My imagination is derived from a variety of sources that often run counter to the mainstream for a variety of reasons. Let me explain. In relation to this topic I consider the economic organisation of our means of production to be akin to slavery, horribly inefficient and wasteful and completely contrary to the best interests of our future development as a civilisation. That's my view; I think it could be better, a lot better.
Those things I see as a problem; largely because poverty = instability. The more poor people you have without proper access to basic medical treatment, education, social services, accommodation and so forth, the more potential you have for criminality, conflict, hostility and war. I see all of that as a problem so as a result of that I go looking for solutions. If the conventional view is that our economic system is by-and-large correct and I don't agree that it is, then I wil research alternatives and posit contrary views. I just won't buy what I am told. That's just the way I am.
The views that I have in relation to this thread aren't unique and original; they're not my special, little views, they're inspired by things like the Venus Project. A way of resource allocation that adheres to principles of science and research to address many of the problems I've outlined. That's my line of thinking. I'm interested in the best thing to do, not what is popular or in vogue; and I want to employ science in pursuit of that. How we get to such a system is not for me to say; we can do so by choice or we can do so kicking and screaming when our precious little system all comes crashing down and we have no choice.
I echoed the same sorts of ideas before the 2007-2008 financial crisis and the idea of society hitting such a economic roadblock prior to that time was unthinkable to many. Still is. The idea of our society being unsustainable and breaking down is still inconceivable to a lot of people. So I'm basically countered by a regurgitation of knee jerk mainstream garbage. If I say, work is slavery, what do I get? 'Duh, we need to work so things are produced and services provided'. Really? Duh, you don't think? That's it? What answers does this provide? Work IS slavery, for if many don't work, they don't survive. It's a pretty accurate observation.
Look at the definition -
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work
What's the difference? The employment market is exactly that, a market. Your services as an employee ARE bought (hired) and sold (retrenched). You ARE forced to work to survive. What is the difference? Not a lot. The only difference is the manner of your slavery. For your contribution, are you fed and accommodation provided for you? Or are you given the resources, i.e. money, to acquire these things for yourself? Can you choose your slave owner, aka, another employer or can you not? How does your ability to do this free you from work?
How am I wrong? I challenge anyone, on the basis of the definition that I provided, to demonstrate that work is not slavery? Take my challenge.
Want to gang up on me in this thread? The knee jerk dismissals and the put downs? Oh que será. Fine. The trouble with many of you and with society in general, as I see it, is that you ARE sheeple, as cliché as that is to say; whether you see it or want to admit to it or not. Whether you want to like it or not. It is the case; and that sucks for the people who actually want to engage in some thinking and contemplation about the way things fundamentally work. You question nothing but meaningless variations and pointless talking points within the framework of your society. It could be the framework of North Korea and it's dear leader, or Muhammad being this great prophet of Islam or America, land of the free. Everyone is brought up within a framework of this kind, and the vast majority will swallow their framework up, hook, line and sinker. From cradle to grave.
Rarely are the frameworks themselves really questioned from within, in the absence of powerful external counter influences. Instead let's talk about some irrelevant pop culture crap like what Kim Kardashian is doing this week. Or let's talk about some distracting political agenda. Or let's discuss the endless PR spin and the rhetoric and the subtle propaganda of the politicians. But never, ever question the fundamental integrity of the societal framework itself; the fundamental political, economic and cultural machinations are often beyond many to even contemplate the idea of questioning. Whatever the mainstream media drives as it's agenda, becomes your agenda. Whatever the politicians discuss becomes the things you talk about and discuss. What you base your vote on at elections. This is not 'thinking for yourself', it is thinking about things that others, with an agenda, have put in front of you to think about.
Never do you step outside and question the framework itself. You won't question democracy, because you're convinced it is infallible like a North Korean is convinced of the infallibility of dear leader. You don't question capitalism, because it is the lifeblood that supports your lifestyle, despite it's flaws, it's failures and the problems it causes for so many that don't derive benefit from it. You don't question the culture because the government, a bunch of 'experts' with contradicting theories and an inherent view of America as fundamentally righteous and noble means the 'official line' on major, controversial events should be taken as 'good enough'. Never mind doing rigorous science, never mind allowing thorough independent investigation. It is good enough for you; and cast out any and all who disagree.
So such ideas that run counter to the mainstream, the kind I present, will be denigrated by default. Always. Why? Because that's the way people are. That's the way they are raised, educated and built. That is what all societies aim to inherently produce, obedient citizenry. And because they have the inability to see things outside of the box, to properly engage in their own research and study. Because their views and opinions come as a result of being spoon fed, rather than independently sought, anyone else who stands to question the mainstream framework is cast aside, ostracised and shunned.
So that's my imagination. In contrast with the way I see things, I think that many people generally look at things, analyse things and gain their information about things from a place that represents a very sorry failure of imagination indeed.
