Better Future with Michael Mezz 002 – Building Community Power in a Failing System (with Raymond Wei)
Jul 10, 2025
Raymond Wei, a filmmaker and co-founder of The Conscious Citizens, delves into the importance of building community power amid a rising authoritarian landscape. He discusses hyper-normalization and its impact on capitalism, urging a shift towards community values. The conversation highlights the benefits of a solidarity economy and the need for grassroots organization to address social justice challenges, including global issues like the climate crisis and surveillance. Ray inspires listeners to take meaningful action within their communities to forge a better future.
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When Broken Systems Become 'Normal'
- Hyper-normalization describes accepting clearly broken systems because no alternative is imagined.
- People feel insane seeing decay but lack a coherent vision to replace it.
Capitalist Realism Narrows Possibility
- Capitalist realism makes alternatives to capitalism feel unimaginable.
- That ideology narrows political imagination and normalizes harmful trade-offs.
Build The Solidarity Economy Locally
- Invest time and money in solidarity-economy projects like co-ops and credit unions.
- Connect separate local services to create a more holistic community system.
