The problem with modern American Capitalism

We are all animals. We must have our needs met in order to survive. Without survival, one cannot hope to live democratically, for reliance on nature to provide subsistence still requires a semblance of dependence on factors beyond our control. Communism and Socialism both address these facts by equally providing for all citizens, the resources needed for basis survival; Capitalism does not.

In fact Capitalism in its nomenclature is a system of opportunity in which those that can, take advantage of a system in order to have their needs met more easily. In this way, aggregate sustenance of survival needs being met provides a further opportunity to pursue the things we want rather than the things we need. More time to play sports, create art, engineer new products and technologies, the list goes on, and to each his own. But as those select few break through, many are left behind and experience a radical division of living standards. So is it really a good thing?

Capitalism in an of itself provides the carrot before the horse in order to provide incentive for what we want, in order to facilitate continued strife for what we need. This is because we are lazy, and become increasingly more so as time goes on. We want, and we want it now.. but we also want to have it without having to worm and sacrifice for it. To this end, Capitalism is effectively a system of regulation that allows the rich to stay rich, the poor to remain content, and allows all others to persistently struggle with the choice of wants vs needs, in order to mete out an existence that is the least stressful possible.

This is a fact frequently overlooked, however, and typically leads to a dearth of real output in the economy other than the bare minimum. This is because most people are typically more focused on working for what they want rather than what they need. As a result, you end up with an entire populace that is consciously choosing to do only the bear minimum because there is no incentive beyond that. Furthermore, we have a lower class that clamors for commodities and consumption, yet offers no real value in the labor of their output. This is a macro problem and frequently degrades the effectiveness of our society at large.

So what is the reasoning of typing up this diatribe? Simply to promote the idea, amongst my peers, to put down your computers, phones, and other luxuries (that you probably justified purchasing in an instant, regardless of the amount of food that could've been bought with the same amount of money), and wakeup to the negative impacts of consumption that are rife throughout our society. Stop falling prey to advertising for the new "toy" or gadget, and shirk the social pressure to buy the clothes and status symbols just so you can "fit in." Instead, focus on your needs, forego your wants, and use your labor and productivity in order to elevate your own position so that you might truly gain from your toils.

In the end, if you do nothing but work your butt off for your luxurious commodities (that are arguably impermanent, and even downright temporary), and you stop to look behind you to see that you have nothing but outdated cell phones and dead electronics piled up next to your wide screen TV, you might want to rethink your expenditure plan. Its all a choice after all. Are you making the right one?

The path of Buddha, Hinduism, and Real Analytics.

In the same vein of altruism that was prevalent in my last post, I would like to touch on the applications of what I have been learning in school. More specifically, I would like to apply the understandings and reasoning behind the development and function of early Hinduism and Buddhist beliefs.

Buddha teaches us that we are existent within a world rife with suffering. Suffering of the mind, body, and heart. Moreover, he teaches that these forms of suffering are nothing more than superficial matters, but are ultimately intertwined infinitely and unending through the natural laws of karma. Which brings me to the roots of Hinduism.

Hinduism is polytheistic in that they believe in many gods that embody everything from air, to grain, to love, etc. However, all of these deities are all sub-forms comprising the three primary gods of Brahman (Creation), Shiva (Destruction), and Vishnu (Preservation, or mediation/balance). These three prime deities align perfectly with the Buddhist understandings of suffering, cessation of suffering, and continual maintenance of nirvana (balance).

These two separate ideologies are obviously very similar, but when understood as a related through the cultural diffusion and cyclical evolution of an original ideology, it becomes clear to see that they are merely offshoots of the same thought. So what does this have to do with altruism and my last post? Because of the caste-system and understanding of reincarnation and karma inherent in each.

In the Hindu caste-system, you are meant to understand your place, and actively do everything in your power to observe the proper rituals required to balance out your karma so that you can be reincarnated in the higher caste. Alternately, Buddhism teaches that you must be aware of the "suffering" around you, and reconcile with it accordingly to maintain nirvana and balance in order to simply use your karma the most wisely.

As I learn these things from an objective standpoint, I can't help but to apply these same understandings to my own life as I see it now. The result I come to begins with the realization of where I stand "consciously" based on my own experiences and "path" thus far. What I realize is that I am a scholar and will always derive the most happiness, and achieve the greatest peace when I am learning, and/or when I have sated my thirst for knowledge.

