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, January 31, 2019

State of Power 2019: Finance

Click here to access articles from the Transnational Institute (TNI).

TNI is an international NGO based in the Netherlands, the members of which seem to believe that only an informed citizenry via reforms to capitalism can halt the destructive effects of the powerful transnational capitalists led by the armed-to-the-teeth US Empire. However, they also sincerely want to educate people about international capitalism so that it can serve the needs of the people and halt the destructive effects that is threatening the sustainability of the Earth's human habitat. Their efforts are in stark contrast to other NGOs that function merely as sources of pro-capitalist propaganda.

I have long been convinced that only economies under the control of the people, organized by a bottom-up reverse hierarchy, can do this, and more: unlocking the vast potential that humans have to promote their lives and all life on our unique planet that is abundant with so many life forms. 

Having read widely and with extensive experience in activist movements, I now am convinced that our days as a human species are limited. Still I want to contribute to the growing awareness that capitalism is the cause of our demise, and in the time remaining devote our efforts to take back our economies so that we can unlock at least some of our wonderful human potential. We must understand our adversaries so that we can defeat them.

In this packet there are many very informative articles most of which I have only scanned. So peruse these articles, become informed and active in a movement that promotes people's control of their economies by removing this control from a tiny group of people who are thoroughly addicted to the drug of power.