TOWARDS AN ECONOMY OF
KINDNESS
Ethical Human Solutions
to the Global Crisis
Introduction
"Problems cannot be solved
with the same consciousness that created them." — Albert Einstein
There is growing global
discontent across the political spectrum at the imbalance of the distribution
of wealth and resources in our societies.
The situation is reaching a tipping point where peaceful protest (and
some not so peaceful, as demonstrated in the Middle East) has become
commonplace. There are of course,
solutions but we need to look at ways of breaking out of patterns which are at
the root of the current global crisis.
The economic situation, in
which we find ourselves, is not something that has been caused in the last few
years, but goes back centuries. If we
had looked at patterns throughout history, we may have been able to prevent getting
to the current crisis and could still find ways to fix it.
The ‘experts’ we’ve relied upon
and trusted for years to build and maintain a stable economy where everybody
has a chance to live well, happily and comfortably, have failed to do so. Instead they have created disparity and
division.
Our politicians too, rather than
following the wishes of the people who elected them, are behaving like
directors of large corporations, telling us what to do. They are allowing big
business, rather than the people’s needs, to dictate government policy.
The “boom and bust” model that
has been in play over many years has led us further and further into a spiral
of over-consumption and debt. We’re
spending money and using resources at a rate which is unsustainable.
After millennia, we’re still
using brute force and fighting to gain power, land and resources. This behaviour, in which we’ve all been
complicit to a greater or lesser degree, has led us to the current world
crisis.
We cannot get things back into balance by using the same techniques
and understanding that got us here in the first place. To create equilibrium there needs to be a
shift of paradigms and consciousness – a re-evaluation of our social, political
and economic systems.
Many of us feel powerless to
change things. But is this really the
case? If we don’t vote and we don’t
take the opportunity to voice our opinions, we allow ourselves to be powerless. That’s why this paper and others like it are
coming to the fore. It’s time for us to
speak out and to do what we can to make positive change.
What follows is controversial and
is at odds with much current thinking, so it requires an open mind, where previous
conditioning and prejudices are put aside and new ways of organising ourselves
can be considered. It is only because the great inventors chose
to challenge the status quo in this manner, that we have seen extraordinary
technological progress, hence the reference to Albert Einstein’s quotation at the start of this article.
If we wish to avoid even
greater human suffering and ecological disaster, we need solutions. It is time for us too, to think
‘outside the box’.
First, let’s look at where we are now.
The Status Quo
We are led to believe that, in
the Western world at least, we live in a democracy. Let’s take a look at the meaning of
“Democracy” as defined in dictionaries, including the Oxford English
Dictionary, as follows:
democracy
a.
Government by the people; that form of
government in which the sovereign power resides in the people as a whole,
and is exercised either directly by them (as in the small republics of
antiquity) or by officers elected by them under a free electoral system. In
mod. use often more vaguely denoting a social state in which all have equal
rights, without hereditary or arbitrary differences of rank or privilege.
b. a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and
privileges. c. the common people of a community as distinguished from any privileged class; the common people with respect
to their political power.
Does this description truly describe the society in
which we currently live? It seems we
have strayed significantly off course in some crucial ways, but it is retrievable if ‘the people’ are
willing to make their voices heard and those currently in positions of power
and influence are willing to co-operate to operate a true democracy.
A snapshot of the current
situation:
·
We are led to believe by Governments and Media
that the earth has insufficient resources to cope with everyone’s needs. This is untrue. As Ghandi said, “There is enough for everyone’s needs, but not enough one man's greed”. ‘Survival of the fittest’ is a normal animal
reaction, but being human and living in a true democracy adds the
responsibility to care for society as a whole.
The issue is not a lack of resources, but the distribution of resources and wealth.
·
There is a growing global disillusionment with
the way things are being handled by those in power – in government and in
business, fuelled by the inequality of the distribution of wealth and resources. In the press (Metro, 22.11.11 etc), for example,
it is reported that “Britain’s top executives have seen their salaries soar by
more than 4,000 per cent in the last 30 years”, whilst “...the pay packet of
the average worker has increased by 300 per cent over the same period.”