What this means is that school will always make me happy when I am genuinely learning something. This explains why my constant questioning of orders in the military (not to disobey, but rather just to understand the underlying reasoning behind one decision or another) led to such a great deal of strife and misery. And why every relationship I have ever had ultimately ended with me confused and yearning to know where, how, and why things went wrong, and led to the dwindling of attachment and subsequent breakup.

I understand how and why my life is filled with suffering the way it is, and I also understand how I must act, effect, and truly "feel" the moments of my life so that I can derive outward resilience, inner strength, and ultimate peaceful balance with my own path. And while this post may seems a bit dogmatic by the fervor with which I write these words, I must admit that I am no believer or spiritualist, I just try to make the best decisions with what I do know.

In point of fact I am a realist, in that I take a stance of introspection and awareness coupled with my analytical understanding to derive a deeper meaning to my own life. This is how I have always been and how I will continue to live. Because in the end, whatever doctrine or spiritualism you choose to anchor yourself to, we have only this one life. So make it count. And on the off chance that there is a continuation, re-manifestation, or subsequent consciousness beyond this one, life is just easier if we do our best to balance out the "karma" in our lives by acting only the most prudent and making the best choices in every situation we face.

Take it for what its worth, and thanks for reading.. that is all.

Now that I'm all growed up. . .

When we are kids, we get asked repeatedly what we want to be when we grow up. And, like the children we were, most of us had no clue how to put into words what we really, truly wanted to be when we grew up. I feel like I can finally put into words, the complicated emotions and desires entwined within that very loaded question.

So what do I want to be?

Happy. But not just your run of the mill, everyday happy platitudes that you find in greetings cards and internet quotes. I mean I want that, honest to goodness, down-to-the-core, no-holds-barred, come what may kind of happy… and I want to share it with the world.

The first moment that I was really truly happy was the day I became a father. From halfway around the world, in the midst of a shitty deployment, fighting an enemy that just wanted the same things I did (in their own way), dodging rockets and cursing the heavens.. that was when I was really, truly, happy for the first time. And now that I know what true happiness feels like, I want to shout the secret from the rooftops so that we might all share in the warmth.

I know now, why I have always been drawn to the heroes in my comic books. And why, most specifically, the Green Lantern, and Spider Man have always been my favorites in each comic book universe. These two heroes were men of great ability, and courage, yet they never really did anything with them beyond simply “living,” secretly desiring more, but not a clue what that might be. Then, each in their own way, was given the task, the chore, the power, the responsibility to use those abilities and desires for the greater good of the world. 

Hal Jordan and Peter Parker were men who did not ask to take up the mantle of hero. Nor did they ask to be beacons of hope and justice that they were destined to become. But each CHOSE to accept the responsibility thrust upon them, because each man knew deep down inside themselves, like me, that they had the power, the ability, and the courage to be a force for good. They became the altruistic heroes who would knowingly sacrifice their own safety, happiness, and very lives should the moment call for it, just to protect those who otherwise could not do it for themselves. I am just like these men.

I want to help people. Not just anyone mind you, and not in just any way. I want to help those who need to catch a break. Those who are downtrodden and forgotten, yet still find a way to carry on day after day in search of happiness. I want to show these heavy-hearted souls that happiness truly DOES exist, but that it does not come without true sacrifice. This is the way of the world because like it or not, you will never appreciate or value anything until you have the contrast of loss to see it’s shine. 

I want to be the force for good. whether I do it politically as president of the United States, scientifically through my studies and technical innovation, or even as a simple blogger providing inspiration through the various ways I reach out and open up to the world. This is my responsibility.. to put myself on the line, to give up what I want, and to sacrifice for the betterment of others. Like the heroes of my comic books who would give up and sacrifice every shred of themselves just to provide hope, to make sure that a genuine smile does not fade prematurely, or to allow for a simple hug to resonate further and wider than just the two people sharing it.

These are the profound moments that make life worth living, and this is what true happiness can accomplish. This is what the face of love truly looks like and this is how I will fulfill my responsibility to my fellow man woman and child. This is how I will do my solemn duty to the world. It is my sacrifice, and my gift to you.

This is who I have always wanted to be.. when I grew up.