Thank you for This Ted. I always read your posts with great interest.
The big elephant in the room for me is a system that does not prioritize the health and well-being of all people (notice I did NOT say wealth). It is blatantly rigged to funnel wealth to a select few without regard for the health of the planet or the people who actually do the work. This MUST change.
Have you watched "The Need to Grow?" If not, get it now. It not only describes how we are systematically destroying the soil (and so the planet and other living creatures) to preserve profits and offers a clear, simple, and empowering solution: grow.foodrevolution.org
Do you follow Hannah Ritchie's work and have you seen her TED Talk, "Are We the Last Generation — or the First Sustainable One?" If not, please watch it now:
The solutions exist but those in power are hell bent on making sure they stay in power no matter what the cost. The reasons we have so many who have abandoned their humanity (or never developed it in the first place) is a topic for another discussion. But I know you know why.
You talk about the exhaustion of everyone feeling broke. It was interesting but let's talk about what happens after exhaustion - Hopelessness.
What is someone supposed to do when they lose their home, are so poor they cannot afford to pay both their rent and groceries, and have no healthcare? What are those of us who have worked hard all our lives supposed to do when we can no longer find jobs and social security is so little it doesn't come close to covering the cost of living?
I know the narrative says that all these people aren't working hard enough - that we have become dinosaurs and should just go away and stop bothering everyone else. But I beg to differ. Those who have worked the hardest and lived the most have something priceless to share with the world - wisdom.
Not everyone is wise and not everyone has something to contribute, but everyone's life (including the lives of those who do not buy into American capitalism and other species) has value. All lives are interdependent and interconnected. That is the BIG lesson that humanity keeps avoiding and must be addressed if we hope to survive as a species. What hurts one hurts us all.
So what do we do? I can only speak for myself in my tiny part of Substack. However I believe there is power in numbers and that by connecting with and sharing ideas, collaborating, and making sure that the voices of visionaries, scientists, teachers, kids, teachers, poets, dancers, authors, indigenous people, the differently abled, and other non-human species are heard we can not only find solutions but make sure that those who are mentally and emotionally damaged (who lack the emotional intelligence to see the value of all life) are removed from power as well.
I will stop now, but I will be tagging every Substack creator whose work I admire and believe can contribute to this vision in this post. I hope you will do the same. Thank you again.
Sign me,
Exhausted But Still Standing