·
Depending on the source, around 50% of global
wealth is reported to be held between 1 and 2% of the earth’s population. There’s a massive and growing difference
between the “haves” and the “have nots”.
·
The system of monetarism means that many
decisions taken, both politically and in business are based solely on financial
gain and without consideration for the impact on the earth or on the population. Money and material wealth is seen as “King”
if not “God”.
·
We have seen “austerity measures” introduced by
our politicians, savagely cutting services and community projects. Yet it seems there is plenty of money to
blow each other up! According to UN
figures, World Military Spending in 2010 was US$1.6 Trillion and military
spending has increased dramatically since the turn of the century, despite the
global financial crisis. Whilst spending
on issues such as health, education, peace and poverty are just a fraction of
this amount.
·
On 5.12.11 the UK Government doubled the spend
on the Olympic Games ceremonies. Where
did this money come from? How is this
affordable when so much else is not? What is being sacrificed for a public
relations exercise?
·
In the UK, student fees at University have
increased 300% in one year, putting higher education out of many people’s reach,
despite pre-election promises that fees would not increase and on which,
certain politicians were elected.
·
Fuel prices are going through the roof, whilst
the energy companies report massively increased profits at the expense of the
poorest in the community. Is this fair? What happened to the cheaper prices that were
promised as a result of privatising these resources and encouraging competitive
markets?
·
At the time of writing, youth unemployment in
the UK reached 1 million and we have over 2.5 million people currently out of
work. This is costly, unproductive and
demoralising.
·
Those of us who have work, are working almost
round the clock to maintain our lifestyle at the expense of spending time with
those we love. As far as our energy is
concerned, we’re overdrawn and so is our
financial system. This is the effect of a society where competition and
financial success is seen as more important than quality of life and society.
·
Over-zealous regulations which are intended to
protect vulnerable people in society have led to counter-productive results and
undermine the reason for their introduction, creating cynicism and lack of
credibility.
·
Despite the fact that many leaders have acted in
good faith, we have developed a culture of greed and ‘spin’ – a ‘take what you
want, when you want it, no matter what the consequences’ culture. What kind of an example is this setting our
young people?
·
In summer 2011 discontented and disconnected
youngsters ran riot, looted and destroyed their own neighbourhoods in London and
other cities of the world.
·
In 2008, banks received a £37 billion bailout
funded by the taxpayer (who in the UK have an average household income of around £26,500 per year). Whilst these lower income -bracket people are
having their homes repossessed and are losing their jobs and livelihoods, the
bankers are using their money to be
rewarded with large bonuses for failing! Is this financial trading any more than a
big gambling casino - in many cases, gambling with people’s lives? Is this really
an ethical way to do business?
·
We often hear financial pundits telling us “We
have to appease the financial markets”.
Surely what they’re really referring to is the 1-2% minority of the
wealthy elite? This leads to
irresponsible and greedy business and political decision-making that keeps us
chained to the concept that material wealth is the only consideration.
·
Technology, despite huge benefits has, in many
instances, made us more distant and disconnected and keeps us ‘tied to our
desks’ 24/7, affecting our health and relationships adversely.
·
Governments spend money as if it was their own,
yet it is the people’s money. Political leaders are simply custodians who
are elected to carry out the will of the people.
·
Many politicians have broken trust with those
who elected them by constantly breaking pre-election promises, going into wars
by bullying their own MPs, ignoring massive public protest and quoting highly
questionable intelligence. Restrictions
on personal freedom, abuses of human rights and fiddling of expenses have added
to the discontent. Politicians haven’t
necessarily broken the rules (many of which were set by themselves), but they have broken the spirit of the rules, which is perhaps more offensive and leads us
into an Orwellian manner of running our society.
·
A culture of fear has been cultivated by leaders
and the media. This has resulted in
over-regulation, takes away personal freedoms and halts natural human
interaction, breaking down societies.
