Humans are capable of getting used to good and bad, though not instantly, but over a reasonable period of time. As circumstances gradually worsen, this capability of ours to adapt becomes stronger, our ‘survival mode’ comes into operation and we don't find the time to complain while we try to survive.
We all know by now that the lifestyle presented so far as the "American Dream" is nothing but wage slavery.
We have learned that working hours are no longer defined as 09:00 to 17:00, that they could often extend up to 12 hours, including time spent in traffic, and that the wage you are paid for your work is not worth the trouble.
However, very few people manage to get out of this vicious circle and become set on a new path in life.
The biggest fear of those in power is that someday people will wake up and realise that they want to lead a better life. Interestingly, not many people disobey this system imposed on them in developed or developing countries.
Large masses of voters support policies that applaud mediocrity
On the contrary, large masses of voters support policies that applaud mediocrity as individuals with high intellectual capacity are appalled by this reality.
In 1958, Aldous Huxley addressed this matter rather delicately in a television interview: “…Take another book prophesying the future, George Orwell's "1984." This book was written at the height of the Stalinist regime, and just after the Hitler regime, and there he foresaw a dictatorship using entirely the methods of terror, the methods of physical violence. Now, I think what is going to happen in the future is that dictators will find that you can do everything with bayonets except sit on them! Even a despot cannot govern for any length of time without the consent of his subjects. But, if you want to preserve your power indefinitely, you have to get the consent of the ruled, and this they will do partly by drugs as I foresaw in "Brave New World”; partly by these new techniques of propaganda. They will do it by bypassing the sort of rational side of man and appealing to his subconscious and his deeper emotions, and his physiology even, and so, making him actually love his slavery...”
Although this is not exactly what happened, the fact that people in constant economic difficulties constantly vote for the same person or party cannot be explained otherwise.
Free fall
Rather than electing a saviour, people elect someone or some group to whom they will be willing slaves. This is what is happening today from Argentina to Italy, the United States to Austria.
Some have chosen to be slaves to an ideology that glorifies extreme nationalism, or sometimes ‘poverty’ itself, while some are hoodwinked by racist promises.
By poverty, I do not mean a life of misery, but "earning just enough money to get by". I am talking about a system of slavery in which people dream of owning a house or a car even though they are burdened with a heavy load of loans, people who work multiple jobs to pay for life’s essentials while being afraid all the time of losing their job, and therefore turn a blind eye to social injustice, inequality and wrongdoings.
In such a world, appealing to the interests of the masses rather than appealing to the rationality of the individuals appears to be the best approach for leaders.
The masses have no actual moral code, and any behaviour done collectively becomes approved by the collective mind of the society
Besides, the masses have no actual moral code, and any behaviour done collectively becomes approved by the collective mind of the society. Accordingly, laws are often changed by those in positions of power to manipulate or mislead the masses, a phenomenon called by sensible people "the great fall". I call it "free fall". A fall that no one can or attempts to stop.
The 2000s were a time of unrestrained optimism. The world had moved from the space age to the information age and embarked on a journey towards great technological advances. But something went off the rails somewhere along the way.
I get a rough idea of where this ‘railing off’ started when I think about the history of smart devices.
The more debt, the better
The devices described as "mobile phones" until 2010 then became "smart devices". They were no longer used to talk, but to receive and send messages, even build digital networks.
We started to value the opinions of people we met on social media, rather than the opinions of those with whom we exchange ideas throughout the day.
We have become vulnerable to manipulation. We have even come to enjoy it. The truth and reality were no longer important, but we liked the ideas.
It has become normal to face and endure difficulties because we are told "There’s nothing to worry about. You are just fine", to read, watch, even sometimes like posts and videos on social media that normalise physical or psychological violence, and to think of the "internal and external enemies" created by governments as the causes of all evil.
Creditors never send away a current government without first making a deal with the new candidate for power
Today, it is not possible to conquer economic difficulties by means of scientifically or practically proven remedies. Because governments do not like treatments that could bring about heavy consequences. Instead, they create digital communication platforms where people can vent their anger and frustration at each other.
In most indebted countries, either strong or weak, the survival of governments is not associated with their ability to pay off their debts. Nobody wants them to repay them anyway.
On the contrary, the more debt, the better. However, the risk of such high levels of debt now belongs to the creditors, who make sure that existing governments remain in office as long as they can or allowed to so that a new government does not say, "These are the debts of the old government. We are not supposed to pay it off".
So, creditors never send away a current government without first making a deal with the new candidate for power.
The great reset
It is often difficult for international organisations to work under these conditions. The World Trade Organisation has almost zero authority. It cannot force all countries to abide by free trade rules.
Only 5 members of the UN Security Council, chosen in the wake of the Second World War, have veto power. These members never ensure peace or progress towards ceasefire in troubled regions.
NATO, on the other hand, favours some of its members and does not protect others. The rules of banking are clear, but they are constantly bent and never fully implemented.
The central banks are prevented from executing a national monetary policy. The reason behind all of this is apparent. Power and politics are above everything else.
Economy is simply a side element, an instrument to keep people busy, like football.
Emre Alkin: Towards 2030, some shocking developments will occur and they will put the world onto the right path
Those who come to power do not suffer any of the problems that people suffer. They don't even feel them after a while. This means that crises will not end and we will have to get used to them.
Besides permanent crises, the world will also have to deal with multiple crises, in the midst of which uncertainty will prevail. Still, people will continue to buy cars and houses despite their constant state of wage slavery.
Although the majority of the people feel ready for the sharing economy, brands do not. The second-hand culture is probably increasing the appeal of the new, but buying second-hand also means less production, and no one is ready for that.
So, in light of all these reasons, do not expect conditions to ameliorate in 2024, in fact, for the next few years.
Towards 2030, some shocking developments will occur and they will put the world onto the right path. Huge debt burden, natural disasters, climate crisis, travel to Mars, nuclear conflicts and epidemics…
The great reset will impact everything from individuals to economies. If you think that COVID-19 “reset the world”, think again. Because it only shifted things to a new normal.
