People’s mild critique of the entire political and socioeconomic system
is the main obstacle in the piecemeal attempt to solve problems that
are often considered intractable.
Condemning the system while we maintain specific complaints is a deeper
approach, and the real success – if only for the journey – is in
practicing sustainable living in a conscious opposition to the system.
It could be deliberate, from a conspiracy-theory standpoint, that some
crises are created to distract the public from concentrating on such
issues as labor rights or the defense of the ecosystem.
An example of mild critique is whenever one narrow movement
chooses to tolerate the wider system, or claims its agenda is the sure
ticket instead of a concerted effort to see a new paradigm take over in
our evolution.
The public’s mild critique also happens to be a result of the
system. Either way --the mild critique doing the limiting or the system
limiting the critique -- or both ways, the right focus is being made
and it targets a deadly, stumbling mistake. You know where I’m going
with this line of reasoning: civilization is failing, obvious if we
look at our common situation with any concern.
If it spells failure, what’s next? It’s up to us: more war, or a
constrained system with comparative peace? Or, a third option that has
been adopted in a few places where community still reigns supreme?
After peak oil’s petrocollapse and the following possible calm
or peace, that third option – of a sustainable culture – will be our
only choice.
Culture Change mailing address: P.O. Box 3387, Santa Cruz, California, 95063, USA, Telephone 1-215-243-3144 (and fax). Culture Change was founded by Sustainable Energy Institute (formerly Fossil Fuels Policy Action), a nonprofit organization.
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