Why do people believe that our only options are resistance and fighting back, whatever that looks like? What if our oppressors didn't have to run, but were incentivised to create something new with us?
So, to translate, reform and protests are some of the lowest forms of leverage. As are non-profits, unionising -- even a movement that gets UBI instated. Why? They none of them change the underlying structure of the current system, which is upheld by the economy.
It is through that system, the economic one, that we ultimately gain power that isn't going to clash so much with existing power that it causes war. We do this through for-purpose business (community brands or social trading organisations) and other forms of community wealth building like mutual aid and timebanking (like at Simbi.com and Time4Good).
I am spreading the Happy News of all this because most don't seem to realise that it's going on! And such a shame too, because hope abounds and the more we all share in it and contribute to these solutions, the sooner we rebalance the world.
Thanks so much for posting this. I hope that people will take the chance to build something better while we can. I'll be posting some of my own ideas tomorrow for both prefiguration and resistance, but am really interested in reading yours and the ones you suggest. You are right there is a lot already going on, I thought I knew about some of it, but your links show I was barely scratching the service.
I love the idea that we could Kumbaya Nazi's into being peaceful and kind. Especially as I think most of them are insecure and scared in their own way and would be much happier living in a more co-operative world. But my ideal would be to bypass them, and make their power irrelevant. Failing that though then some resistance may also be necessary, and possibly some fighting, but hopefully our collective strength scares them off before that has to happen.
The essay was a big mouthful to chew and I enjoyed every bit. Much to consider.
Fuck the system😤
Why do people believe that our only options are resistance and fighting back, whatever that looks like? What if our oppressors didn't have to run, but were incentivised to create something new with us?
I speak about leverage, and creating resistance is actually one of the lowest forms of leverage. (For more on what leverage is most effective, see Donella Meadows' work: https://donellameadows.org/archives/leverage-points-places-to-intervene-in-a-system/).
So, to translate, reform and protests are some of the lowest forms of leverage. As are non-profits, unionising -- even a movement that gets UBI instated. Why? They none of them change the underlying structure of the current system, which is upheld by the economy.
It is through that system, the economic one, that we ultimately gain power that isn't going to clash so much with existing power that it causes war. We do this through for-purpose business (community brands or social trading organisations) and other forms of community wealth building like mutual aid and timebanking (like at Simbi.com and Time4Good).
This has already taken off in the UK with organisations like Kindred, HelpBnk, and Cooperation Hull (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1NLBYQfeho&t=74s) leading the way, but there are inklings of this solidarity through the economy happening all over the US as well, as with the recent success of the Drivers Cooperative in Colorado: https://www.hcn.org/articles/denver-rideshare-drivers-just-launched-a-worker-owned-co-op/
I am spreading the Happy News of all this because most don't seem to realise that it's going on! And such a shame too, because hope abounds and the more we all share in it and contribute to these solutions, the sooner we rebalance the world.
Thanks so much for posting this. I hope that people will take the chance to build something better while we can. I'll be posting some of my own ideas tomorrow for both prefiguration and resistance, but am really interested in reading yours and the ones you suggest. You are right there is a lot already going on, I thought I knew about some of it, but your links show I was barely scratching the service.
I love the idea that we could Kumbaya Nazi's into being peaceful and kind. Especially as I think most of them are insecure and scared in their own way and would be much happier living in a more co-operative world. But my ideal would be to bypass them, and make their power irrelevant. Failing that though then some resistance may also be necessary, and possibly some fighting, but hopefully our collective strength scares them off before that has to happen.
Yes I think you’re spot on with all of this. It will take all these strategies working together — everyone’s actions are important to the whole.
Looking forward to hearing more tomorrow and co-influencing a better world together xoxo
𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐲
I do like to add a little humour to most of my posts - hopefully it makes them a little more readable.
Or choose to expand your context....
https://open.substack.com/pub/vincentmcmahon/p/are-we-the-most-limited-beings-in?r=19i5c6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true