A Better Way

   How can it be that perhaps only a relative handful of people around the globe make the connection? Instead, it seems as though all too often the rest of us perpetuate imagined, misunderstood ideas of freedom, patriotism, and “democracy," among many others, that we find ourselves at an impasse of confounding delusion. What is it that truly makes a country and its people what we excogitate as being “great”? Can anyone answer that question with honest conviction or does interpretation distort our individual realities? Is it politics and government? Is it religion or secularism? Is it jobs; education; military; commerce? Is it money? All of these apparently perform an integral role in the play called “Life”; however, when we examine the entire ecosystem on Earth in terms of interdependence, the true scope of Humankind’s connection to not only each other but also to the environment becomes extraordinarily recognized.

     We view choices as if a coin is needed and only two ideas present us with every available option. This proves, however, to be one of the biggest hindrances Humankind has continuously subjected itself to through millennia of monetary conditioning. When we talk about countries, ideas, people, etc…, being flip sides of the same coin, it severely constrains our ability to make a truly discerning, rational decision as to whether or not we agree with those countries, ideas or people. For, history exposes the results of making irrational decisions based on false information, misinterpretation, greed, religious indifference and indoctrination, and the prospect of profit by any means necessary—countless millions raped, pillaged, enslaved, exploited, murdered, divided and conquered along the way. One might ask—“When will this cycle of bereavement end; with the advent of technology?” It very well could; but, of course, technology itself has been exploited to simply make achievement of these insidious ends easier. Without a doubt, however, the intelligent application of technology will enable us to peer through the haze of profit motivation and observe the true source of Human Beings’ propensities—the environment (which includes each other.)

     If there is a single idea that we can all agree on, it is that we are directly influenced most by our environment; even if that environment serves to inculcate the idea of money. If one is taught to believe certain ideals, he or she will live a life based in whole or at least in part by those ideals. Similarly, if one is taught nothing of life or language and is deprived of interaction with other Humans, he or she will live a life based on sensual interaction with environment alone; however, the capability to learn remains. In any case, not only what one is taught but also how one is taught play the most prominent roles in shaping individuals’ attitudes, beliefs, etc. As one advances throughout his or her life, acquiring knowledge by means of education, observation, interaction and hypothesizing, the ideals that were once taught will always have to evolve. For, knowledge is the key to understanding the Universe, the purpose of Human life, and our relationship with the environment. As such, constantly updating knowledge bases require the evolution of ideas. If someone states that one thing cannot exist without another, whether in reference to countries, ideas, people, the environment (the list is almost endless), we need to take an unprecedented step back and look at this question from an all-encompassing aspect.

     Let us not illusion ourselves with arbitrariness or negligence: the bottom line is that all life on Earth, every plant and every animal, is inevitably linked to the environment. In essence, we are products of the environment which sustains us. Only since the advent of exponential technological progression can it be said that the environment is now the product of our sustaining it, or the lack thereof. Earth formed nearly 5.5-billion years ago; Human Beings have only been evolving for perhaps a million years—the environment was here long before any of us ever stepped foot on degrading topsoil, desecrated the atmosphere with the burning of plundered fossil fuels, or dumped millions of tons of planned obsolescence into landfills, lakes and even the ocean. So, can the environment exist without us?—most definitely. Can we live without the environment?—not a chance. Whether you believe global warming, the question you should be asking is this: Is there a better way for us to coexist with each other and the environment?

    The truth is that we all have a responsibility to look beyond frivolous debate over simple patchwork for problems and find prudent, effective, long-term solutions that benefit the entire web of life. We can continue training people to become killers-on-command and send in military units in an attempt at pretended amelioration from the same old oppressive institutions and governments, or we can try to find a better way—perhaps train people as problem-solvers and send them in to solve problems. We can persist commending each other for fighting in wars and killing each other or we can try to find a better way—perhaps commending each other for applying viable solutions to social problems which benefit all of Humankind and the environment. We can maintain overlooking the fact that it takes Unity in order to achieve victory in war, or we can apply the concept of Unity at a global, societal level and find a better way—perhaps a sharing of all the world’s resources, as Jacque Fresco, the visionary behind The Venus Project, advocates. Wars simply give the illusion of Unity for those on the winning side; for it is always at the expense of disunion of those on the losing side. Thus, war is never a solution to disunion if war causes disunion. If we continue to believe that the means to peaceful ends come in the form of destruction, plunder, disenfranchisement, forced religious indoctrination, or a plethora of other ways which most rarely think about, then it is absolute failure on a grandiose scale for the Human species to not find a better way. How can citizens of any country boast about the absolute greatness of that country yet at the same instant scoff at the thought of giving a homeless person a precious piece of fabric/paper with misunderstood symbols printed all over it, given value only by our collective imagination, so that person can be provided the most basic necessity of sustenance? How can people continue overlooking entirely the fact that homelessness even exists in their most wonderful country; or that, in general, healthcare, education, poverty and disease all are subject to this invidious concept of money?