·
The media is also responsible for some massive
breaches of privacy, which have led to murder investigations being thrown off
track and personal distress for many.
Where are the ethics in this kind of journalism?
·
Many of the games and entertainments we are
happy to expose our young children to are violent and help make violence an
acceptable part of society. It is not.
·
We’ve created a culture of competition rather
than co-operation. Whilst competition
in sport is a great channel for the release of primal adversorial energies in a
non-violent way, in society it has created unfair division and massive
disparity. Exploitation, use, abuse and
manipulation of the majority by the minority have become acceptable as the
‘norm’.
This paints a dysfunctional and
unhealthy picture and leaves many without hope.
Clearly, there are many who run
businesses, charitable organisations, governments and society ethically and
responsibly. There are also many who
work as responsibly as they can, and with the best of intentions within the
current system, but these ethical people are currently the exception
rather than the rule. We have to change if
we are to avoid further disastrous consequences.
So if this is where we are just
now, what can we learn from it and how will that help us put things into
perspective? What needs to happen to
create a more stable future where everyone has the opportunity to flourish?
The Challenge
The challenge is to take
collective responsibility for rebuilding our society and the economy and to rebalance
what is currently chaotic; to restore trust and understanding so that, from a
more secure material base, humanity can recognise its full potential.
Our ‘full potential’ or ‘flourishing’ as described by
ancient philosopher, Aristotle means the balance achieved when a person does
what they ought to do as well as what
they want to do, taking pleasure in moral action and doing so through free
choice. This, he defines as being
successful and centred as a human being.
He viewed the purpose of economic action as using things that are
necessary for survival and for the Good Life (or ‘flourishing’). Aristotle highlights social life in a
community as being a necessary condition for complete flourishing in human
beings and views the proper aim of government as the promotion of its citizens’
happiness.
So too, in his book, “Economy,
Ecology & Kindness”, modern day economist Roy Gillet says, “...in any sustainable economic system, ‘for
anything we take, an equal amount must be given in some way’. This is the fundamental requirement if we
wish to live a successful and happy economic life. This is the fundamental financial fact”
So it seems, in our collective
eagerness to gain material wealth, many of us have lost sight of what it means
to be HUMAN. In the last century, our
focus has been almost exclusively on money and material gain. This is only part of the picture. We have been taking out relentlessly without
putting enough back.
After all, what is material
wealth? Is it the only route to
happiness? Certainly not. Money is a resource which can be used for
positive or negative means. It can
allow us huge freedom or we can become its slave. We can use it purely to accumulate untold
personal wealth and power to the exclusion of others, or we can use it to make
our own lives better whilst serving others at the same time. To earn it, we commit time, energy and
value; too often using and abusing the earth’s resources.
Human potential is so much more
than is currently being expressed. In
making material wealth our sole
measure of ‘success’ and our sole consideration in creating growth, we’re
missing a huge chunk of human life and this is what is causing the imbalance we
are currently experiencing.
A good and peaceful living can
still be made, without destroying our planet and people’s lives. So where do we start? There follows some concepts which could set
us on the path to restoring balance.
Ethical Human Solutions
1. Many
political and business decisions over the last century have been made with
little regard for the consequences for life – for the environment, society and
humanity. If we are to celebrate life,
fulfil our human potential and preserve our planet for future generations, we
have to reconsider these fundamental elements alongside financial gain.
2. The
system has operated on a divide and rule basis, setting one individual or
collective group against another. One person
is encouraged to feel they are better or more deserving than someone else. Divisions around race, religion, gender,
sexual orientation and financial disparities highlight human differences. These divisions are manipulated by certain
oppressive elements at the cost of human ethics and values. The vast majority want
a peaceful and happy life. A more
tolerant, understanding and forgiving attitude from everyone and a refusal to
be manipulated into these divisions could result in more creative solutions because of rather than despite our diversity.
