Chapter 7: The Pyramid Scheme
For our own good and the good of the billions of people of the earth as well as for the survival of life on earth itself, it is clear that we need to focus on decomissioning the Capitalist socio-economic paradigm once and for all, so we can create a better, more sustainable paradigm. We need systems in its place that will serve and foster the happiness, well-being, freedom, dignity and mutual good of all members of the Human community, not for some at the expense of others.
There are many myths perpetuated in Capitalist societies that very effectively serve to keep the lion’s share of the people focused on acting within the Capitalist paradigm to their own detriment. This dynamic functions similarly to Medieval European paradigms where the vast majority of serfs and peasants were kept compliant through religiously-based myths instructing them to be obedient and subservient in their life on earth in order to earn their place in Heaven.
One such modern myth is that, by studying people who are "making it" in order to learn what they know, their habits and ways, we can make it too by emulating them. This is a trap and an illusion. It is one of the ways we are kept divided, conquered, and playing the game as established by those at the top of the pyramid on their terms, ensuring that they stay in control and continue to get richer and more powerful.
In practice, even if you or I were to find a way to successfully ascend the economic pyramid, (and don't kid yourself, that is about as likely as coming up with the right "system" to beat the casino) the fact is that the Capitalist economic system is a pyramid scheme which cannot function unless the vast majority of people are kept down. It is set up that way. Your or my success would only serve to motivate those left behind to work harder at staying in the system, trying to climb in our footsteps. Sadly, almost none of them would ever be able to do so.
Consider what happened in slavery days when an individual slave was freed or managed to find a benefactor to purchase their freedom. An individual slave getting their freedom within that system did not end slavery. In fact, the freed slave could potentially become a slave owner, or more likely, be returned to slavery because a slave owner conveniently decided to consider their freedom papers a forgery.
It is dangerous to think primarily in terms of finding a way to make the system work for you. That mind-set keeps the system going and keeps you trapped in it. Yes, we do need to survive in the time before the Transition, but that is not enough. We need to plan, think and prepare to bring down that socio-economic system and scrap it for the broken down polluting jalopy that it is in order to build something significantly more functional in its place that is based on human and environmental well being, sustainability and mutuality. This Capitalist system is inherently oppressive and destructive beyond anything of which Hitler ever dreamed. It was not conceived with that end in mind; but it has devolved into ever-escalating destructive cycles, racing in overdrive towards a new Feudal society that could last much longer than the original Medieval darkness did, unless the earth becomes barren and uninhabitable as a result of headlong exploitation and destruction of the biosphere.
Supply and demand sound innocent enough until a huge greedy bully, or rather a gang of huge greedy bullies, get control of the supply and restrict it so demand will be desperate, then set the price as high as possible.
The next step is to create the demand and control the supply. A prime case in point is to be seen in most of the newest cell phones, which are manufactured with the battery buried so deeply inside the phone that it is nearly impossible to replace it without destroying the phone. This is by design because manufacturers and telecom companies would rather force you to buy a new $850 phone when the battery won't hold a charge any more, instead of buying a $30 battery off of Amazon where they make no profit at all. There is absolutely no technological or engineering reason for this kind of design.
The Pyramid in Pictures
