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Universes
Posted Wednesday, May 18, 2022
3y
ENFP
Sagittarius
Does anyone feel like they're stuck in a capitalist trap?
Lately I have been thinking a lot about feeling stuck in a series of cycles that I can never seem to escape and it's a series of cycles that I think many people struggle to escape in fact I don't even know if it's possible for most people in modern Western society and that is the cycle of capitalism. We are always pushed to consume and in that push to consume we are pushed to produce, produce not for ourselves but for the purpose of gaining Capital with which we can purchase different elements of consumption. It also feels like the more we produce the more we are pushed to consume, like me for instance I finally have the best job of my life I am making really good money and yet I still have so many bills I still have to pay for so much just to exist in this world. And of course I understand this is what must be done we live in society this is how society operates and so of course we have to just pull up our pants everyday grit our teeth and go to work like every other person but why are we all trapped doing this? There does not seem to be many opportunities to break the cycle or to go against the grain like it's all well and good to want to go off into the sunset like we're in the book into the wild look how it ended for him. We are forced to participate in a system that keeps us down the teaches us to accept what we're given and of course we have to keep living in it even when we have the realization that we are in that system there's very little way to break it because it is all encompassing and it is so ingrained in who we are as a culture how do you even live outside of that framework. I would love to be able to just drop everything and move to a temple somewhere to be a monk but at the same time that's not an option I have too many responsibilities and the more I work to relieve those responsibilities more responsibilities I find and I feel like many of you might have the same feeling or maybe I'm alone maybe I'm crazy but I think I've read enough and seen enough media to know that I'm not alone many of us feel this sense of being trapped within a society that does not work with us but works to exploit us. Almost all of us are slaves to our debt and obligations and there is very little room for true freedom, but then again what is freedom really is it simply just the freedom to choose or is it the freedom to choose free of the restrictions that resources place upon us because choice is not the same choice depending on the resources you have available. In the end we all still have to go to work we also have to keep living in the society and we all have to find ways to adapt because in the end it's not going to change for us not probably in our lifetime but should it change? How can we change? And who will it be who changes it? Just the confused ramblings of a burnt out insurance agent who once thought he could be a poet and an actor maybe the next Great American novelist in reality I might just be a bit too mediocre or perhaps just a bit too beaten down to accomplish those goals.
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Kelly
3y
ENFP
I don't know if you know, but tens of thousands of Americans have moved off grid and live mostly off the land. With modern technology, it's easier to now than it's ever been. It's much cheaper than essentially any other way to live, and pretty straightforward. Buy a piece of land, make a shelter, set up solar power, drill a well, and set up a food source. Set for life for under $100k, which is a lot of money to save, but a doable amount compared to buying a house, and you mentioned you've got a great financial situation right now.
2
4
Reply
Sarah
3y
ISTJ
Gemini
In one sense we are completely trapped in a cycle, but how quickly you cycle is fully under your control, especially the more money you make. It's true that right now I have the most debt I've ever had, but it's not because I'm caught in a cycle to earn and spend to earn and spend. You don't HAVE to spend merely bc you earn more. Learn to save, learn to give, learn to be content with what you already have. That choice is all yours.
2
2
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Matthew
3y
INTJ
1 Award
I'm not an expert in macroeconomics, but often I feel like the American economy is based on people spending money they don't have for things they don't need. I am surprised how many people with which I talk don't know where their money goes. We are encouraged to buy more house than we need. I think if many people would be willing to downsize, we could increase the amount of affordable housing. 🏘️ But I have seen people terrified of the idea of their property values going down. It seems like our society is structured against taking action to make housing affordable. ☹️ When I grew up, eating at a restaurant was limited to when you were on vacation or a special occasion. Today it seems like it is the norm. 🥡 I'm not sure why people buy new cars, when so much of their value drops when they leave the lot. I have found that a 4 year old used car can often provide over ten years of good use for about half the price. 🚘 In my experience, just looking at those three areas can make an enormous difference in feeling like you need to be stuck in the cycle of capitalism. Well, that's true for upper-middleclass people. It saddens me that there is a difference in this country between minimum wage and a living wage. That the minimum wage *isn't* enough to pay bills, regardless of frugality. 😤 And, unfortunately, when that is your reality, it can be hard to find the energy to seek out the necessary resources to change it. In my community, there is a strong push to address homeless through housing - because you can't address other issues in your life if all your time is spent on figuring out finding a safe place to sleep. 🛌 There are programs to help people learn a trade - because it is easier to find a living job as a skilled worker than an "unskilled" worker. 👩🏭 And I think it is important for those of us with privilege to do what we can to use that privilege to help those who can't make it month to month - and can't break the cycle on their own. And that, in turn, helps us break our own cycle. ... Anyway ... just my $0.02
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0
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Austin
3y
ENTP
Capricorn
This is the inevitable end state of any societal structure. Capitalist, communist, monarchical, imperial, doesn't matter. Historically the powerful and heartless will ceaselessly work to pool more of a societies resources into themselves. This require control of discussion, control of wealth, and control of labor. Today's society is just the best made instance of the same trap.
0
1
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Georgiy
3y
INTP
Gemini
Great post and I think it reflects what many (most?) people are feeling these days. A word of advice. When writing such a long post, it would help readers to comprehend your ideas if you structure it a bit better. Think of breaking it into separate paragraphs. It's easy to get lost in a wall of text. I don't have a solution to your conundrum (if only it was so easy), and I'm pretty much in the same boat. However, there a couple of things to consider to maybe make the pill less bitter. You do have a choice on a personal level at least in terms of what you consume. There are only a few necessary things outside of food and shelter. Especially if you live alone, you can very flexible in what how much you spend. Sure, there things like debt or having kids/older family members that need care, and you can't do much about that. But barring such circumstances, the choice of participation in a rat race is, indeed, a personal choice. One solution might be to move to a different country. Have you considered that? Going somewhere where the life is slower? You probably could do this, but that requires a leap of faith, and the majority is comfortable to do that. But that's still a choice. Regarding changing the existing system, I'm afraid that's not happening, and even if that were to happen, the price would be pretty steep. Maintaining modern lifestyle requires capitalistic system in place. So you can think of it as necessary evil, maybe? It's bad, but the alternative is worse. I hope that these considerations will help you see your trap in a bit more positive light. They help me, to an extent
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0
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Tim
3y
ENFJ
Libra
Very perceptive post. Yes, there is a trap most of us are in and it's very deliberately laid by the controllers of society. To get out you have to let go of trying to win or being afraid to lose. Easier said than done I'll admit. But rather than just letting it go, replace that dynamic with something else. Do what you love for the sole reason that that's what you love, not to make money, but because of your love for it. Your internal motivation and core driver will be different. Abundance will flow towards you if you're doing what you love since like attracts like. The abundance may not look like money and flashy cars, etc, but you'll be happy and fulfilled. But that's also not to say it can't look like flashy cars. That's where the middle path of letting go of wanting comes in while also allowing. The form of manifestation is less important than the feeling that manifests it. Yet, with skill, what is manifested is exactly what you want.
0
0
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Dolan
3y
INTJ
Virgo
There is an interesting documentary on YouTube called Obsolete. Has a marshmallow looking character. Watch it. I wouldn't steer you wrong.
0
0
Reply
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