Starve The Beast, Feed The Light

by Tim Bryant

It is often echoed by the marginalized masses that “the system doesn’t work for the people” and “it only works for the elite that own it.” Regardless of ideology, it’s pretty hard to deny this claim when wealth inequality and power concentration are rampant all over society with plenty of hard data to back it up. This reality is not really in question by most logical people with access to even the most basic information. However, what is often not discussed, and is much more controversial, is how to implement tangible solutions to the current social enigma the world finds itself in. This lack of effective solutions seems to be the major hurdle holding back a fast awakening public.

The problem is that many people today go about activism in the totally wrong way, spinning the wheels, but going nowhere fast. The three most common tactics include constantly complaining about other people’s actions, protesting the actions of others by occupying space/holding signs, and lobbying middlemen politicians to enact new laws to fix the problems and “protect” the people. Though these tactics might work to some small degree (obviously not working very well at the moment), they all have one fundamental problem that is at the heart of real change, and that is direct individual action. By always asking and relying on some other entity to be the agent of change, like the government or private corporations, people are stripping themselves of their own power to change the system directly through their own individual actions.

It’s no wonder people feel incredibly powerless when coming face-to-face with the beast that is the system. However, if there is one truth that every social activist needs to fully understand, it is that we the people are what feeds the beast, and without our energy input, the parasite would starve and fall to its knees, dying off quicker than many people can even fathom. It’s really not as complex as many are led to believe; it just requires hard work, focused discipline, open-minded thinking, in-depth research, and constant adaptation of an ever-changing world.

With money making the world go ’round, financially starving the corrupt aspects of the system might be the first place to start. For example, instead of complaining about Walmart’s low wages or McDonald’s poor food health standards, simply don’t shop there or work there. This directly affects their pocket-book and chances are they will get the hint sooner rather than later. Though simple enough, this is very hard for many people in practice, primarily because most people have been so heavily indoctrinated into believing that they are dependent upon the current system for survival. This can be compared to black magic, where one is deceived into unconsciously giving their energy output to an external entity despite the fact that it is against their own interests. The psychological addiction runs extremely deep, especially in the United States, as many people don’t even realize how incredibly addicted they are to the systemic Kool-Aid their constantly fed. Not only are they addicted, but they cannot even perceive any alternatives to their usual lifestyle routines. However, if the system has any chance of changing, people have to quit financially supporting those institutions that go against their interests, such as unhealthy food, propagandized media, criminal banks, greedy corporations, unhealthy relationships, and disloyal government among others.

[More…]

Philosophers stone – selected views from the boat http://philosophers-stone.co.uk