The Failure of Modern Western Society
finn | 24.03.2007 08:52 | Analysis | Anti-militarism | Climate Chaos | World
Wind down from your artificially induced stress/pace and confront your personal reality – take stock for a moment. Your existence has been confined to sustaining and maintaining a system that makes ever-increasing demands on your liberty and freedom – the pillars upon which joy and satisfaction are built/derived! The frenzied pace of western society is largely the result of the manic need for ever increasing profits and greater concentrations of wealth in the fewest possible hands, which inevitably makes higher demands on those at the bottom of the financial scale. Obtaining wealth is simply a matter of applying unfair downward pressure in favour of upward flowing benefits; wealth is not created it is the result of manipulation and/or theft – the historical record bears this out. Put simply, profit is exploitation/theft!
We have all been led to believe that the present system is the way of ‘progress’; notwithstanding the ‘economic train’ is about to reach the end of the line. The present system will soon result in the depletion of all finite resources (including basic foodstuffs) and an untenable increase in non-degradable lethal pollutants – a formula for death! The principal characteristic of the present western system is its complete incompatibility with the natural harmony of the living planet. Lethal inharmonious forces are being applied to a finely tuned harmonious living biosphere – the consequences are apparent to all as global warming and the degradation of the environment.
Who would have thought that nihilism dressed as economic rationalism/progress would have become the dominant social system subsuming all opposing ideologies and political systems? The entire developed world is captive to the pursuit of ‘wealth’ (with little regard to consequences). It is clear today that this pursuit is having a negative impact on society, family and the environment, to the extent that the very survival of the species is now in question.
The “failure” of society is its inability to address and adapt at speed to the forces that threaten its very existence. The failure is OUR almost universal lethargy or inability to effectively ACT when faced with the consequences of our present destructive course. This dilemma presents a most curious behaviour for social analysts; the principal characteristic of the species WAS its ability to adapt and survive, whereas today in clear view of all the forces that threaten our existence, we are paralysed.
It is not for the lack of knowledge or means that we fail to act – technologies exist that could replace antiquated polluting technologies; it is the will to apply the remedies that we lack. The prohibitive factor is behavioural, small personal SACRIFICES ARE REQUIRED TODAY in order to ensure the survival of the species and the biosphere, tomorrow!
I recently attended a conference on global warming, diminishing resources and the inevitable conflict that would result. We are witnessing today the criminal invasion and plunder of a weaker nation by a stronger nation – I need not draw attention to the fact that the logic and method of the strong stealing and harming the weak is both retrogressive and barbaric. Yet this behaviour is from a nation that would have the world believe it is the torchbearer for everything noble, progressive, enlightened and moral! The facts however, speak for themselves; this nation is the thieving and murdering brute of the world.
The vast majority of people are appalled by the overt aggression of this nation, however, the people seem at a loss when faced with the necessity of remedial action. The answer to a large extent is our unwillingness to make small sacrifices – a system cannot be opposed if the majority of time is spent supporting it (work, etc!) The sacrifice in this instance should be obvious, one is required to suffer some LOSS in order to change the status quo; nevertheless, the rewards outweigh the costs – the reward in this instance is a tenable FUTURE for our children and ourselves!
Not a single speaker at this conference asked the audience to take a PERSONAL stand against what everyone agreed were malevolent powers of destruction! The issue of PERSONAL SACRIFICE is the key to social (and personal) change – all actions whether passive (withdrawing support) or active (direct opposition) directed against the forces that would destroy the planet, are effective. The fact that the meeting did not resolve itself in a direct personal challenge to ACT, greatly diminished its effectiveness.
Regardless of powerful and numerous constraining factors, unless we are willing to make REAL SACRIFICES today, we run the risk of losing tomorrow!
Peace.
Source:
http://cleaves.zapto.org/clv/newswire.php?story_id=446
Who would have thought that nihilism dressed as economic rationalism/progress would have become the dominant social system subsuming all opposing ideologies and political systems? The entire developed world is captive to the pursuit of ‘wealth’ (with little regard to consequences). It is clear today that this pursuit is having a negative impact on society, family and the environment, to the extent that the very survival of the species is now in question.
The “failure” of society is its inability to address and adapt at speed to the forces that threaten its very existence. The failure is OUR almost universal lethargy or inability to effectively ACT when faced with the consequences of our present destructive course. This dilemma presents a most curious behaviour for social analysts; the principal characteristic of the species WAS its ability to adapt and survive, whereas today in clear view of all the forces that threaten our existence, we are paralysed.
It is not for the lack of knowledge or means that we fail to act – technologies exist that could replace antiquated polluting technologies; it is the will to apply the remedies that we lack. The prohibitive factor is behavioural, small personal SACRIFICES ARE REQUIRED TODAY in order to ensure the survival of the species and the biosphere, tomorrow!
I recently attended a conference on global warming, diminishing resources and the inevitable conflict that would result. We are witnessing today the criminal invasion and plunder of a weaker nation by a stronger nation – I need not draw attention to the fact that the logic and method of the strong stealing and harming the weak is both retrogressive and barbaric. Yet this behaviour is from a nation that would have the world believe it is the torchbearer for everything noble, progressive, enlightened and moral! The facts however, speak for themselves; this nation is the thieving and murdering brute of the world.
