I think it was Rudolf Steiner who warned that a time would come when we'd have a war of "all against all". And that the only way through this would be to find a way of retaining one's 'humanity' while Rome (and most everything else) burns, to come out the other side with our human values intact. So, I think you really are on the right track, in terms of coming to grips with 'values' and 'meaning', which form the basis of our relationship to existence. In this context, "Don't sweat the small stuff" takes on a poignant new meaning. So, larger perspectives, context, compassion, nuance, creativity, self-awareness in present time, all of these elements that make being human a boon to the planet rather than a menace, are critical to what you are getting at. My two cents.
See also Pankaj Mishra's book "Age of Anger" - world-wide civil war of all against all, and how it can be avoided. Humanity can remain since the regular ppl survive the ever-war efforts of the Elites, but learn how difficult peace is: https://thedukereport.substack.com/p/report-from-iron-mountain-explainer
“More Fun, Less Stuff” is a suggested direction in which we can individually act to add action to the necessary change of societal focus. Were democracy a thing, we could debate the question: Do we want our collective labour (the economy) to aim for perpetual expansion or for the long-term well-being of people and Earth? What do you think we would choose?
"More Fun, Less Stuff" is great! We absolutely do need to act now, individually, in order to prepare for that interim period between the iceberg and the ship going down. Only those who are ready to leave their 'stuff' behind will fit on the lifeboats! ;-)
Sadly, Mike, where remnants of democracy remain, we already know the answer to your question. You would *think* the vote would be long-term well-being of people and Earth, but our current structure says that while that leads to long-term thriving, it also leads to short-term struggles and possibly non-survival. (ASSUMING our current paradigm.) As I pointed out somewhere else recently, the majority of people claim to support the climate scientists, but since the actions that climate science recommends involves the loss of JOBS and virtual wealth, no one actually votes for that model - they vote for the perpetual expansion.
Remove the survival prerequisite of income (i.e. put a hole in the ship), and suddenly the priorities will change and align with more rational thinking. (We hope.)
It struck me funny after all of the serious insight, that this is "100% Canadian content," and I humorously asked myself, "And what? No American tariff?" Then it struck me: "they" cannot tax our ideas, only cut them off (Iran's total comms blackout this week). Yet our comms will find a way and our ideas of what is true and real and best for all will prevail. "One hand for the boat" means hold on to keep your balance while you make your way topside. Speak more. Speak louder. Talk to everyone.
Thanks, Mark! The new "100% Canadian content" suffix was sort of unplanned. My original intentions were (a) tell people what country I'm in, thus providing a bit of cultural context, and (b) asserting that no Artificial Intelligence tools played any part in the content. Those two intentions got sort of smooshed together into the "100% Canadian content" line.
I think it was Rudolf Steiner who warned that a time would come when we'd have a war of "all against all". And that the only way through this would be to find a way of retaining one's 'humanity' while Rome (and most everything else) burns, to come out the other side with our human values intact. So, I think you really are on the right track, in terms of coming to grips with 'values' and 'meaning', which form the basis of our relationship to existence. In this context, "Don't sweat the small stuff" takes on a poignant new meaning. So, larger perspectives, context, compassion, nuance, creativity, self-awareness in present time, all of these elements that make being human a boon to the planet rather than a menace, are critical to what you are getting at. My two cents.
See also Pankaj Mishra's book "Age of Anger" - world-wide civil war of all against all, and how it can be avoided. Humanity can remain since the regular ppl survive the ever-war efforts of the Elites, but learn how difficult peace is: https://thedukereport.substack.com/p/report-from-iron-mountain-explainer
“More Fun, Less Stuff” is a suggested direction in which we can individually act to add action to the necessary change of societal focus. Were democracy a thing, we could debate the question: Do we want our collective labour (the economy) to aim for perpetual expansion or for the long-term well-being of people and Earth? What do you think we would choose?
"More Fun, Less Stuff" is great! We absolutely do need to act now, individually, in order to prepare for that interim period between the iceberg and the ship going down. Only those who are ready to leave their 'stuff' behind will fit on the lifeboats! ;-)
Sadly, Mike, where remnants of democracy remain, we already know the answer to your question. You would *think* the vote would be long-term well-being of people and Earth, but our current structure says that while that leads to long-term thriving, it also leads to short-term struggles and possibly non-survival. (ASSUMING our current paradigm.) As I pointed out somewhere else recently, the majority of people claim to support the climate scientists, but since the actions that climate science recommends involves the loss of JOBS and virtual wealth, no one actually votes for that model - they vote for the perpetual expansion.
Remove the survival prerequisite of income (i.e. put a hole in the ship), and suddenly the priorities will change and align with more rational thinking. (We hope.)
It struck me funny after all of the serious insight, that this is "100% Canadian content," and I humorously asked myself, "And what? No American tariff?" Then it struck me: "they" cannot tax our ideas, only cut them off (Iran's total comms blackout this week). Yet our comms will find a way and our ideas of what is true and real and best for all will prevail. "One hand for the boat" means hold on to keep your balance while you make your way topside. Speak more. Speak louder. Talk to everyone.
Thanks, Mark! The new "100% Canadian content" suffix was sort of unplanned. My original intentions were (a) tell people what country I'm in, thus providing a bit of cultural context, and (b) asserting that no Artificial Intelligence tools played any part in the content. Those two intentions got sort of smooshed together into the "100% Canadian content" line.
Thank you
Chris Greaves might like this one ?