From a young age, society has conditioned us to believe that we must live our lives at work. We must start the cycle by learning the skills we need in order to get a job and start a career, in order to earn money which in turn allows us to live as well as feed the growth of the economy.
But what many don’t ask us why we work or actually, why we need to work.
“Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for – in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.” – Ellen Goodman
Why do we work?
The answer may seem obvious – we need money so we can survive comfortably with food in our mouths and a roof over our heads.
But we have been conditioned into having this mindset through a society we are born into and we are living in a world that has enough natural resources for us to live comfortably, yet we believe we must work and make money in order to be happy.
What is scarcity and how is it used?
In today’s society, we are led to believe resources are low and due to human consumption, we are running out of the things we need. This is where scarcity comes into play.
Scarcity is a tool used to create the feeling of not having enough and is often used by the media to create a subtle mass panic that we are running low on vital resources such as land, oil, energy, money, food, water, etc.
This feeling automatically creates a survival response in humans, which results in the greediness of wanting to take all we can, in order to save ourselves.
A good example of this is how some third-world countries are starving and dying of disease and lack of resources whilst the Western countries are wasting the very same resources on a daily basis.
In 2004, a study was published that showed that 40-50% of harvested food doesn’t get eaten. Yet the media lead us to believe others are suffering because there aren’t enough resources.
What is wrong with us?
Our society is a debt-based monetary system where governments are borrowing money from central banks, owned by private shareholders that the public isn’t even aware of, as they are protected by law.
The richest 1% own almost half of the world’s wealth and have unimaginable amounts of power, whilst the rest of the population live and work under rules created by those in power, that they may not even be aware they’re following.
The monetary system is designed to keep the wealth in the hands of a very select few, who control every aspect of our lives.
Do you see it now?
We are being fed information by our institutions – education, government, media – and we have become so docile to the information that we spend our time with our eyes closed to what is going on, distracted by the latest piece of celebrity gossip or online trend.
There is plenty of resources to go around, yet, waste and pollution seem to be the by-product of unsustainable growth and greed-based ideology. Many claim that slavery still exists in today’s society and that we are all enslaved by those in power.
The role of the media
Our media is used as a form of brainwashing, as a way to control the population into thinking a certain way that aligns with government policies. Not only are we being fed information about the topics that certain people decide we need to care about, but we are being manipulated subtly through language.
The use of words such as “terrorist”, “scroungers,” or “extremists” subtly change our opinions on topics if we blindly read what we are being fed, without questioning it or looking deeper into the reasons behind those words. Repeating words and information enough times to a large population of people, and they start believing it.
Divide and conquer is a tactic used throughout history and not surprisingly, is still being used today by the media. Keeping communities suspicious of one another and dividing society is something the media have perfected throughout the years.
And whilst the media are reporting a popular story to divide society and create opinions within our minds, game pieces are being moved elsewhere whilst our attention is diverted. The media is the most obvious form of brainwashing, but these tactics can be seen throughout all the areas controlled by those in power.
What can we do?
The answer is in a community and changing the ways in which we think. Question everything you are being told on a daily basis, create your own opinions based on the interactions you have and the people you meet.
Don’t let the media control your thinking and don’t let yourself be brainwashed into having negative opinions of others. Don’t rely on outside sources to thrive, grow your own resources, build things yourself rather than purchasing from large stores.
Whilst there are many aspects we can’t control ourselves, there are ways to create a meaningful life for yourself without relying on othersif you don’t allow yourself to be brainwashed by society into living your life their way.
“You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew.” – Albert Einstein
Tell us in the comments your opinion on the matter! We would be happy to hear your thoughts!
It seems that this is the never ending tragedy of human existence. It has always been thus and will always continue to be the same. It stems from human nature which dictates the human condition described here.
These things go in cycles where the balance continually shifts until it goes too far in one or the other direction. We seem to be at the end of one such cycle where the conditions are becoming so unbearable to an ever increasing proportion of humans that unless there a radical change a total breakdown will be inevitable and will be a matter of time
But you do need to work for what you want regardless of the societal structure you live in. It’s not so much an “invention” (or tactic) as it is a reality.
I think the premise this blog makes is wrong, that there is such a thing as “effortless” living, in which you don’t have to work for what you need.
Other species don’t work because they are animals. Wild animals have it pretty though if you ask me. I’d rather be a first world human that works and has my basic needs met without having to fight to stay alive. I guess it depends on the quality of life you desire as to whether you work or not! Sure I can live off grid and survive but I don’t think that would be any easier or fulfilling than working for a living.
Or you can work and buy your things. Either way it’s called work. Money is a payment for effort.
Solutions? I think this is a targeted or individual oriented article. I’m not up or down for this. Simply because I didn’t choose this. So therefore is either I take it or leave it. Solutions: Be a social slave with a sense of pride or be a hermit and turn yourself into a “guru” or “animal”. Same thing lol. I’m doing the first one, then I’ll do the second lol. Peace of mind