1. A Broken EconomySeeking Social Recovery
It is obvious that there is a need for some type of reform as a result of our economic downturn. It should be
equally understood that this deflation in our economy has been a consistent and progressive one. When we
honestly evaluate this persistence of regression it should be apparent that the current system has failed us. It
has only been recently, that people have begun to question the validity of a system that does not meet our
best interests. Unfortunately we all live under a system that we believed at one time would work.This is not
a question we ever intended on pursuing. We all grew up together with the idea that if we had enough
ambition and worked hard, this land we lived in was full of opportunity. We understood that there was no
limit to how much income we could accumulate through this free enterprise system. There are still many
who feel they have achieved much of this dream, and seldom wish to entertain the reality of those less
unfortunate. The time has come, when no one can ignore the reality that exists. Everyone knows something
is not right when we compare the technological advances we’ve made, to how little our progress has been
to alleviate the suffering that is becoming ever increasing and so obvious to see.As a nation and even a
global society, we are beginning to wake up and question our mode of living.
In America, we are beginning to look towards a solution, but we can also recognize it as a global problem
as well. We are finding out that our economic dilemma is not unique to the rest of the world. America has
always been a leader in the field of democracy, but we have recently discovered our values are inconsistent
with the vision from which our founding fathers used to form this great nation. It appears frustration and
blame have replaced our overall unity that divides us to the point, where we find little hope of returning to
the foundations of our heritage. When democracy becomes a questionable substitute for a socialistic or
communistic society, we must ask ourselves how it could be? There is no doubt that a democracy has
within it, the necessary elements to implement human dignity and equal rights, so what has happened to the
structure that inhibits its success?
The basis of a free enterprise system has a capital nature, on the surface it appears there is nothing wrong
with that, the harder you work at something the more you should be rewarded. So, the large Cooperations
we see today, is nothing more than company’s who make solid business decisions to produce large profits.
A Cooperationsresponsibility is nothing other than profit driven, and it is not written in stone that they
should be responsible for who they choose to employ or if they even have any employees. Free enterprise
means just that, they are free to choose how they go about their business. We are beginning to realize there
is one problem with this concept; once a company becomes so large that the whole of society is dependant
upon that company’s goods or services, society becomes very vulnerable. We have allowed our reliance on
particular means of energy, food production, and transportation. These are just three of our basic needs we
have become reliant on in society.When only a few cooperationsdominate any one of these resources, they
become very powerful. We demand these goods or services, and they are only happy to supply us in any
way they see fit to do so. As we rely on these commodities we become willing to sacrifice many other
things to acquire them. This has become the main cause of our dilemma. We want what they provide (or
control) and we are willing to sacrifice our working conditions, the price for our labor, and generally our
own self-worth. Laws are passed to enable these company’s to deregulate their pollutants, the taxes
imposed on them, and the processes that keep them in place, all for fulfilling what we demand as a society.
The problem is clear,but now we find ourselves withoutthe ability to function as a democratic society. We
have slowly evolved into a society where greed has been able to systematically implement a different set of
rules. Our democratic power is overshadowed by the power of the elite few in big business. Plain and
2. simple, Capitalism has replaced Democracy! I am not the first to scream this out loud, and I will not be the
last to mention it. This did not happen overnight, but it is the reality of the times. In this day all over the
world the well-being of the majority of lives, rests in the hands of a minority. The majority does not wish
to choose poverty, war, and disease! This is a fact, if you choose to ignore this reality and truth, then you
are lying to yourself. This is a bad dream that we must wake up from. Social recovery is possible when we
begin to question the reason that got us here. There is truly no relevancy in contemplating individual blame,
for it is the system that has failed us.
Beginning a social recovery begins with each individual. No one can claim immunity from this catastrophic
displacement we find ourselves in. We will be unable to sustain our culture if things continue as they are.
The good news is, there are movements that are already established and more to follow, that will detour
furtherdestructioncaused by this broken system. It is time to reclaim our rights as individuals, by joining in
universal agreement that our voice does matter. Based on the simple right to the pursuit of happiness, we
can no longer allow a greed based system to dictate what is important any longer. Change is imminent, the
sooner we join the solution, the quicker it can occur. First of all we must be educated to the current
circumstances, and be willing to spread the truth. It is nothing but the truth we need as our guide. It is
within the compassion of everyone’s heart that will lead us. When we all agree on common dignity and our
right to live in a better world, we will be on our way!
I am going to illustrate movements that have already begun. I will trust that anyone willing to help with
making a better world will take it from there. Do not let anything or anybody discourage your belief that
change can happen. Remember the powerful people in this world have much to lose, and you may find
many obstacles in your journey. You will find an abundance of help along the way, and learn about the
mass of people behind you. There is great power in the majority of like minds, and it will not take you long
before you realize the pursuit is worthwhile. Ask yourself one question; How much is human dignity
worth? How much effort are you willing to give, when you are helping in putting people back to work?
How much is it worth to live on a healthy planet, with clean energy, clean air, and non-polluted rivers? Do
not be a skeptic, be a part of the solution.
Here is a list of the movements I know of at this time, you may find others or develop others, but all can
work together on common ground.There aremany videos that can be found relating totheses movements
also, they are very enlightening and inspiring. The descriptions below are directly taken from each
particular movement's website.