     It is amazing that the ultimate answer to all of these questions has not manifested itself on a global scale yet. Honestly, it is quite simple: abolish the monetary system. I can hear already the ceaseless cries of how impossible it would be; how money makes the world go around; money this, money that; money, money, money. But, how can any of that be true when is it resources which provide us with subsistence and sustainability; not money? We persistently overlook the fact that money is simply an imagined impediment to the acquirement of truly significant resources—a veritable toll booth charging a fee for profit, regardless of underlying resource necessity. As Peter Joseph, a proponent for The Zeitgeist Movement, has said, “You cannot eat money and you cannot stuff money into your gas tank.” Money is futile; and when the digital history books with holographic playback are written (or rather encoded) by our Posterity, clinging to such a primitive, disuniting concept, will prove to be the utmost failure of eight generations since the Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain. “How is it possible the entire planet couldn’t see past money?” they will ask. Technology is the future; no matter how one looks at it. And it is up to each and every one of us to decide how best to utilize the advancements made in Technology towards the betterment, stagnation or total destruction of Humankind.

     The question that we can never seem to answer is “Where do we begin?” If we are to look toward a remarkably feasible betterment of global society, then a great place to start would be public sharing, not private hoarding and pretended scarcity, of the world’s resources, knowledge, and technology. Of course, this initially requires the monetary system becoming obsolete in its entirety. Concurrently, a worldwide expansion of the educational system would soon after provide and ensure global intellectual equilibrium. Only then can we revisit problems like homelessness, starvation, disease and deprivation with an unconditional approach and actually procure effective results. It may sound impossible because we are so conditioned to believe money is a resource that it stifles our ability to think outside the inherently oppressive walls barricading the foundation upon which the monetary system is built. To prove this, just take a moment and think about your day today; or yesterday; or any day for that matter. Name a single activity that did not involve money in some direct or indirect way. Even reading this essay, you have already committed yourself to the monetary system by purchasing the computer you are using and then connecting to the internet which you are probably paying a monthly fee for. Still thinking? The entanglement is nearly endless. And I am no expert in regards to your personal life, but this mind-numbing exercise will undoubtedly lead you to the conclusion shared by most others reading this line—it is remarkably scary how this institution has grown to such proportions and is so engrained in society that it distorts the collective perspective of purpose in life and leaves us at a loss to advance a single instant of our day which excludes money.

     Every day that goes by, thousands die; disease, hunger. Every day that goes by, countless millions are exploited; wage slavery, corporate growth. Every day that goes by, governments, politicians, CEOs, doctors, lawyers, teachers, students, friends, families; all aspects of all people on Earth are deeply, almost unconsciously connected to and subjugated by this system—even those in so-called “underdeveloped countries.” For, a systematic expansionist cycle of minority proliferation through majority exploitation has “afforded” millions of unfortunate people none of the essential resources which are requisite for development—despite the fact of overabundance and downright improvident waste of resources in industrialized nations; especially the United States. Thus, I must return to an understanding earlier stated in this essay—that money is simply an imagined impediment to the acquirement of significant, plentiful resources; regardless of resource necessity. With this knowledge I am confident that within the next decade an overwhelming global realization of the monetary system’s innate inefficiency to sustain Humankind as well as the environment will become increasingly prevalent.

     A truly prosperous future awaits all of Humankind—not just an offensively small proportion of us. But it will take all of Humankind to break this relentless cycle; to break free from the chains which confine us all to reliving yesterday over and over again. We must all step into tomorrow with unconditional kindness, compassion, encouragement, and willingness to help each other live more luxurious lives. Doing such enables us to actually become ever more unique individuals. Thus, contrary to popular belief, individuality is not lost or suppressed. Nor are we to become automatons like some eccentric science fiction novelists claim—wearing exactly the same clothes, stepping in an almost militaristic march everywhere we go, same haircuts, same houses, same everything. In fact, it is quite possible that we have never before witnessed the magnitude of individuality which this proposed future provides Humankind. As always, though, only time will tell if we will see this future together in our lifetimes. In the meantime, the metronome of the Universe endlessly oscillates, and together we complacently dance to the rhythm of its clicks—tick-tock; tick-tock; tick-tock.