decisions at a crunch-point: toward liberty & justice for all

We can only liberate ourselves as we liberate others at the same time. It isn’t realistic to say, “Everyone who is below me on the economic pyramid, keep them in their place, but take down everyone above who is making money on me.” It also isn’t fair to say, “Keep those sweatshops in Asia and those Latin American field workers picking my fruits and vegetables in long back-aching days, exposed to all weather. But me, I deserve to be comfortable and safe, with a rewarding prestigious career.” It can't work forever that way. The structure is maintained at every level by people at that level and the next up, so your subjugation is ultimately tied to the subjugation of everyone under the 1%. You either break free and go solo, allowing the structure to eventually collapse without you, or you keep helping to prop it up until it falls and possibly crushes many. The most economically disadvantaged in the cities will likely be hardest hit.

We had a grand social experiment in the western world. The past century let us see that a middle class with plentiful creature comforts and impressive personal power, comparable to that of royalty in centuries past, didn't make us a happy society. Many people were happy, but others found plenty to be miserable about even with their relative wealth.

The pandemic was for many a major disruption, but we’ve heard it was minor compared to those that we statistically should expect in the future. A silver lining many in the plan-B world have discussed is that we as small groups could choose to transition now toward an economy of abundance, instead of helping perpetuate competition and scarcity. The looming crises cause us concern for the future, which has the potential to push us toward positive social and economic changes we have long needed. It may feel easier to try to maintain the status quo, even for those feeling unfulfilled in the current economy, but that arguably is kicking the can down the road. Those choosing a shift to a sharing economy with abundance would help us reconnect with true fulfillment. What is unfolding, we can let it lead us to take the necessary action that will lead us out of stagnation.

There is work to be done. Try to focus on that, rather than joining in the over reacting of those who might be called alarmists. Constant monitoring and blaming does nothing to improve the situation. Following the political blame game, don’t we already know it’s an endless circle that's unlikely to change anyone's mind? Your words are falling on deaf ears. This doesn’t mean you should surrender your goals. This means simply giving up the arguing. If you want to succeed, stop reacting and start make the necessary changes.

No doubt the pandemic and subsequent financial challenges will change our societies. We can make decisions now that will steer the change for the better. Use the inner work practices to develop non-reactive decision-making and collaboration practices. Then choose which outer work practices make sense for you. 

There’s a resurgence of talk about universal health care, as many experience financial drain, even bankruptcy from medical bills. Others favor the current employment-based insurance system. Perhaps the solution is a middle way between extremes. For example, preventative health is quite inexpensive compared to treating disease, and could save more lives, but it doesn’t generate the most profit or have the urgency to put it at the top of public funding priorities. If there were more publicly funded basic care clinics, but not public funding for the more expensive treatments of preventable disease or elective surgeries, that might be a workable compromise. It could satisfy the Republican insistence on accountability and keeping government spending lower, yet meet the Democrat’s insistence on a level of basic support.

You will need to get used to seeing others around you continue to fight. Maybe the best we can say to them is, “Pick your battles. Is this really the hill you want to die on?” The best way out of the online debates is to see there is some validity to what you are arguing against. If you can’t find a compromise or agree to disagree, leave the situation. Otherwise you are just stuck, with no way to move forward. Find others willing to move toward solutions, and do that on a small scale if that’s where you can start. The local level is sometimes where solutions can be tested and provided as examples for larger implementation.

You may be hoping for a certain outcome, such as “back to normal” or “back to the 1970s.” If so, would you be trading a potentially brighter future for the mediocre past? You may be hoping for a radical government-instituted change, not seeing that opportunities to bridge the impasse are already available to us thru our own initiative. The past way of doing things won't work; it’s what got us here. Justice and economic sustainability are principles that support each other, and at present, both are severely strained. Could we bridge differences with innovative approaches? What are the possible trade-offs we could accept if flattening the economic pyramid means giving up some of the perks we're used to in our relatively privileged circumstances?

Some find a way to engage in the economy ethically, but others find their careers eventually lead to too much compromise in their values. True detachment from the market economy requires you to find alternative ways to provide for yourself. For the most part in modern economies, people are either tied to a job or participating in some degree of hidden economic exploitation. Dropping out might not meet as much resistance as expected, if you have a skill set workable for self-employment. Some friends and family might simply scoff, “Go ahead and be an impoverished Cassandra.” Even those wary of non-market activities, such as self-sufficient farming or bartering, recognize the value during supply chain disruptions. Emphasize this aspect when engaging with the establishment, positioning yourself as a community disaster preparedness plan. Connect with local officials responsible for emergency planning and seek grants, negating any suspicions of subversion. We don't need to actively undermine the economy; it's destined to falter eventually, as has happened with past empires. Pass on your self-sustaining practices to your children and encourage them to get a side gig as well, building skills to adapt to unknown opportunities.

"The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up" (Matthew 4:16).