it cannot be changed?

Most will say we do not have the resources or manpower to change anything.  Yet we have surpassed 8 billion people on this floating rock in the universe. These numbers are per the U.S. Census Bureau and the website World Population Review. If you consider the percentage breakdown estimates, according to Statista.com, roughly 65% of this number is composed of working adults between the ages of 25 to 65 years old. That is roughly 5.2 billion people. That excuse of not having enough manpower is irrelevant.

Is it money that is needed?  Money only has value based on what we decide.  It essentially is just a marker used for the exchange of goods or services. Wealth is this perceived notion based on the value of money and the things we acquire with it. Essentially money is just a piece of “paper” composed of a mix of linen and cotton, a piece of metal, a piece of plastic, or a digital number in a computer system all stamped by a government agency or bank and assigning a value. 

I see posts on social media all the time about how others think that the wealthiest people in the world could just fix everything by giving away their wealth.  I think that is kind of humorous in theory especially if you break it down by the numbers.

Here is what I came up with looking at Forbes’s top 10 wealthiest people and top 10 wealthiest companies in the world as of November 7^th, 2023.  

If each of these individuals or companies were to give up all of it and give it to every person, the estimated 8 billion, this would total up to $1,973.63 per person.  Numbers do not lie; it would not help overall and not be a permanent solution. 

That calculated number, is above what I make in disability every month, my only source of income. I struggle because of the economy, political system, and geographic location of where I live.

I have also read about this “Basic Income” concept which is the idea that if you give people a basic amount of funds every month on top of what they already earn it would keep them from going into poverty.

The idea is it would assist those who may be ineligible for government assistance or those who are struggling to make ends meet with the wages they earn. The studies and programs done on this concept have shown no significant change in the numbers overall. The percentages stayed relatively the same.

Money is not always the answer.

In my opinion, the first thing to do is to ensure that basic needs are met.  Shelter, safe drinking water,  and access to food.  If a country were to provide housing to its citizens at either no cost, a very low standard rent rate, or even on a sliding scale based on income, they could survive on their wages. Instead most places are facing a housing crisis and an uptick in homelessness.

The drop in housing rates could help people afford health insurance or possibly build emergency funds. The two things that can be detrimental to people who are not making enough money or are at minimum wages when a disaster occurs.

Most individuals would likely work more than one job to build the life they want faster without the chokehold of rising housing costs or just trying to survive. This would have a positive ripple affect on the economy. New businesses means more inflow of money into the economy, increased employment, and more taxes to be added.

Those government funded supplemental systems established for those who cannot work would be less burdened and not overwhelmed by those individuals who just need temporary assistance due to unforeseen circumstances. The unplanned moments of life that sometimes temporarily knock us down.

I will use myself as an example.  If I did not have to pay more than 50% of my disability pay toward rent then I could pay off any debt that I owe or build up savings for any future emergencies. I would not have to keep looking to others for assistance.

Then what is it that we need as the human race?

We need to come to an agreement and figure out what we value the most.

Do we value future generations that are currently relegated to the side and unheard? The ones that will get to the age of becoming a working adult but still be at the base of that pyramid. They will end up still believing that is all there is to life.

Do we value our belief systems so much, even if it is in contradiction with other’s beliefs, that we would rather continue to be at war with each other? This too affects the future generations until they know no war, conflict, death, or destruction. Until there is a compromise.

Do we value the tangible so much that we put ourselves at risk or in harm’s way in pursuit of the materials to create it?  This affects everyone, no matter where you live, or what you believe in.

What is the answer to all of it?

I know it is idealistic and naïve of me to believe that there will be one day an agreement to stop fighting with one another and work together as one but there is always hope, faith, and belief in mankind.

That one day these earth beings will find humanity again so we can progress forward.

Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful week!

Peace, love, happiness, and good vibes, always!

Suzanne