Revolution Now! with Peter Joseph | Ep #45 | May 15th 2023
May 16, 2023
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The podcast explores the flaws of market capitalism and argues for a steady state economy. It discusses the limitations of policy proposals and regulation in changing the economic system. The relationship between social commentary, The Matrix, and wealthy influencers is explored. The unsustainability of the current economic system and the need for a grassroots movement are highlighted. The public health impacts of inequality and the attributes and challenges of transitioning to a new system are discussed.
The current market economy's growth function is the core flaw of market capitalism, leading to social and environmental problems.
Traditional political activism and policy interventions struggle to bring about system change due to the market system's resistance and structural determinism.
The market economy's emphasis on perpetual consumption and infinite growth contradicts principles of conservation and sustainability, hindering the development of a sustainable and expanding society.
Deep dives
The Instability of the Current Economic System
The podcast episode highlights rising concerns about pollution, feeding a growing population, and the risk of resource depletion. It argues that society is nearing the end of its development, with the current system carrying the seeds of disruption. The speaker emphasizes the need for a comprehensive reevaluation of global social and political situations to prevent a collapse into chaos.
The Need for a Steady State Economy
The episode discusses the urgent need to transition from a growth-based economy to a steady state economy. It emphasizes that the growth function of the current system is the core flaw of market capitalism, leading to a wide range of social and environmental problems. The speaker argues that without a steady state economy, civilization is headed towards its demise.
Challenges in Achieving System Change
The podcast explains the difficulties in achieving system change through traditional political activism and policy interventions. It describes how the market system is resistant to external influences and interventions due to its structural determinism. The episode highlights the limitations of regulation and the need for a fundamentally different economic system that embraces concepts such as automation, access, open source contribution, and localization.
Loop 1: The Anti-Economy
The current market economy functions in opposition to the principles of conservation, sustainability, and efficiency. Unlike individual households, the market economy relies on perpetual consumption and constant acceleration for its survival. This consumption-based system prioritizes infinite economic growth, disregarding the need for conservation and sustainability. With a foundation that incentivizes waste and turnover, the market economy is inherently antithetical to the principles required for a sustainable and expanding society.
Loop 2: Economic Inequality
Economic inequality perpetuates violence, societal instability, and negative social characteristics. The prevailing belief that technological change or human nature causes inequality is debunked by the inherent mathematical mechanics of the market economy. Regardless of skill, talent, or dedication, the market system naturally concentrates wealth among a small minority. Addressing economic inequality is crucial for reducing violence and creating a more stable society. Social movements throughout history have revolved around fighting poverty and economic oppression. Tackling economic inequality is the key to diminishing conflicts such as wars, mass migration, terrorism, and general crime.
In this episode, further exploration of the dangerous growth function endogenous to market economics is explored along with how traditional activism misunderstands the structural determinism and structural constraints inherent, making common political activity virtually pointless in the context of economic change.
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