Building A Life For Ourselves

We all to some extent or another try to build a life for ourselves in this world. We have our goals, our dreams, our visions, our hopes, our desires, and we attempt to build our lives accordingly. Some are able to realize parts of their dreams, others are not able to realize any of them, not because they did not have what it takes, but because this world system in its current set-up is extremely destructive, and can easily tear down a persons life and future. It is thus interesting to see how many of us that try to hide in our small lives. We hide in our homes, with our families, with those that are close to us, we go to work, earn enough to survive, hold unto our dreams and hope that it will not be our life that is shattered.

However, a point that we forget is that, until we have once and for all directed this world system and created a new, updated, and benevolent system, we will not be able to create our dreams, hopes, desires, and that small place in this world where we can be left alone and tend to our own interests and hobbies. Because there is no way to separate ourselves from what is here. Even if we build our house far, far away from civilization, there is still a risk that the instability of the world system will have consequential effects on our lifestyle. This is the reality, we will not be able to have a great life, until the world system as a whole have changed.

Thus, the dream and motivation of building a life for ourselves in this world, must also include taking responsibility for the world system, in taking on a point within the world system that must be directed, and walking that point into change. Because unless we do it, how can we expect anyone else to? And unless we get up and start directing our lives, not only in the personal, but also the interpersonal, and the universal, any form of peace and stability we experience in our lives will be ephemeral – because the world system will eventually catch up with us and give the reminder that things in this world are NOT what they should be.

Creating our lives must as such include taking responsibility for and pushing for  a change within the world system. And the interesting point is this; it does NOT have to be a grand and impressive change that we personally take on to move into this world; such as for example, stopping starvation. Even the small and incremental contributions moves the world into the right direction and is as such needed. Hence, what determines what we make our area of focus and expertise, our purpose when it comes to the world system, is ourselves: Through asking where do we have our strengths and weaknesses? What are we able to do with what we have? Where are we able to contribute that will make a impact and change things for the better? That is the question we must ask ourselves: Where Can We Put Ourselves To The Best Use?

One animal that we can learn from when it comes to forgetting about our individuality, and instead looking at the greater picture, to see where we fit in the best, where our particular constitution and personal make up can be most effective, is the honey bee. Because the bee lives solely for the community, for its hive. A bee is born into one out of three specific physical types; it is either a queen bee, a drone bee, or a worker bee. Each of these types have their own distinct role in the bee community – and neither of these roles supersedes the others in terms of having a leader position. In-fact, if the queen bee is not effective at laying eggs, which is her primary task, she will be replaced by the worker bees. Then the drone bees, their one task is to mate with a queen bee, and when that is done, the drone bee will die, because it is of no use to the bee community anymore. For the bees the individual does not exist, the primary consideration is the group, the hive, the togetherness, because as a group bees are strong, while as individuals they are weak.

Us humans need to become more like bees when it comes to looking at our lives, our decisions, where we decide to go, and how we decide to live, and when it comes to contributing and giving ourselves a purpose in relation to the world system. In order for us to contribute the best we can, we must let go of our individuality, our desires, our wants, our feelings of what we WANT to do, and instead look at where we are the BEST; what skills do we have? What supportive characteristics have we nurtured and created within ourselves? All of that should be taken into account when we create our lives, our future, our mission and purpose in this life, as that will make us much more effective, and subsequently, the human race as a whole will benefit.

Let us not dwell on the problems of this world, but instead embrace the busy bee in ourselves, look at where we can contribute and give, and get to action, because that is the way we, one by one, individually and together, incrementally and one piece at a time, move this world towards a better future.

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Check out the following:

Living Income Guaranteed Proposal http://livingincome.me/wiki/The_Living_Income_Guaranteed_Proposal

Living Income Guaranteed by Equal Life Foundation: http://livingincome.me/

WordPress: http://livingincomeguaranteed.wordpress.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BasicIncomeGuaranteedByEqualLifeFoundation

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LivingIncome

Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/3/b/106743715342474012987/106743715342474012987/posts

Twitter http://twitter.com/livingincome
Equal Life Foundation: http://equallife.org

Equal Life Foundation – Bill of Rights: https://equallifefoundation.wordpress.com/bill-of-rights/

Presenting the Fundamental Human Rights by Equal Life Foundation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT8Sfq-pF3Y

WordPress: http://equallifefoundation.wordpress.com/

Twitter http://twitter.com/equallifefndn

Equal Life Foundation: https://www.facebook.com/EqualLifeFoundation
Economist’s Journey To Life http://economistjourneytolife.blogspot.com/

