Capitalism is dead

Nobody saw this coming?  Maybe not most.  But I think only because the questions and doubts were too uncomfortable to ponder.  We’ve been living in this bubble blown for us by those who control the system; all involved knew that the formula wouldn’t stand the test of time.  The kings realized that the cat’s out of the bag, and so the gloves came off, and now we are witnessing what the system is really like, out in the open.  They are now at war with the rest of us.  Where is it being waged?  At the supermarket, the gas station, on social media, and wherever else they’ve guided us to depend on.  

The players are obvious, because they splatter themselves throughout the media outlets they own.  While this is going on, the vast majority of the masses keep puttering along, frustrated at the fact that it’s getting harder and harder to keep puttering.  We keep hoping that someone will wave the proverbial magic wand and make everything go back to the way it used to be; back to our jobs, back to our lives, back to what got us here, where we now find ourselves.  

  Now we are witnessing how integrated governments really are with the corporate world.  The epicentre being in the United States.  Clearly, their government is moving towards handing the running the country to big business.  Everything that kept business in check is being reduced or removed.  Scores of government assistance programs, both domestically and abroad, are on the chopping block.  Give to business, take away from the people.  Then there’s this business of the wild tariffs on foreign goods.  Bullying long-time allies.  Who is he cozying up to?  The hardliners, those who believe in total control.  This is nothing new, except for the candidness.  US policy was always for governments that were less than social.  Kissinger made a career out of it.

  So, since the world can no longer trust the United States government, what next? All of our governments bought into their ideals, so we’re as guilty as they are.  Are governments remorseful?  I think not, but now were in an unexpected conflict, so they have to act accordingly.  Countries like Canada, France, Germany and even the British are up against the wall.  All of the world’s democracies have deep ties with the US, and fighting back can lead to damage at home.  Yet, Trump’s actions are already being felt.  Canada wasn’t shy, and acted immediately, in both a retaliatory and diplomatic manner.  France is being diplomatic, but won’t be pushed around.  In Britain, where the ties with the United States are strongest, is floundering.  It’s not easy, in a sense, the US is in every country, in one way or another, and each nation has its own way of doing things.  In the meantime, Canada has to continue to reinforce its ties with its friends, in order to stand up to The Bully.

  And us?  We have to support our own, starting with our neighbourhood, and outward.  Trump has sparked a national pride in all of us.  He’s made us realize that we can’t put our fates in the hands of faceless corporations.  We need to take back some of the control we once had.  These people only feel pain when the bottom line gets hit.  Look what happened to Tesla.  That’s the only power we have.  Buy local, even if it’s more expensive, (and you might be surprised to find you’ll save money), travel more in your own country, walk more, take public transit.  These are our weapons.  Hit them where it hurts, and watch them squirm, for a change.

Fiquem bem, 

Raul Freitas/MS