I believe very strongly that it is essential we have a completely new economic system as our very first major obstacle to overcome, to get to just a point where we start to address the environment seriously. That new system must start with the building of new monetary systems fully aligned with the interests and welfare of ALL citizens, and their justice, and freedom. And not until we get rid of the corporatocracy as mention in the book "Gaian Democracies" will we start to live localized lives that may give us the opportunity to sustain the environment, advance our species to higher and higher enlightened states, and remain part of the universe indefinitely.
"You never change things by fighting the existing reality...
to change something...build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."
Buckminster Fuller
Basic Ideas Concerning Rebuilding the Monetary Function for Sustainability, Fairness and Equality, Freedom to create, expand and further enlighten ourselves.
A major key is to ensure the process of creating the means of exchange, the store of value --- the monetary system (not just money) that administers the creation and circulation of money is in fact just, is how to circulate the money into the economy, among the other essentials of how much and what it should cover and what the value is and how to determine it. The best idea I've heard, and would also address the issue of a living wage as a bonus at the same time, is that instead of creating money as debt as is done today, (95% maybe more of all new money is created as debt -- out of nothing -- and then has to be paid back with interest. The problem is the money to pay the interest is never created. This phenomenon causes banks to extract 1.5 to 2.5 times more money from circulation that they put into circulation. This in turns accelerates the need for more money in circulation to pay the debt. ) would be to have the new system simply circulate new money as needed (by mathematical formula) directly to every citizen debt free. This would create true free and local markets and not everyone would need to work. But everyone would have a say in determining where the nation's priorities would be. They would not be restricted to political voting but would now be full participants in the real arbiter of justice -- how they use their money -- their rightful share of the economy by virtue of having real value as human beings and be given the means to fully participate in society. It's an elegant solution but we will all need to learn the idea that money is a system not a commodity. Yes, it has value and the money received by everyone under a new money/ value system physically demonstrate that values by assigning value to education, housing as an individual for example is needed for everybody and the free market entrepreneurs will still benefit as people spend money circulated for them as value added humans that will likely return ten times their value to the economy and society because of the investment aimed at people first. It is a win win. Armed with all the facts as a new education system emerges that is longer far more participative and aligned to individual needs as well could slow this manic capitalism down so it becomes truly participative and will allow people to cooperate and move in positive directions. Arming people with knowledge would be one of the mandates in a new political environment instead of the secrecy of today. It would flourish with few rules and new laws concerning corporatism, elections funded by the public treasury and other concerns needing changes, possibly even direct voting of some sort in our governmental legislative affairs and operation of government. People directly funding the economy as function of the new monetary system would leave people secure in their future allowing them to do the right thing instead of the next project step at work under deadlines created by cost concerns etc. Entrepreneurs will still exist and will be able to accumulate wealth and material things but so will the rest of us. Where we put our money we decide and when supplied in the proper value we choose education and where we invest our money will set the nations direction. In a free system like this greed and fear become background noise instead of the center stage main attraction allowing more cooperation and real deep thought systems analysis and critical thinking to apply to our democratic systems and our commonwealth. This may sound naà ¯ve and utopian but I submit we have never seen this happen before and in my experience when people are happy (Content, lacking fear and anger and hate that the current system foments.), they are far more disposed to allow far more time and effort to cooperative and social activity than to selfish pursuits. Partly because they have plenty of time to devote to personal pursuits which is vitally important as is self study and keeping up on what's going on in the nation, locally and in the world.
By the way as an aside here we need to do away with the terms "Social Security' and "safety net'. While safety and security are the desired outcome for all of us, it is not a "net' others cast for us -- it is a fund we have paid into and a share of this worlds natural resources we rightfully own and the productivity others have profited greatly from, also representing a lifetime of hard work by most. So quit calling it something that infers it some kind of charity for God's sake. Call it earned value of "Life" ? (Living in freedom earned) (OK - We can have a naming contest since my naming skills need work, but you get the point.)
The point of all this for me is that while I agree the environment IS the foremost priority that the interim steps to be taken to allow the quickest possible action toward resolving it is the economic, especially monetary system. It is an imperative we need to do now. Money is the most powerful arbiter of justice ever devised. If we democratize it, it becomes a powerful catalyst for boundless goodness. If we keep it privatized it is a destructive force that overshadows all politics and all economics. That means people who not only have it (corporations, the rich elites) and those who control it (Banks and central banks) are now and always will dictate the direction we take in general and continue the awful rein of, what Pope John Paul II called and lectured several U.S. President on : "Savage Capitalism."
So the final point here is that if we are to succeed in sustainability and survivability of humanity, the focus, right NOW must be on fixing the monetary system which is the base of the entire economic system which is the problem keeping us from sustainable progress. The monetary system is a dysfunctional devastating debt based system and is the biggest driver and biggest enabler of the growth necessity that operates the current system. The elite global banking system is not to be crossed or we pay the price is their attitude.
For now we've been given a gift in the form of HR 6550. It addresses the money system. The focus must be on this.
HR 6550 which has been introduced in the house is a major and direct step toward that. People are complaining about the current state of things and have not even noticed this legislation which is an answer to most of these problems or at least a huge step toward that goal. I am encouraged we have surpassed a hurdle of getting legislation introduced that would go to the heart of many of the issues people are fed up with to the point of potential large civil disobedience. This is where the focus should be for every progressive, environmentalist, and working person if we want to change the direction. We clamor and holler for economic justice and change and haven't even noticed a major piece of legislation currently introduced to deal with that concern. I'm as guilty as anyone of ignoring this until few days ago when Kucinich wrote the article here about it. It just shows how inadequate our media is. Even progressive media isn't talking much about this. Actually this demonstrates the lack of knowledge and understanding most people have on this topic. It is also why we never see substantial change for the better -- we are all frustrated but really don't know the root causes we need to aim for to bring about that change. The politicians and bankers take full advantage of this lack of understanding and are more than willing to let the Koch brothers and other funding continue their process of diverting people's attention to the symptoms and pointing fingers. And it's just difficult to get anyone's attention today because of sheer numbers.
What I'm saying is we should be rejoicing at this major change that will do and or take a giant step toward reversing the status quo and then working to achieve what all of us are striving for and supporting. The key as always is getting people's attention. In the mean time it is for us to do what we can to educate everyone we can. The key is taking this mundane unclear confusing money system (which is in itself nonsense about how money is created and boil it down to a diagram or graphic and a couple paragraph explanation that literally JUMPS out at the average Joe who has no understanding of this to speed the education of the electorate up.
I love watching Dylan Rattigan. He went crazy the other day about politicians just letting the cronyism continue and if he and others would use his bully pulpit to talk about this bill it would move the cause forward.
I've written him about HR 6550 -- who knows where that goes. Give him a shout about it if you can. Maybe it will get something started.
Money is such an arcane subject few make the connections. It took me to mid life to realize the idiocy of this system.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
2
1
1
