Surviving Capitalism (Not) : A Shadow Government of Kindness

We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Thursday, December 23, 2010

A Shadow Government of Kindness

by Rebecca Solnit from Tom Dispatch. (You may want to skip the introduction by scrolling down to the article.)

This inspiration piece may be what you need to counter all the capitalist themes that portray human nature as governed by the lowest impulses of laziness, irresponsibility, and selfishness. Perhaps the propagandists of the ruling classes are merely projecting their own sociopathic qualities on to us.

However, this may not be enough to put you in a good mood. Perhaps you are dealing with frustrations and anger in your life. This 4:02m video might help you vicariously to rid yourself of these demons.