Many of us don't know any other world than the capitalistic system that we're currently in. It has only been recently that I've realized more often how this economic system affects us as humans.
I've written before about collective imagination and how Mark Fisher wrote a book about capitalist realism: this is the belief that the current capitalistic system is not only the main one, but also the only realistic one. It's getting harder and harder for us to imagine any world in which we are not affected daily by capitalism.
This "growth" is the overriding purpose of the "global economy" which the Machine has built: everything else is of secondary concern. The growth has no specific aim and no end in sight, and can always be justified by pointing to problems - poverty, environmental degradation - which were in many case caused by the growth, but which can now only be solved by more of it. It is facilitated by the production and consumption of goods and services, the desire (or 'need') for which has been manufactured by vast marketing and advertising concerns whose best minds are trained in the essence of psychological manipulation. The rise and triumph of the internet - the neurological network of the Machine
As we zoom out more and view capitalism as an option instead of the only way possible, it's also interesting to think about how other systems could be better or worse for us a society.
Thinking more about the daily influences of capitalism, I think of:
- The commercialization of public spaces, which leads to a decrease in a natural sense of community and belonging
- A lot of focus on ambition and work. Less room for rest, fun and play. We feel more stressed and less happy.
- There are continuously influences around us that are purposely there to make us want to buy more things. There's no way in which we can consume mindfully (and less) in a world where you are expertly pushed to only consume more stuff. There are advertisements all around us all the time: on the screens on which we consume media (on all mediums), but also while waiting for the bus or metro, while doing our groceries or at a concert listening to our favourite band.
- Capitalism makes us feel that everything is scarce and that we should keep things for ourselves. This makes us controlling and anxious.
I believe that socialism can make us feel more human. I would like to choose empathy over selfishness. Maybe it's less about politics, and more about morality for me. Or maybe that's the same. I would love for a world where there's less focus on producing, and more focus on creating, belonging and playing. The entire point of life is to enjoy it, and we are globally rich enough to do give people the time and space to do so.
Resources
- I've learnt a lot from the book Understanding Power by Chomsky
- Interesting take on China being communist while doing capitalism in a TikTok⤴ by Alton Marquez