Discuss at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/capitalism.vs.equalmoney/

http://livingincomeguaranteed.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/lig-proposal-first-draft-2013.pdf EN

https://livingincomeguaranteed.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/lig-predlog-prvi-osnutekt-v1.pdf SL
http://livingincomeguaranteed.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/ivg-propuesta-primera-version.pdf ES
http://livingincomeguaranteed.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/lig-prijedlog-prvi-nacrt.pdf CR
http://livingincomeguaranteed.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/lig-voorstel-eerste-schets-v-2.pdf NL

 

Student Debt – A Crime Against Human Rights

Student Debt is one of those things in society we all tend to take for granted. Most that go to college or university are required to in-debt themselves in order to pay for tuition and living expenses. Some countries, like Sweden, do not have tuition fees – though the majority of students are still required to take out loans to cover their living costs.

Young people in this world find themselves between a rock and a hard place. Either you take out hefty loans, make it through university, and potentially land a well-paid job afterwards. Or you come to terms with maybe having a low paid job and no debt. Both of these options are completely horrendous. To be forced into debt to make a life for yourself is a crime against human rights – and yet – this is what young people are required to do.

What should be happening is that young people growing up in this world are nurtured and receive all the support and assistance they require to make the best out of their lives. Because if we cripple an entire generation with debts, imposing unto them the choice of either debt serfdom, or unemployment, we are most certainly creating immense and global consequences in the future. Not only are we creating class warfare, we are also creating generational warfare – were those that are older and have had the opportunity to build a life for themselves without debt will be the target of resentment and blame of the younger generations.

However, one of the most fascinating points that this point with the student debt shows is how we as human beings really have a major issue when it comes to caring for other people. Because how many of us are not benefiting from student debt? Do you for example know what sort of assets your pension funds have invested in? Most certainly big parts of their investment portfolio are made up out of student debt bonds – and would you be willing to give up your pension to release students from their debt? And really – at the end of the day – this is the question we as Humanity face: Are we willing to care for another as we care for our children and ourselves? Are we willing to give up our self-interest to stand for a solution that will benefit all people, youngsters as well as old people, and are we willing to give up some of our luxury to achieve that outcome?

Debt is artificial, which means that its existence is a mental abstract creation. Debt exists in databases and registers made up out of numbers and names – to remove these numbers would be very easy. We could decide today as a society to not anymore accept and allow debt to be part of our lives. Instead of debt, we could decide to give our future generations the best possible conditions to create themselves a life of fulfillment, joy and happiness. We do hold that power – so the question we should ask ourselves is: Why are we not creating the world that we want to see?

And – Why not take it even further? Money is artificial, which means that its existence is a mental abstract creation. Money exists in databases and registers, called banks, that are made up out of numbers and names – to change these numbers would be very easy. Why then not change the numbers a little, so our youths do not have to go through their lives paying debts for which they got things that should have been theirs as part their HUMAN and UNCONDITIONAL RIGHTS. See, life, this world, our monetary system, our way of doing things, it is not set in stone – there are many solutions to the problems we face – though to see them – we have to let go of our small, confined and limited world view – our self-interest – and start seeing our reality from a greater, and more expansive perspective – and ask ourselves the daring question: What is Best For All?

I am one vote for world equality, and I am one vote for a Living Income Guaranteed – because I want what is best for youths as well as elders. I want, for all those that wish to experience higher education, to be able to do that, without incurring any debts – and I want all children to be certain that when they grow up – they will be embraced into a society that cares for and tends to them – and want what is best for them. We can create this world – and it all begins with us letting go of our self-interest and developing that real and genuine care for others.

Wasting Food

According to reports by United Nations Environment Programme and the World Resource institute, about one third of all food produced worldwide gets lost or wasted in food production and consumption systems. When converted to calories, it means that about 1 in 4 calories intended for consumption is never eaten. This food is wasted for several reasons. Much is lost because it does not fulfill the aesthetic requirements of shops, and hence indirectly, consumers. And of the food that is actually bought, a lot is thrown away, and some of it due to expiration dates being set too early. It is clear that food wastage is a massive problem and it reveals some interesting characteristics of the human being, and also many opportunities of self-correction, where we as humanity can change ourselves on a individual level, to as such make an impact globally.

What does food wastage show us about ourselves? It shows us that we do not value the labor and energy that has gone into creating that food – for us – food has become only a number – a cost that we buy using money. Though, fact is that food is more than a number, because to create each produce we eat, an investment of real resources had to be made. The farmer had to put in great effort to grow his crops and care for his cattle. The slaughter had to exert himself with determination and strength to slaughter and prepare the meat for consumption. And nature, the animals, and plants had to offer themselves, their lives, to nurture and support our continued existence. As such, food cannot be measured in money, food is a work of art, that has been given a attention and energy to end up in the supermarkets where we are used to seeing it.

