Can you expand on what these ways are? There are various ways of leaving the system.
organicAnt - you are asking many good questions, including this one: 1. Ways of leaving the system - yes, suicide was one thing I had in mind. There are people who live without money. Watch the trailer for this video. Ultimately, it depends on how you define "the system" and what parts of the system you want to leave. Do you want to leave libraries? Do you want to leave the world wide web? These are all parts of the system, created by people in jobs who pay taxes. It might be a good idea to figure out which parts of the system you think are brilliant and which are oppressive. Part of you is a consciousness vibrating from ear to ear. How much control do you even have over that? It is subject to hormonal changes, caloric intake and so on. No one knows the answers to the questions you ask. Large-scale change in the direction of goodness is so glacially slow. Some changes seem to create more widespread happiness (various movements towards greater human rights and democracy); some changes seem to create more grief, some do both at once (the industrial revolution leading to environmental degradation, wage-slavery, and shit jobs but also labour-saving innovations that free up time for creativity.) What can any of us do? I think the Occupy movement was on the right track. Please immediately stop whatever you are doing and read this list of goals of the occupy movement. It is called This is our one demand. I think it will show you that many many people are thinking about the question, "what can any of us do?"Unhappiness predates modernity by millenia
thanks for that b_b - that thought made me giggle.What would you suggest that people who are unhappy do to help in our struggle?
and the previous two questions in response to b_b. These questions deserve long form answers and I'll put them in the queue. As for short answers:
Thanks lil I appreciate the constructive reply. Suicide wouldn't even cross my mind as a suggestion for those who suffer from depression due to feeling subjugated. It feels incredibly brutal and heartless. Is the social order so rigid and are we so excluding that we can't come up with a compromise order that supports everyone instead of creating divide, inequality and showing the door to those who just don't fit in? I've been aware of the moneyless man, Mark Boyle for a while. Thanks for reminding me. I like his way of thinking and perhaps this is the plunge that one must take to be free of the pressures of the modern economic society. In his year without money, he does become a sort of outcast though. Living in a little caravan on someone else's land and out of the goodwill of many people. Again, I was hoping more for a systemic change that is supportive instead of exploitative and excluding as soon as you can't handle it. Of course we need all the social services and technological advances. I have never hinted to renouncing where we're at today. As I mentioned to someone else already, I'm simply questioning the methods and incentives of the system. Absolutely, if there were straight answers I don't think this thread would have started : ) But once in while, I think it's healthy to stop and question why are we doing the things we do. If we had the opportunity to start a civilization from scratch is this the setup we'd come up with? Is this the best there could ever be? This is what I'm interest in, because from looking around me it feels like the monetary system is great at creating wealth for a few at the expense of grief for many. And this surely can't be the best that we can come up with. I agree. I followed this closely and watched it being crushed with police brutality. This is how unhappy people are treated, you either shut up and play ball or you get crushed. No wonder people fall in despair and depression when they see what happens to alternative ideas. Thanks for the link. I read this is our one demand. Definitely a good starting point even if some of the demands are a bit vague on how they could be achieved. The fact that people are thinking and searching for answers is encouraging. Perhaps this is what's needed, an official Ministry of Change to address the concerns of the disillusioned and overtime come with legislation to integrate them? I'm sure many will let me know with many examples of why this is a silly idea. I welcome any other inclusive suggestions. Thank you for engaging.Ultimately, it depends on how you define "the system" and what parts of the system you want to leave. Do you want to leave libraries? Do you want to leave the world wide web? These are all parts of the system, created by people in jobs who pay taxes.
No one knows the answers to the questions you ask. Large-scale change in the direction of goodness is so glacially slow.
I think the Occupy movement was on the right track.
Sometimes it takes 100 years for ideas to gain popular appeal. For example, Seneca Falls: 1848 - women made a declaration of "sentiments" and "resolutions." In other words, grievances and demands. It took well over 100 years, but all of the resolutions have been made into law. It is important to realize that their work then, their writing and fighting, led to the current freedoms women enjoy here and now. I just quoted from my blog if that sounds familiar.But once in while, I think it's healthy to stop and question why are we doing the things we do. If we had the opportunity to start a civilization from scratch is this the setup we'd come up with? Is this the best there could ever be?
This is not working out too well for many people. People have an amazing capacity for happiness though and will find it even in a shit system. There is a lot of potential for a new system to arise and inspire masses of people. It's happened before.
Do I sense disdain and a hint of sarcasm? This was a perfectly legitimate question. If you are happy with your life and don't see anything wrong with how things are set-up around you or where they're heading then you won't get much out of this thread.