Moving forward

Last night I watched the documentary Zeitgeist: Moving forward. It reminds us of how ill this world is. You most likely know this. The documentary has a central theme - instead of focussing on a human value based system the world has adopted a money value based system. This is easy to observe when viewing business models, economic models and trying to understand how the monetary system works. It ascribes many of the world's problems, such as ecological disasters, poverty, inequality and war, to the failure of the market economy to address true human needs. The documentary highlights how the market economy ignores many aspects of being human - caring, cooperation and love. People only have the right to eat in as much as they can pay for food, or own land or are able overcome hunger by little welfare benefits from the state. The market economy is pretty harsh on individuals who are born in poverty. The chances for the poor to attain a good education are small. Thus the probability of escaping poverty is also small.

The documentary offers some solutions. Referring to the work of Jacques Fresco, we ought to embrace technological progress, resist the lures of money and status, build cities that maximise ecological sustainability and enhances human welfare, and build a system of environmental inventory to monitor the global use of natural resources. This means that we take only what we really need and enjoy life while artificial intelligence does the work for us. In theory this sounds plausible and even wonderful. I just don't know whether humans have the capacity for such a change.

I agree with the documentary in many areas. I think the world monetary system is one that enslaves. I think freedom, as promoted by this system, is an illusion. At the heart of this system lie interest rates. We charge interest for many reasons. The time value or opportunity cost of money in one person's hand is compensated by interest paid by another person who borrowed money. These interest rates are not equal between borrower and lender. Financial intermediaries (banks) put premiums on loans in order to cover their operating costs and maximise their business profits. This is why there is such a massive distinction between deposit, lending and interbank rates. Furthermore, the way interest rates are charged is perverted. The current model charges higher interest rates for people deemed riskier (i.e. people with a high probability of loan default). The problem is that higher interest rates increase an already high probability of default. The perversion is further exacerbated by forcing poor people to take out loans in the first place, otherwise they do not have a roof over their heads or food or a warm bed (some of the most basic things humans need). The idea that charging interest rates is a bad idea is nothing new (the Bible and other religious texts prohibit usury).

Fundamental to all of this is pride. The bad world we see today goes much deeper than flawed monetary systems. It goes to the very heart of human desire. Our desire is never filled and is an ever growing spiral into nothingness. We consume, we cheat, we lie, we steal, we murder, we are myopic, we are unsympathetic and we are self-absorbed; All because we put desire above everything else. No one is as important as the "I". 

There is really no peace to be found when desire consumes us with flames of empty promises. I am not as optimistic as the creators of Zeitgeist. To me it seems inevitable that man self-destructs. Of course I hope that this will never happen. Despite our feelings about the world we might as well try to make it a better place. Put aside the gloomy picture of the future and focus on things that are good. Truly care for those in need and care for the environment in every possible way. Let go of the desires of being wealthy, powerful and popular; these desires make the soul very sick and is never satiable. Focus on spiritual growth. We do not do good and do not feel well because we have neglected a fundamental part of being human - spirit. We pay too much attention on mental and physical well-being and think very little of caring for the spirit. I have followed the suggestion of a friend and started reading the The ascent of mount Carmel by St. John of the cross. His work has definitely put many things in perspective.

But perhaps easiest of all to remember, and definitely the most important, is to follow God's commandments. Love God with everything and love your neighbour as yourself. There is no place for pride when we do this.