3. Do
our political parties resolve these divisions or do they perpetuate them? As
leaders and role models, it would be desirable for political parties to find a
way towards unity within their
diversity for the public good.
Politicians would be better served making real and ethical decisions that
truly reflect the public they serve, rather than bickering amongst
themselves. At present political
parties in the West at least, are simply variations of how you want your brand
of capitalism served.
4. The
conflict between public and private sectors within the political forum does not
work and is a waste of energy and valuable resources. Both private and public enterprise is
required and if both work together harmoniously, real progress could be made.
5. There
is growing pressure on MPs to “toe the party line” in crucial parliamentary votes. If MPs were more accountable to their
constituents, their actions would more truly reflect the will of the people and
would result in a more harmonious relationship between politicians and those
who vote them into power.
6. Whilst
MPs have expressed the belief that they should receive a commercial wage, they
are in fact, elected representatives of the public and, as such, provide a public
service. Their remuneration should
reflect that. After all, their wages are
funded by the people to make responsible and ethical decisions.
7. The
issue of manipulated expense claims for second homes (and duck houses!) by MPs
could be easily overcome by providing state-owned accommodation in hotels or
perhaps in the accommodation being built for the Olympic Games at the tax-payers’
expense.
8. As they serve very different needs, business
interference in political decisions should be discouraged, although it is clear
consultation between the two would be helpful if all interactions are
completely transparent and accessible by the public? In an ethical society,
people in all walks of life, including businessmen and politicians, would WANT
to follow the spirit as well as the
letter of the law, rather than finding ways to manipulate laws on
technicalities to their personal advantage.
9. Employees treated with respect, being
remunerated fairly and treated humanely for doing a good job have been proven
to perform better and are less likely to result in unfair compensation claims
by unhappy and oppressed employees.
Employers could be rewarded for good practice in terms of tax breaks,
for example, to encourage respectful and harmonious relationships.
10. Responsible
consideration by business owners/directors of the balance between the number of
people employed, payment received and the service and value delivered, in
preference to basing decisions purely on money-saving to “appease the markets”
would be likely to result in greater productivity and satisfaction all
round.
11. Reform
of the prison detention system so that non-dangerous offenders pay back or
repair what they have done rather than serving a prison sentence would relieve
pressure on the prison system and would avoid some offenders sinking further
into criminal life. Encouraging
criminals to take responsibility for their actions, repairing damage done and learning
a transferrable skill, could result in reformed offenders who are better
equipped to return to law-abiding citizenship.
12. Ownership
of fuels such as electricity, gas & oil could be transferred to an ethical,
global organisation (perhaps through the UN) with resources shared
worldwide. This would avoid the current
exploitation of customers where already rich corporations, increase their
prices to inflate the profits at the expense of the poorer majority, who suffer
inflated fuel bills and other essential goods and services.
13. The commandments say “Thou shalt not
kill”. However, we continue to make war
on each other. If I kill someone I am
in conflict with, I will be sent to prison.
If governments decide to go to war and kill thousands of people, that is acceptable in our society. It is time for war to be made illegal so
that countries have to find other ways to co-operate rather than oppose and
‘bully’ each other?
14. War
and weaponry is big money and keeps many people in employment. But what could that amount of manpower and
financial resource do to create more sustainable farming and industry? The
‘experts’ talk about the need to find new ways of generating more food due to
the increased population. But the truth
is, there’s plenty to go round – one third of the world over-produces and
wastes food, whilst the other two-thirds starves. This is clearly not humane and the issue
could be solved by improving the distribution of food and our agricultural
prowess worldwide.
15. If
some of the money currently spent on arms and war, were spent on providing free
dignified treatment and care for sick, poor, vulnerable and elderly people,
local council budgets would be under less pressure and those who have served
their communities would receive the treatment in later life that they deserve.
16. A
system where our school curricula include lessons on citizenship, wellbeing, social
and environmental responsibility and work with community projects would result
in graduates who are academically proficient, who are able to take care of
themselves and have a sense of social, environmental & personal responsibility.
