Step right up

For those readers who have taken the time to read anything I’ve written for this publication knows that I have no faith in the capitalist system and its major players.  I hate to keep harping on the same point, but capitalism is the culprit behind every painful issue humankind faces today.  The phrase “Money is the root of all evil”, familiar to most of us, comes from the King James version of the bible. Evidently the problems with capital have persisted through the ages.  

There’s a reason for that.  For so long wealth and power have been the ultimate prize.  We’ve all been indoctrinated in the teachings of both those almighty goals, resulting in a life of competition, whether friendly or otherwise, with our fellow man.  In competitions there are victors and, because there are victors, there must be losers.  In life we are generally taught that we need to work hard to be at the top.  There isn’t much space up there, so the losers are much greater in numbers.  Another biproduct of being taught to reach for the top, is that it makes us a bit more self-centred.  

Competiton isn’t always bad, but in capitalism, this competition is with our livelihood.  We compete because we want a more comfortable, happier life, but some compete to get as much as they can, which inherently leaves less for everyone else.  Print more money?  Not a chance, inflation and whatnot, unless of course your one of the big players, (it’s nice when the rules are all in your favour).  Fast forward to today, and we see what capitalism’s goal was all about.  What we now have, is the culmination of years of governments leaving business off the leash, and whenever they went too far, (being too important to fail, lol), the rest of us were left to fill the gaps.  More influential countries are throwing their weight around while the rest sit and watch or try to make friends with one of them.  And, as usual, it’s all about more power and more money, in some cases for dictatorial-style governments, and in all cases for big business.  That’s the key.  Everything is being bought up by the oligarchs.  There will, sooner or later, be no more business other than big.  We will all be “associates” in the very near future, if this keeps going the way it is.  

  All this brings me to talk about the call to vote, a right and ‘obligation’ for every supposedly free human being on this Earth.  Both our favourite countries are being called to vote, almost simultaneously.  Although I voted in Canada, never once did I do It thinking it would ever make a difference, and I’ve felt the same way until fairly recently.  To me, there are two good times to vote.  The first is limited to few people, because I’m talking about those who live in small communities, where people know one another and vote more mainly for the person, over those who choose a colour instead.  The second, surged recently; It’s the vote to keep the bad guy out.  In Portugal, it will be one of two that will win, unless a coalition is formed.  Either way, nothing will change much.  In Canada, I think it’s a good time to get out there and make your choice.  There is much at stake, and I believe everyone is aware of this fact.  I’m also confident, that there will be a good turnout, because of it.  The Portuguese didn’t want an election, so interest is seemingly even lower than its usual low.  My eyes will be on Canadians, I’m very curious to see if you will take advantage of a rare opportunity, a vote that actually makes a difference.

Fiquem bem,

Raul Freitas/MS