Kickstarted my week with a great new edition of New World New Humans by @DMattin https://newworldsamehumans.substack.com/p/new-world-same-humans-48?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email&utm_source=copy

...followed a great Mark Fisher essay Capitalist Realism which you can read free here

https://libcom.org/files/Capitalist%20Realism_%20Is%20There%20No%20Alternat%20-%20Mark%20Fisher.pdf

David’s blog and Mark’s essay are calls to arms for thinking & action on capitalism. It’s clear we’re ALL consumers and ALL capitalists ALL living within a capitalist system whether we like it or not. The question we each have to ask ourselves is if we really want that to change?

In Capitalist Realism Mark talks about our world reality of mental health issues, bureaucracy, poor education & poor work for many. In 2009 when he wrote this essay he talks about the effects of capitalism many of which have been seen, enhanced and exacerbated by the Covid crisis

The left are not left blameless in all this. Mark makes the point that historical socialist ideas are not likely to be the answer to all our problems. We need new thinking to come out of the ‘political rubble’ we’re in post the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 Covid crisis

One thing I know is there are great sacrifices to be made. The rationing of our human desires is something very few of us want to contemplate. As Mark highlights...

“It's easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism...”

But rationing is inevitable...

My thoughts. There is a way. It is the recognition of the role of the state, business and citizens to create a thriving planet. It’s a move away from ‘self’ to the collective. It’ll mean the best aspects of socialism & capitalism colliding to create a ‘better way’ forward

But the first thing we have to do is agree on the way forward. And that involves thinking and agreement on the topic of morality - the principles which would govern our chosen path. Humans must join together on that moral journey. That is a spiritual decision, not a political one