Today I'm going to post excerpts from an important piece by Joan Westenberg (@Daojoan) that covers these issues:
‣ Why capitalism must end
‣ How difficult that will be
‣ The new direction we can choose
Here is Part 1...
Let’s start with something controversial: Capitalism is not an economic system. It is a philosophical and ideological force that shapes our lives, environment, and perception of humanity.
It’s a behemoth that thrives on relentless growth, often at a devastating cost. Under its reign, we witness the widening chasm of inequality, where the affluent soar on the wings of wealth while the less fortunate are left to the whims of an unforgiving market.
Our planet, the cradle of life itself, is treated as a commodity, its resources extracted with reckless abandon, its delicate ecosystems pushed to the brink for profit.
Capitalism has ushered in an era where consumerism is king and possessions are the yardstick of success. In this relentless pursuit of more, we have lost sight of what truly matters — our connection to each other, our harmony with nature, and our sense of purpose beyond material gains.
We’re trapped in a cycle that glorifies wealth and power, ignoring the human cost it entails — a cost paid in the currency of social injustice, environmental degradation, and a deep sense of existential void.
Capitalism shapes far more than just our economic system — it moulds our culture, worldviews, and even our personal values. After centuries of capitalist ideology spreading globally, most of us struggle to imagine alternatives that look nothing like our capitalist status quo.
But ever-worsening wealth gaps, the climate crisis, and other existential threats rooted in capitalism increasingly demand radical societal shifts.
This is the underlying question: Can we truly free ourselves from it? Can we quit capitalism? Not just in the practicalities of detaching from a capitalist structure, but in delving deeper into the philosophical quest of redefining our values and reshaping our collective consciousness.
It begins with a simple, profound realisation — to quit capitalism, we have to liberate ourselves from its entrenched mindset, a transformation that calls for more than economic reform; it demands a fundamental shift in how we perceive success, value community, and envision our role in the tapestry of humanity.
