Capital Ideas

It’s been a long time. I have been busy. This is not an apology, it is an explanation. Bringing down your global economy has proved tricky; but I am getting there. I cannot stress the importance of global financial meltdown. I can stress the necessity of the erosion of greed.

As promised, I will cover the faiths in turn and having done Roman Catholicism I should move on. It could also be argued that Judaism has also been ‘done’, by exploring the Early years of YHWH. Jewish people believe in the literal truth of the Old Testament and the Talmud. So to them, the tales of Lilly and company are as pertinent today as they were six thousand years ago (the true age of the earth, don’t forget the fossil record is YHWH’s little giggle at your expense.)

With this in mind I am going to give my infinite insight into the religion we call capitalism. It is a religion because you believe in it. Or do you?

Capitalism is enhanced by supply and demand but is not defined by it because there is a third integer; profit. It would appear that most experts define it as an economic system based on private ownership. It began in England in the 16th Century and is now almost completely pervasive of all other economic systems on this little rock we call earth. It is the free market. It is not about supply and demand because without profit there would be no point to it.

Free trade is your enemy both as a person with humanitarian values and as a culture that is desirous of continuation. There is nothing free about it. The, ever increasing, gap between the haves and have not’s and the reducing number of have’s in relation to have not’s, will bring about change. What value wealth, when the have’s have it all. In this time of economic crisis the haves have printed more money. Economist will tell you straight, if you ask them, this does not work; it has never worked because the real value of the dollar the pound and the yen is nil.

America is Anansi the spider, attaching his threads to the world’s pots of food. He is stretched and his legs are thin. Just like the tortured bugs of your youth, if you pull hard enough they will fall off. We need those that lead you to have realised this before the end. Those stories have purpose and are as appropriate today as they always have been.

http://www.africa.mrdonn.org/anansi.html

There is also a point to be made about being content with what we have the ability to provide. If I cannot grow a mango should I have the right to eat a mango? Would you like to see the figures on the developing crisis in the global fishing industry? Or are you happy to continue chomping down your blue fin tuna?

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/04/global-fisheries-crisis/montaigne-text

http://archive.greenpeace.org/comms/cbio/global.html

Anyone for deep fried jellyfish?

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18854-two-recipes-for-the-seafood-of-the-future.html

Food and the global market economy, we are rich, why the hell can’t we use our resources to provide the basics for all of us?

Disturbing stuff, I don’t want to come over all Bob Geldof, (well you wouldn’t, would you. Unless you were Paula Yates, for a little while in the 80’s, anyway) but feed the world, eh?

The west is throwing scraps from the table but won’t let the developing or pre-industrial nations beg even. I have a little magic for you to try as individuals. Don’t buy so much stuff. Look at this in terms of capitalism and ask your self, ‘how the hell does that work?’ Profit is all about resource management, so how is there so much waste and still profit, it is illogical. It does not fit the free market economy model.

You are being duped by the stupid. Ask yourself what do I need? Need, not want; the distinction has never been more important. Creatures of the earth you are; and will be, for as long as the earth can physically tolerate you. Don’t be shy, tell your friends. The rock rolls around the sun and your time is short. Not just as individuals, but if we don’t sort things out soon, as a species also.

Why should you listen to my words, particularly when so many are shouting the same shout? Well because I amongst the noise have faith in you as is proper for your god. I will not demand your obedience because unlike the Muppets you have worshiped in the past I know you actually want to hear. No need for the shouting and the rage and the angriness, and the lamenting and wailing and the gnashing of teeth.

“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. When we really listen to people there is an alternating current, and this recharges us so that we never get tired of each other. We are constantly being re-created.” Brenda Ueland

The beauty is this, there is no failure ultimately. Simply keep on keeping on. Every time you wake begin again, trust yourself to try once more. Humanity never gets it right, and you should remember; you are amongst the greatest thinkers and doers of all times when you fail. Success is a succession of failure and is distilled to purity by it.

Don’t look at others efforts and grade yourself against them as is the theme of consumerism and the capitalist mind.

“Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” William Faulkner.

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I hope you notice that all three quotes are from American thinkers. It is not a contradiction in terms. They have been much maligned the people of America. It is not their fault; they came to governance late and have tried to make the best for themselves. They get it wrong so often but the spirit that set foot on the moon is noble. I just wish they would wake up, and smell the coffee.

Without insisting that the man who grows the coffee does so exclusively for them and for less reward than he needs to feed his family. If he refuses then it won’t be bought and now his land is fit for growing only coffee than no-one but US will buy. At the, ridiculously lower price than before, that we now offer.

I will you to try and try you will; it is in your nature. Don't waste a drop.

Day after day after day.

Mr. Pat