The vast majority of people are appalled by the overt aggression of this nation, however, the people seem at a loss when faced with the necessity of remedial action. The answer to a large extent is our unwillingness to make small sacrifices – a system cannot be opposed if the majority of time is spent supporting it (work, etc!) The sacrifice in this instance should be obvious, one is required to suffer some LOSS in order to change the status quo; nevertheless, the rewards outweigh the costs – the reward in this instance is a tenable FUTURE for our children and ourselves!
Not a single speaker at this conference asked the audience to take a PERSONAL stand against what everyone agreed were malevolent powers of destruction! The issue of PERSONAL SACRIFICE is the key to social (and personal) change – all actions whether passive (withdrawing support) or active (direct opposition) directed against the forces that would destroy the planet, are effective. The fact that the meeting did not resolve itself in a direct personal challenge to ACT, greatly diminished its effectiveness.
Regardless of powerful and numerous constraining factors, unless we are willing to make REAL SACRIFICES today, we run the risk of losing tomorrow!
Peace.
Source:
http://cleaves.zapto.org/clv/newswire.php?story_id=446
finn
Homepage:
http://cleaves.zapto.org/
Comments
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I have made a stand..
24.03.2007 14:01
Consultants are there to be billable (chargeable to the client) for as long as possible. Look at the consequensec for the NHS! Look at the money wasted on useless IT systems that are typically low in complexity and carry with them no real technological breakthrough whatsoever. That money should have been spent on education, transport and health, it went to the big managment consultancies who's aim is to deliver malfunctioning systems that inevitably will require more money to fix and if you change supplier it will cost even more money to fix.
It angers me that doctors are paying the price of these elaborate scams because I know the arrogance and deceit these consultancies apply to the projects they manage.
It is extortion plane and simple.
In the IT consultancy industry we all know that this is how it works.
So I quit my well paid donkey work and am seeking to find an alternative way of living that does not involve diverting funds to a bunch of sick criminals.
Those IT systems that cost billions are probably worth no more than a couple of millions, trust me.
How do they get away with it?
Bribing is extremely popular in the IT industry and a managment consultancy will typically conspire to request non IT proficient internal individuals take up key roles on projects they run, only to turn around and blame them for any mistakes made...they signed the documents on the clients behalf that allowed the project to fail...simple really.
This case scenario is a classic, "the scope changed" is another classic excuse.
The reality is the a confused client is encouraged to take the desicions the managmnet consultancies know will never work, when things go wrong managment consultancies simply say that the client wanted those desicions implemented.
When the client rightly expects the managment consultancy to accept some blame, the managment consultancy will have ensured that at some stage a non IT proficient director will have agreed to put non qualified internal people in positions of authority and that consequently they had no play in the matter.
The scam works like clock work and is the standard consultancy model for hardware and software projects.
Ever heard about exciting internal promotions of non very well qualified people to work on big corporate IT projects along side external consultancies? They think their career is booming but the reality is that when shit hits the fan a senior member of the external consultancy will have quiet words about their internal staffs lack of "direction" or lack of "skills", so now the company will employ more external consultants even though the project is already failing clamorously.
Many internal employees that control huge IT budgets typically earn a standard salary, they are offered big money by software and hardware vendors in exchange for supporting their scams...in my experience most accept and the ones that do not look like they will play game will be trashed behind their backs from the external consultancies to their superiors, untill they leave or are thrown off the project.
That money could have employed hundreds more people or given pay rises to the employees on the lowest pay brackets, they go to the mutinational consultancies instead and a bunch of lame contractors like me that typically have to work long hours away from friends and family.
Morale in our industry is rock bottom, most contractors hate it, complain and you are out for good.
sarah
still standing
27.03.2007 13:21
Yes.
"So I quit my well paid donkey work and am seeking to find an alternative way of living that does not involve diverting funds to a bunch of sick criminals."
I would recommend cutting your outgoings to absolutely nothing and living off what you have saved. Look for ethical jobs, there are many. Failing that, use your contacts to work 'cash in hand'.
"Those IT systems that cost billions are probably worth no more than a couple of millions, trust me."
And the majority of them which don't work properly aren't even worth that.
"How do they get away with it? Bribing is extremely popular in the IT industry and a managment consultancy will typically conspire to request non IT proficient internal individuals take up key roles on projects they run, only to turn around and blame them for any mistakes made...they signed the documents on the clients behalf that allowed the project to fail...simple really."
Well, the only overt bribe I was ever offered was a bottle of old but crap malt whisky, easy to refuse. I did work for a 'IT' guy whose only expertise was being able to build a wall, but that is different from outright bribery. In IT it is the same as in other industries but worse - you are promoted not for technical ability but for the ability to follow the company / state policy. Arse-lickers rise according to the 'Peter Principle'.
My own story, well I had a flawless CV. I could quit one job on whim and get a better paid job the next week, totally apolitical and un-opinionated on the surface. Then, at the peak of my salary, I visited a peace camp and 15 minutes later I was unemployable.
"Morale in our industry is rock bottom, most contractors hate it, complain and you are out for good. "
So if anyone is reading this who agrees, then complaining isn't the best strategy whether you are motivated solely by greed or whether you want to do some good in your life. And if you truly are motivated to do some damage to a nasty corporation, then suck up and be nice and get yourself into Software Packaging. The SMS programmers out there, or the SUN equivalents, are the Achilles Heels of every corporation.
Me at an interview with a nuclear company: "But if I was to make a mistake then every computer in the company would stop working"
Them : " Yes, there is a lot of responsibility...we are a nuclear company, does that suit your politics ?"
Me : "Yes, that suits my politics just fine"
orca