When we take food and only eat some of it, or we buy too much, and throw away the things that we allow to go bad, what are we thus really saying? In-fact it is an act of negligence and ignorance to treat food as having no value – negligent because there is not much we need to change about ourselves to become a more considerate and effective when it comes to handling our food – and ignorant because we do not see the amount of work that has gone into the food, which we so easily make a decision to throw away.

Thus, if we wish to stop waste in this world, we must begin with ourselves, and understand that wastefulness occurs not only with food, but it is the way in which we have come to live. Our entire society is based on waste, and the false belief that there are eternal resources, eternal opportunities, and eternal energy for us to consume without consequences. Truth is that, there is no such thing as a free lunch – and for each resource we waste – there is one resource less to be used.

Though, let us take this one step further, and ask ourselves, where are we wasting ourselves? Fact is that as with all things that we create on the outside, we are also creating and living them inside of ourselves. Are we not wasteful with ourselves, and our own potential when we accept and allow ourselves to give up on our future, and what we know we can create for ourselves, because we do not feel motivated? Are we not wasteful when we decide to not do the most with ourselves, and our lives? Are we not wasteful when we decide to throw away our talents, because we do not experience ourselves as having the energy to develop them? Are we not wasteful when we throw away moments in our day to get to know ourselves, and our mind better, because we accept and allow ourselves to be afraid of self-intimacy? Are we not wasteful when we spend hours, upon hours in a emotional reaction, time that we could have instead used to LIVE and participate HERE?

There are many ways that waste come through within ourselves, in our lives, and thus, in this world. And it is important for us to investigate how we are wasting, so that we can stop this behavior, and instead live our lives within the starting point of using – and as such – being useful instead of wasteful.

How can we change ourselves to direct the waste that occurs in our daily lives into a using and usefulness? Because in answering, and living the answer to these questions, we can make a big difference for others and ourselves as well – as we stand as an example of what it means to respect the life within us and this world – where we do not accept and allow waste to exist within us.

Waste happens when we do not push ourselves to see the value in what is here, to appreciate to what is here, and be grateful for what is here. Waste happens when we take things for granted. Waste happens when we become caught in our desires, and our urge to experience things, and we miss the reality, the universe of life that is here as a part of our world. WASTE occurs when we walk through life in HASTE, thinking about only our own WAIST – and not understanding that our actions and inactions have consequences. Hence, as a first step to change the massive waste that happens daily in this world on a myriad of levels, let us change ourselves – and make sure that we are not accepting and allowing waste to take place in any form within ourselves, or our lives.

Investigate the Living Income Guaranteed.

What would you do with more time on your hands?

I find it fascinating to look at old pictures of my grandfather and grandmother and the life they shared together. My grandfather was a farmer and my grandmother a housewife with many creative hobbies on the side. Their home was a big farm, and it is here on this farm that I have decided to reside as well. It is truly remarkable scenery that envelops these lands. Lush fields, trees are singing in the wind, and at distance a lake is glistening. I cannot imagine a better place to grow up and spend your life.

What is fascinating about the pictures of my grandparents is that they depict a time were there was more time. You can see them sitting by the lake having a cup of coffee, or sitting in their porch, eating a meal prepared on the grill. It is clear that there was less pressure back then, time was not such a scarce resource as it is in today’s hectic world. And talking with my grandfather this becomes clearer. He has shared with me how he used to fish with nets during the autumns and springs, and hunt on the lands. Nowadays, these hobbies do not exist in the same quantity as before – and the reason why? We do not have enough time.

All that we have time to do is to work. And now, it is not enough that only one person in the household works, both the man and the woman must work for things to go around. Now when the man and women come home from work, they must rest from work, cook, and then little to no time is left to actually do something with their day. What many tends to do, is to use the hours that are left over to watch some television. But what kind of a life is this?

Most of us will maintain that we have evolved during the last 200 years. I say we have not. Our technology has evolved, true, but our quality of life, the time we have available to give to ourselves and our dear one’s, this is devolved and decreased. What kind of a life is it, to be constantly rushing around, stressing, fretting, hurrying to make ends meet? Is that something we can even define as being life? Can we actually say that we are alive, or are we merely surviving?

