The glass half full: look at what-all we humans are able to do with collaboration and trade.
The glass half empty: there is pervasive exploitation, injustice and confusion. And acceptance of helplessness felt in the face of that pervasiveness.
I need to move away from that acceptance, and find conversation. We could fill the glass some more, bit by bit.
There is fact, and none of us can know it all. How can we take it all into account? How can society improve things in a way that is fair to all?
There are different awarenesses. There are different viewpoints about the economic situation and how it might be improved. We divide into factions with pet ideas or platforms. Often people communicate mostly within a group or viewpoint they subscribe to. We spout our own ideas (as I am here), and look for agreement. It would be good though if we talked and listened more openly with others of different viewpoints and different information sets. Our solutions then have a better chance of actually happening. Our shared awareness grows.
Harlan Smith, my dad's brother, is an economist with writings in monetary theory, ethics, and the peace movement. His writings are lucid and beautiful. Lyndon LaRouche is crusading for international cooperation in developing the conditions for well-being worldwide. There are people who are passionate about nature's diversity and beauty. Henry George took on the age-old institution which is the cornerstone (is it not?) of inequality: private property in nature's gifts. Reed Smith is my father. He's a retired professor of political science, and amateur musician. Quaker and peace movement activist ever since his CO days in WWII, he's a spokesman for diplomacy, reconciliation, and a great communicator. One of his sayings: The best things in life are free.
So a question to whomever may be reading this:
Are things as urgent as LaRouche is saying?
I think we do well to learn more about the 1648 Peace of Westphalia. By the way, is it random coincidence that United Nations Day is October 24? And then, get this, my uncle was born October 24. Yet another event: Black Thursday, the Wall Street Crash of 1929, was October 24. Uncle Harlan was greeted by that headline on his 15th birthday, and the United Nations Charter went into force on his 31st birthday.
More important for society than having the Remedy to make a better world is seeking remedy. Seeking improvement. Expecting win-win rather than zero-sum outcomes. Seeking to become more fair and prosperous as a world, more joyful all around. How? More communication, with less vitriol, plenty of passion, more listening. That's my 2ยข on what "ism" works better.