The Venus Project; http://www.thevenusproject.com/ there is a video on the main page.
Lookup Jacque Fresco: Futurist on www.youtube.com
The Venus Project reflects the culmination of Mr. Fresco's life work: the integration of the best of science
and technology into a comprehensive plan for a new society based on human and environmental concern. It
is a global vision of hope for the future of humankind in our technological age.
The Venus Project ideology is based on a Resource Based Economy;
A resource-based economy would utilize existing resources from the land and sea, physical equipment,
industrial plants, etc. To enhance the lives of the total population. In an economy based on resources rather
than money, we could easily produce all of the necessities of life and provide a high standard of living for
all.
3. We must emphasize that this approach to global governance has nothing whatever in common with the
present aims of an elite to form a world government with themselves and large corporations at the helm,
and the vast majority of the world's population subservient to them. Our vision of globalization empowers
each and every person on the planet to be the best they can be, not to live in abject subjugation to a
corporate governing body.
Democracy at Work; http://www.democracyatwork.info/ video on pageLook up Richard Wolff
atwww.youtube.com for an enlightening lecture!
Democracy at Work is a project, begun in 2010, that aims to build a social movement. The movement’s
goal is transitioning to a new society whose productive enterprises (offices, factories, and stores) will
mostly be Worker Self Directed Enterprises (WSDE’s), a true economic democracy. The WSDEs would
partner equally with similarly organized residential communities they interact with at the local, regional,
and national levels (and hopefully international as well). That partnership would form the basis of genuine
participatory democracy. Workers’ Self-Directed Enterprises (WSDE’s): WSDE’s are enterprises in which
all the workers who collaborate to produce its outputs also serve together, collectively as its board of
directors. Each worker in any WSDE thus has two job descriptions: (1) a particular task in the enterprise’s
division of labor, and (2) full participation in the directorial decisions governing what, how and where to
produce and how to use the enterprise’s surplus or profits.
The Zeitgeist Movement; http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/ radio cast on the page
Lookup, Peter Joseph lectures on www.youtube.com
Mission Statement
Founded in 2008, The Zeitgeist Movement is a Sustainability Advocacy Organization which conducts
community based activism and awareness actions through a network of Global/Regional Chapters, Project
Teams, Annual Events, Media and Charity Work.
The Movement's principle focus includes the recognition that the majority of the social problems which
plague the human species at this time are not the sole result of some institutional corruption, scarcity, a
political policy, a flaw of "human nature" or other commonly held assumptions of causality. The range of
The Movement's Activism & Awareness Campaigns extend from short to long term, with the model based
explicitly on non-violent methods of communication. The long term view, which is the transition into a
new social system, is a constant pursuit and expression, as stated before. However, in the path to get there,
The Movement also recognizes the need for transitional Reform techniques, along with direct Community
Support.
Thrive Movement; http://www.thrivemovement.com/video on page broadcast in multiple languages
The solution strategies presented here are based on years of consulting with historians, visionaries, and
experts in all of the 12 Sectors. They offer promising possibilities for creating a world in which nobody’s
rights are violated and every person has the opportunity to thrive.
Because such profound change cannot happen all at once, there are three overlapping stages of the
solution process: Stage One: Bringing integrity and healing to our current condition; Stage Two:
limiting government control to the protection of individual rights and the commons; and Stage
Three: living solely by voluntary cooperation – rules, but no rulers.
4. I imagine a world where each being is free to act according to his or her inner guidance, provided there is
no violation of any other’s person or property. VisionBy Foster Gamble
Timebankshttp://timebanks.org/ Inspiring videosonYouTube of people who are doing it in America.
Time Dollars: The New Currency that Enables Americans to Turn Their Hidden Resource-Time-into
Personal Security & Community Renewal
In the money economy we take price for granted. We know that when goods are scarce, prices go up and
when they are plentiful, the prices go back down. Gas prices at the pump are a great example. It is hard for
us to think about the economy without thinking about the price. Price is the way that our society uses to
insure that we give and get “fair value” for what we buy, sell and trade.
What we forget is that you don’t need to have money with price built into it to have an economy. An
economy is really just a place where goods and services are produced, exchanged, and distributed. And,
when you think about it, family, neighborhood, community, and civil society do all these things. They
produce, exchange and distribute goods and services like home-cooked meals (the real kind!), love for our
children, moral values, and a fair society. That is why we call them “the Core Economy.”
TimeBank Hours are what you might call a designer currency, almost alarmingly simple: an hour’s
contribution will earn one unit of exchange.Give an hour; get a credit. Spend the credit, receive an hour of
service. This concept has already proven to work, there is a wonderful data based software available for
administration. This idea is growing all across the world! This type of organization brings communities
closer together, and fills a need that will promote the self-esteem of anyone who gets involved.Anyone can
join and anyone can contribute, but it is not money that we focus on, it is people!
Although most of my concentration is focused on individual awareness and attainment, I am becoming
increasingly involved with social reform. I would be pleased to hear from anyone who wishes to
collaborate on this topic. You may contact me through my website
http://reachyourdreams.weebly.com/contact.html
Those who create harmony in their own lives, can pave the path for the race to follow.
Rolley Hurley(c) 2011 - all rights reserved