Everything is a pyramid scheme these days. Operations that funnel all the wealth to the top, while those at the bottom that are doing all the heavy lifting watch as their quality of life goes down, down, down. I refuse to participate, and always have.
Being this way has created a lot of stress, mostly for other people who don't understand where I am coming from. I understand that when you are soaking in it, deconstructing the intricacies can be difficult. As my good friend Doug once said, "Why can't they see it?"
Indeed, why can't they? Viable alternatives, such as cooperatives, are well known, but largely unused. No one wants to miss out on possibly getting to the top of the scheme, any scheme. Why risk going for a more equal world when you might become one of those that is more equal than everyone else?
But how many actually make it to the top? And once there, how do you deal with the loss of your compassion? Your integrity? Your very humanity?
As always, be careful of what you wish for. It's a pyramid scheme. It's not, you say? Then it's probably a closely related scam known as the ponzi scheme. Because that's how we roll here at the end of capitalism.
The former Syriza Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis in The Global Minotaur points out America's twin trade and budget deficits sit at the top using the dollars global reserve status as blackmail. It's going to unravel at some point. Alex.
ReplyDeleteGrab the popcorn.
DeleteWhat about if you have people who think radically different at the top? Or second from the top? It is here that positive change can happen really fast.
ReplyDeleteI usually agree with most of what is posted on this website (and I thank you for your insight into many different topics), but I do take offence with this icon, grouping everyone who is in the top two tiers in the same boat. I'm just saying, don't throw us all in the same boat please.
The icon is a generalization that is all too common in the North American experience. But there are also good organizations out there that respect and value the workers.
DeleteGood people at the top can make all the difference, and such individuals exist. We need more such people and organizations.
Unfortunately I know many employees that say that if they get to the top they will make lifes of those at the bottom miserable. They are proud that they are religious but in reality they have no morals.
ReplyDelete