The "economy" like "public health" is an artificial construct.
Artificial constructs dehumanize us, so the question, what indeed are we, becomes critical, for an individual and for all of us. Because if you're not contrarian on this question, you have swallowed the generally accepted theory of evolution, which basically boils down to: I am an accident, there was nothing before and there will be nothing after. Think about that for about a minute and you soon realize that if I'm an accident, nothing much matters. This for me explains much about where moral values have gone. Eventually it all ends up in nihilism, a far cry from the abundant life we could have if we could only answer the question correctly. See John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy [sound familiar?]. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
I did swallow the theory of evolution in fact. But simple observations in the course of life led me to question it. I accept evolution as something that occurs in nature, but I rejected the random mutations part. Evolution is obvious; but the idea that it all came together through random mutations and random particle combinations is beyond silly. There's obviously an organizing principle, present even in the smallest of particles.
Thank you Anthony! Indeed, I agree with you - economics shouldn't be such preposterous rubbish as they teach in schools - it should be easy to understand intuitively. I suspect that like many other things, complications aren't accidental. As Alan Greenspan said, "if what I say seems clear, you probably misunderstood it."
Hi Alex, You and quite some other thinkers from HU, CH, UK etc. have come to the same conclusion as you seem to have in many of your talks and writings, i.e. that the heart of the problem lies in the money system underpinning the current economic model. I.e. the system for the means of exchange being exposed to speculation.
Some come at it with a digital DAO solution, like Prof Richard Werner and his Valhalla Network initiative (https://valhallanetwork.io/), or others with creating platforms on the antroposophic model of the Swiss, Alexander Caspar with inbuilt expiry in the money issued (http://www.gemeinsinn.net/data/Alexander_Caspar_Das_neue_Geld_deutsch.pdf). Or even like in HU, creating bottom up parallel society frameworks like the localized "Basket Communities" for exchange of local produce as a societal commerce network basis for a new money.
While I agree with practically all what you say above and in your talks, I would be curious to get your opinion as to what you see as key ingredients lifting these initiatives off the ground, and achieving scale.
All the best and thank you for your inspiring work!
Thank you Janos; indeed, I think that many people are converging on the same basic understanding as the failings of the current system become more and more obvious. I'm very aware of Dr. Richard Werner's work and am a fan. But it's particularly gratifying to know about "Basket Communities" because it manifests bottom up mobilization to solve people's immediate needs. Generally, when people start to actively organize in this way, magic can happen - it seems that they very rapidly go from passive, complacent cogs to a very intelligent force shaping changes. I always go back to Confucius: "A seed grows with no sound. But a tree falls with huge noise. Destruction has noise but creation is quiet." We live in the age of big trees falling down, which seems scary and has many people spellbound - but at the same time the seeds are growing and there's no telling what they might grow into. I think the best thing we can do is simply to seek truth, research and enhance our understanding of problems and potential solutions. The concrete, technical solutions will emerge of themselves. The most important "tree" to cut down is the fraudulent money system and also the ideology and perverted views of human nature that have allowed this system to thrive and become dominant. Ultimately, we'll need to rediscover God.
Good one Alex.
The "economy" like "public health" is an artificial construct.
Artificial constructs dehumanize us, so the question, what indeed are we, becomes critical, for an individual and for all of us. Because if you're not contrarian on this question, you have swallowed the generally accepted theory of evolution, which basically boils down to: I am an accident, there was nothing before and there will be nothing after. Think about that for about a minute and you soon realize that if I'm an accident, nothing much matters. This for me explains much about where moral values have gone. Eventually it all ends up in nihilism, a far cry from the abundant life we could have if we could only answer the question correctly. See John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy [sound familiar?]. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
I did swallow the theory of evolution in fact. But simple observations in the course of life led me to question it. I accept evolution as something that occurs in nature, but I rejected the random mutations part. Evolution is obvious; but the idea that it all came together through random mutations and random particle combinations is beyond silly. There's obviously an organizing principle, present even in the smallest of particles.
We are ALL economists! A new mantra of mine. Great piece Alex that was excellent many thanks!
Thank you Anthony! Indeed, I agree with you - economics shouldn't be such preposterous rubbish as they teach in schools - it should be easy to understand intuitively. I suspect that like many other things, complications aren't accidental. As Alan Greenspan said, "if what I say seems clear, you probably misunderstood it."
Thank you Alex! Yourself & Tom explain 'boring' economics in interesting, humane terms. Take care mate!
Sometimes we forget who we are.
Hi Alex, You and quite some other thinkers from HU, CH, UK etc. have come to the same conclusion as you seem to have in many of your talks and writings, i.e. that the heart of the problem lies in the money system underpinning the current economic model. I.e. the system for the means of exchange being exposed to speculation.
Some come at it with a digital DAO solution, like Prof Richard Werner and his Valhalla Network initiative (https://valhallanetwork.io/), or others with creating platforms on the antroposophic model of the Swiss, Alexander Caspar with inbuilt expiry in the money issued (http://www.gemeinsinn.net/data/Alexander_Caspar_Das_neue_Geld_deutsch.pdf). Or even like in HU, creating bottom up parallel society frameworks like the localized "Basket Communities" for exchange of local produce as a societal commerce network basis for a new money.
While I agree with practically all what you say above and in your talks, I would be curious to get your opinion as to what you see as key ingredients lifting these initiatives off the ground, and achieving scale.
All the best and thank you for your inspiring work!
Janos
Thank you Janos; indeed, I think that many people are converging on the same basic understanding as the failings of the current system become more and more obvious. I'm very aware of Dr. Richard Werner's work and am a fan. But it's particularly gratifying to know about "Basket Communities" because it manifests bottom up mobilization to solve people's immediate needs. Generally, when people start to actively organize in this way, magic can happen - it seems that they very rapidly go from passive, complacent cogs to a very intelligent force shaping changes. I always go back to Confucius: "A seed grows with no sound. But a tree falls with huge noise. Destruction has noise but creation is quiet." We live in the age of big trees falling down, which seems scary and has many people spellbound - but at the same time the seeds are growing and there's no telling what they might grow into. I think the best thing we can do is simply to seek truth, research and enhance our understanding of problems and potential solutions. The concrete, technical solutions will emerge of themselves. The most important "tree" to cut down is the fraudulent money system and also the ideology and perverted views of human nature that have allowed this system to thrive and become dominant. Ultimately, we'll need to rediscover God.
That's beautiful
That’s the way I see it as well.
"The economy itself is the aggregate of people going about their lives and making a living."
That's the propaganda slogan, equivalent to writing "Your vote counts"!
The economy itself is the aggregate of slaves going about their slavery and making a surviving.
But clearly the herds of modern moron slaves are very happy with the economy itself.