The problem

Many people are seeking for a solution to humanity’s problems of climate change, economic disparity, and political conflict. They are hoping that new technology will arise to repair the climate crisis or increase food production, they are looking for a new political philosophy to ensure fairness across countries and cultures.  I believe our reprieve can not come from technology or government.  I believe our problems stem from the fact that we have technology and government.

Both technology and government are the idea we ourselves can make our lives better.  They are humanism.  The belief that we ourselves are God.

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10,000 and further years ago humans lived a hunter gatherer existence.  We collected our sustenance from Earth no faster than Earth naturally provided.  Two to three hours of work a day obtained all the calories required, and when walking a few miles was easier then seeking out the less obvious foodstuffs, we moved on. By return next year the area would have refreshed, and be plentiful again.

Everyone was leisure wealthy.  Other than a bit of poking about for food, we explored our Earth, or hung around the fire telling stories and creating crafts.  Individuals owned no more than 25lbs of goods, because they had to carry it.  But we had plenty of time to create it.  So everything we owned were fine works of art proudly and enjoyably made.  Everyone had a custom tailored Italian suit, Indian jewelry, and German and Japanese tools (so to speak).

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Then groups around the globe invented agriculture.  Which can be considered the idea of conducting extra work in order to force Earth to artificially create different calories.  We did not invent agriculture because we lacked sufficient food: the foods we raised were luxury foods. Figs and olives in Europe, avocados and chilis in the Americas.  And fatty meats like lamb and pigs.

Once directed labor was invested into land creating special foodstuffs, there came the concept of Earth ownership.  An economic hierarchy, requiring guards and government.

That system had to expand, because an economic system that even remains steady will collapse.  New technologies more efficient at extracting Earth’s common resources had to be invented.  And land had to be defended, with violence threatened, or violence proven.  The system of Earth ownership by the few who would extract Earth’s resources for self grew and grew, until we are at the place we are today.  Climate collapse. Resource depletion.  Ecological poisoning.  Economic chaos.  And existential socio-political violence.

Oh if we had simply been satisfied with the Ecosystem God had given us.

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Most anthropologists suspect Roaming Hunter Gatherers were a Matriarchal society.  I describe this not as females acting like males do today, but rather a culture with values closer to Motherhood than Fatherhood.  Supportiveness and egalitarianism, rather than dominance and authoritarianism.

We teach our kids, and like to think we ourselves still do: love our neighbor.  But society valorizes victory over others.  Movie heroes throw punches or fire guns, the plot always ends with triumphant revenge.  Every sitcom conversation is a string of arguments, interruptions, and insults.  We move aside in awe over the guy with his chest out, envy those with the largest houses and most exotic cars.  And we shop at Amazon or Walmart, which puts our neighbor out of business, so we can put the savings into buying more than our neighbor has.

Unless the kindest among us are the most respected, and the selfish are socially shunned, humans will be an animal where most live in misery, and a few quiver with uneasy glee.