Our current economic system does not serve humans well. As a community (fighting cruel wars in XXI centuries) or as the individual (born to compete against others, running through kindergarten to nursing home on SSRIs, painkillers and Ritalin).
Realistically, take a look around: we’re all dying while suffering a more or less brutal demise.
Yes, the 1% — the “Succession” rentiers — suffer in a weirder way than the 99% — doing a Graeber’s job of “Severance”. Both knock themselves out on weekends and vacations. Both “get therapy”. Both struggle to find meaning, understanding, or just a warm human to hug when going to sleep.
Nor is the planet a priority in our system. It’s not even a part of the system. In all seriousness, nature and its resources are discarded as “externalities”. Something “out there but not here”.
OK, how about the greatest achievement of carbon life on this rock in space — the ephemeral, useless culture of aesthetic creation and contemplation? Let’s be real. I mean, really real. How much do we value and support our artists? Spotify doesn’t help the living, and your tickets to see a Van Gogh or Tarkovsky is kinda useless.
Fundamental science? The one “for curiosity’s sake”? We’re stuck since 1970s. The hottest research is into misaligned stealing and regurgitating of others’ contributions to society so that you can have your own Taylor Swift for free.
OK, now, what is our civilization’s system good at? At being better than the Soviet failed attempt? Yes, the Stone Age was worse than the Axial Age.
But, again, seriously, where are the billions of happy people praising the invisible hand for… for what?
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