17. Deliberate
manipulation and deception put out by advertisers, retailers, services and government
organisations, has destroyed trust and confidence. The frustration and anger this creates,
leads to an unhappy, unfriendly, discordant society. If organisations took greater responsibility
for producing true, transparent information, this would restore confidence and
would encourage true ethical enterprise.
18. If
companies which promote drugs, foods, tobacco & alcohol that lack
nourishment and/or are addictive, were forced to give a true representation of
what is in their products and the likely detrimental effect to the individual,
each person could make their own informed choice about whether to use them.
19. Technological
advances have produced many benefits to society, but responsible use is
necessary to avoid further frustration and disconnection in society. Because technology can do many things, does not always mean this is the best method of doing them. Appropriate use of technology, alongside
human endeavour to provide the best customer service, may well result in
increased employment and improved productivity, rather than viewing the ‘bottom
line’ as the sole criteria.
20. £12
trillion of personal & corporate money owed in tax is currently held in
Switzerland. If global tax loopholes and
systems which allow wealthy individuals and corporations to avoid paying a
proportion of their profits were closed, a significant amount of wealth would
be released back into society. People
who take risks can still get their fair rewards, but should be subject to the
same laws as less well-off people and organisations.
21. A
further stream of income could be generated if bonuses paid to high earning
executives were regulated, paid only on measurably successful performance, and
were capped and taxable. Support to
business funded by the public purse would mean that bonuses and excessive
payments are suspended until the debt has been repaid in full.
22. People
in public life are role models.
Therefore their conduct should be exemplary and responsibility for any
wrong-doing, immoral or unethical behaviour should be taken, rather than
‘spinning’ their way out of it. This
would restore trust and confidence in the hearts and minds of the people. Even Plato said this!
23. Reforms
of over-regulation to a more common-sense level would reduce our collective
paranoia, encourage greater social interaction and freedom of the individual.
24. If
we had a true democracy, politicians would recognise that they are part of ‘the
people’ and are privileged to be elected to run our society on our behalf. Greater accountability for pre-election
promises would encourage honesty and transparency and could restore trust and
confidence. An Audit body could monitor
governments’ delivery against their promises and the reasons why these promises
have been kept or not, so that the public have a more informed choice about who
they choose to elect.
Conclusion
It is clear to many people across
the world that the current systems in place are not serving the majority of the
people as well as they could.
Some of those in positions of
power and influence wish for society to remain in this imbalanced state because
they have much to gain or because they are so entrenched in current thinking that
they cannot conceive another viable way of living.
Others are ready and willing to
make a shift in consciousness and paradigms that create a sustainable, fairer
and balanced system. This article has covered some of the ways
reforms could be made that would shift our priorities from a society based
purely on material gain, greed and division, to a society based on responsible and
ethical growth, where everyone has the opportunity to play their fair part in
maintaining a happy balance. This is
true democracy.
Collective working has been
proven to work, as is borne out by organisations such as the Co-operative
Movement, the Scouts and Guide movements and many, many more.
The choice is down to each of us
individually. We have a choice between
continuing to be driven by the fear, division, manipulation and greed of the
current system or to join together to turn our society round to a more
harmonious state.
It all boils down to ethics, our
intention and how we express our full human potential in the most positive
way. Each of us must be truthful with
ourselves in asking how we want to live and what kind of legacy we want to
leave for future generations. Do we
even care?
Who and what do we serve? Are we here to better the lives of a small
wealthy minority or to improve the lot of the greater majority? Do we choose to do things because we can or because we truly feel it’s the
ethical and moral thing to do? Are we
putting back what we take out of society and the earth?
If we work collectively and with
enthusiasm, love and compassion, I for one am willing to give it a try and it
is my dearest hope that the majority of people, including those in positions of
power and influence, will want to do the same and will be prepared to play
their role.
Author: Annie Lawler, Author of “Super Humanity” (to be published in 2012) (In
collaboration with Paul Taylor), November 2011
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