Unlearning Capitalism
This year has been arduous for so many people in the US. The threat of further economic and government instability grows daily and along with it, the larger the wealth divide and the greater the harm to the working class, people who are minoritized, animals, plants and the planet. According to some research there are now 2500 billionaires, and the number of unhoused people continues to climb as high as 770,000 according to some reports, which is exacerbated by increasing climate crises born out of the incessant need for exponential growth.
At the current rate, we are headed for self annihilation.
We forget that we are animals, that we belong to each other and the earth, not the other way around. We forget that there are so many problems we have yet to solve, and instead are told to create new ones with a solution in order to make a sale.
This is what Capitalism drives. An insatiable, unconscious consumerism complex that we can’t shake in part because we’re just trying to survive along with the rest of us.
Can the argument that Capitalism creates innovation be made? Sure, we can say there is a whole lot of technological advancement that was born out of this system. And at what cost?
In recent months I have been investigating many models that decenter whiteness, individualism and competition at the cost of the health of the planet. There are some interesting theories, concepts and possible alternatives. Everything from de-growth to parallel economies to doing away with money altogether.
In search of alternatives I have also discovered how insidious capitalistic conditioning really is- the drive to make money before creating something of value to others. The instinct to compete over collaborating and co-creating something. The automatic self critical reaction to someone else’s success. The comparing, the fearing, the freezing and collapsing under pressure. All of this revealed and crystalized when imagining something different.
If we are to survive this we must change the system we have. And while there are ways we can learn to navigate and find that delicate balance of financial wellness with some serious skills and support; we must also start doing things differently and moving against the grain.
In your process of change, once you start recognizing something must change, how does it happen for you? Do you take a long time to process, mull it over, imagine and explore possible actions to take? Or do you jump into action and learn by doing? Do you research and spend more time understanding your own reasoning and meaning, or do you try something different and go through a process of elimination to find your way?
However you tend to go through your own process of change, know that now more than ever, you must cultivate, support and center that process. And surround yourself with people who are doing similar work to stay focused, engaged and consistent.
It is not enough for us to stay complacent and only use the tools for survival. We must also learn how to push back, encourage each other and show up.
Unlearning capitalism isn’t just becoming more aware of how it functions and harms people. It’s a deep, ongoing inquiry that requires intentionality, creativity, co-education and the support of community. To fight back and make something new requires trailblazing. Let’s imagine something new together, and not settle for anything but a radically inclusive system that takes care of everyone, every being and every part of this planet.