October 30, 2012

Zeitgeist Trumps Christianity

As you may know the Zeitgeist Movement advocates a Resource Based Economical model which basically means that you use science and technology and the available resources on Earth for society with efficiency and sustainability in mind. Not money! Oddly enough this is what the Bible has to say about money and those that have less or more;

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Luke 18:25 - Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:19 - Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves in treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 18:22 - Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Luke 3:11 - John answered, "Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same."

Proverbs 31:8-9 - Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

James 5:1-6 - Warning to rich oppressors. Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.


Why do people in the U.S. vote for these rich Republican people during elections while the Bible makes it perfectly clear that these people will have a hard time going to heaven? Seems to me that the Zeitgeist Movement is more in line on these issues than most Christians.

October 29, 2012

Zomney


Star Trek Economics

photo of Michel Bauwens
Michel Bauwens
22nd October 2008


From Eric Hunting, you MUST read this:
The post-industrial wave is characterized by information technologies and global networking, flexible automation through machine intelligence, miniaturization and ephemerization of technology, and a return to renewable energy in more advanced forms. It’s dominant meme is demassification (reclamation of freedom, identity, self-expression, time, and quality of life through deconstruction of massified systems and the flattening of hierarchies) resulting in such ideas and trends as decentralization and personalization of production, global social networking and multinational peer-to-peer activity, deconstruction of nation-states and their financial systems, obsolescence of currency in favor of automated demand-driven resource economics based on global commons, reinvention of the family in non-traditional forms (gay marriage, multi-party marriage, non-related non-married family units, new tribes), reinvention of functional community and the reestablishment of community-based social support/service systems, etc.
More here.

October 22, 2012

Zeitgeist @ Centrum Emma

 Yesterday I visited a sustainability festival in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The festival itself was organized by people from the Occupy Utrecht movement and the place is called Centrum Emma. With another person I was there to promote the Zeitgeist Movement. Here are some pictures from that event.
 First we attended a presentation called 'Awakening the Dreamer' which even had a meditation session in it. When in Rome... and let it never be said that there isn't any spirituality in Zeitgeist. After that we had a table outside where we could do our business as Zeitgeisters.

October 19, 2012

October 9, 2012

October 5, 2012

Zeitgeist vs. Austrians - The (Un)Holy Market

Been a while since I brought up the mechanics between Austrian economists and those that support a resource based economy. Proceeding with matters that often come up with discussions between the two parties. One very peculiar matter, in my opinion, is that an Austrian economist will often say; 'This is not the free market.' Meaning the world that you see today is not an accurate reflection of what capitalism ought to be. It's understandable up to some point yet in a broader scope it's a philosophical act of sticking your head in the sand.

'This is not the free market' refers to government interference in the market place. Austrian economists blame the State for the shortcomings of the market. By regulating and protecting/privileging certain businesses an unfair market is created. This is also called 'crony capitalism' by a number of people. In essence Austrian economists are purists. They want no interference in the market place whatsoever and that the system itself creates an equilibrium over time. The assumption is also made that a pure free market works best and will provide for everyone (in various degrees).

While I can see that State interference in some sectors can be deemed unfair, from my perspective an arbiter is absolutely necessary. Lets not forget that the free market is a competition, a survival of the fittest. Letting a competition be fought out with no holds barred will come at a tremendous human cost, and honestly you can't expect everyone to behave and play according to the rules when the bottom line is money, commodities and profit. Corruption will creep in.

People will also have to submit to this system and while the word 'free' and 'freedom' is used quite often but you're only as free as your purchasing power will allow. Those dollar bills in your hand, that is freedom. And when you think about it, it is diametrically opposed to what those words really stand for. The more bills in your hand, the more freedom. Less or no bills, time to roll over and die because there wont be a State to help you out.

Austrian economists are also fond of using the word 'voluntarism' as if there are no controlling mechanisms. If you have no money, then you have to seek a job and acquire money that gives you access to the necessities of life. What's voluntary here? Can you go without money? No! You have to submit to the system. Money simply becomes another tool of control and enslavement yet this isn't in the Austrian lexicon.

While I don't want to see big government I realize that there must be regulation. Otherwise the market will implode under the weight of its own greed.  Lets not forget that a State is there for the wellbeing of its people. A corporation, which will be the dominant institution in a pure free market, is there to make a profit for its private owners. Yet lets take an honest, deep look at 'crony capitalism.'

Who influences the State? Who lobbies the State for favors? Right, corporations! So corporations try to influence matters and seek an advantage and what do Austrian economists do? They blame the State for handing out privileges and not the corrupt corporations who bribe the former! Yet in a pure free market this kind of corporate corruption wont happen? And they call Zeitgeisters utopianists! An Austrian economy apparently requires some serious mental gymnastics.

What you have today with "crony capitalism" and I take the phrase with a grain of salt, is simply a 'natural' evolution of the free market. Yes, the State can be influenced by big corporations and this is what you see especially in the U.S. Why does this happen? It's inherent to capitalism. If you have acquired a lot of wealth, money and property. If you run a big corporation, you'll simply try to protect your advantage that you have over others. And if that means lobbying the State which is allowed by the market than it's in your self interest to do that.

Why do Austrian economists want a pure free market? It's in their self interest. Why does the 1% try to control and influence the State? It's in their self interest. What's basically the difference between Austrian economics and the 1%?

Maybe it's time to start thinking about what really matters. In my opinion Austrian economists simply seek the freedom to manipulate everything else and there enemy isn't so much the State, it's those capitalists that beat them to the punch. The market isn't holy. Human life is.





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