I say that we are not alive, we are just surviving, because all we do is chasing money, and there is no time for self-development, self-expansion, and self-realization. There is no time left for us to enjoy the fruits of our labor and the advancements we have made in technology – and hence we cannot claim that we are living. Actual living would imply freedom and time to ponder, time to pursue our interests and passions, time to sit by a lake and enjoy a long coffee break, time to spend with our children, and strengthen the bond between family members – real living would be to experience a deep gratefulness for each day lived on this earth and the opportunities that are provided – and how many can contend that they experience such a gratefulness today? It rather seems that most of us are sick and tired – disillusioned and fed up with continuous money problems, stresses and fears around survival.

What would you do if you had all the time in the world? Who would you be if you did not have to chase money in your life? What interests and passions would you develop? What would you build? What would you decide to be a part of? Would you become a farmer like my grandfather, a housewife, a vagabond, a musician, a painter, or a builder? Who would you decide to be if all doors were open to you?

We must take a deeper look at what we have created in this world, and ask ourselves the question: Why have not created heaven on earth, and is this present world system truly the best we are able to muster? AND – HOW can we change what is here into a world that we would want to be a part off? That we would desire to be a part off?

Money is the key to creating time for all to discover who they really are. Through Guaranteeing Everyone a Basic Living Income – UNCONDITIONALLY – we can create a new world, and a new life. It is not impossible, and just as with any creation, it starts out as a vision, as a few words in our mind, that is spoken, then written down, then lived, and then pushed into manifestation – this is how we create. Be a part of this change – see what visions and dreams are hidden in the depths of your consciousness, and make the decision to create a world where you will be given the opportunity to realize all of them. All creation begins as a small seed – and when we nurture these seeds what will spring into life is our manifesto – our decision – and that is how we will create the TIME for ourselves to actually live.

The Secret of Creation

Image credit: original oil painting by Angela Treat Lyon at AngelaTreatLyonART.com

 

Yesterday as I was driving my cab (yes, I am a part-time cabdriver) I met a man originally from Lebanon. He’d migrated to Sweden around thirty years ago, and as I asked whether he looked forward to the coming winter or not, he didn’t hesitate to share his discontent with the Swedish weather and its environment. He shared his love for Lebanon and how he felt that Sweden was a much more isolated and generally boring country – not as much happened here. In Lebanon he could go up into the mountains in the morning, bathe in the sea at midday, and go out to dance with his friends during the night. One day in Lebanon would feel as an entire year in Sweden. Although these observations from my perspective are more conjectures than actual facts, it was interesting to hear him out.

 

After a while our subject changed. I asked him about Lebanon’s state of affairs, and in particular why he’d moved. He then walked me through how Lebanon had initially been a flowering state, with much of the world’s petrol money located in its banks, allowing for a fruitful and abundant lifestyle, but that this had come to a halt. The region had now sunk into an abyss of insecurity, with unstable country-to-country relationships, especially due to the apparent “interventions” by the America world police. He explained that war was now upon Syria and Iraq, and that the chaos was definitely spreading.

Now, to get into the core point of this blog, which is that of “loosing hope” – what is really interesting is what this man next began sharing: He expressed clear insights as to who creates and why conflicts are fueled in the middle east, and in the Arab states, it’s due to oil and because of greedy corporations located in America, that use the American people to further their own interests, and use taxpayers money to buy weapons, wage wars, and secure resources for their own benefit. He shared that something had changed from when he was a child, and that at this point in time, everything was about money, everything was about ME, and getting on top of things, regardless of the consequences this might create for others – and he expressed and shared this insight in a tone acquiescence and resignation – clearly he’d given up on humanity.

This is where we’re going to get to the wisdom, the gift that this man is sharing, because actually, through his words we’re able to see one of the primary reasons as to why this world has yet to paradigmatically change – the two simple words are: GIVING UP – that is from my perspective one of man’s greatest weaknesses.

Consider the following: How is it that we learn to walk? We stand up, we fall, we stand up, we fall, we stand up, and we fall – but never do we give up – and this is why we’re able to acquire the skill of walking. Babies as such haven’t yet been instilled with the concept of giving up – and yes: Giving up is a skill – it’s a mental concept learnt by example and it would’ve not existed in humanity unless we’d accepted and allowed it – unless we’d diligently been practicing it and making it a trait and habit that we pass down to our children, and that they in turn pass down to theirs.

Giving up is a trait that must be removed in order for one to have impact in this world – because to walk a process of change requires that one walk beyond one’s comfort zone, beyond what one have known to work, beyond what one believed and thought, because only then can the NEW emerge – and the new can only emerge through a process of trial and error – through a process of failure, practice and perfection – nothing in this world that exist as a fully functional and manifested creation has appeared without having gone through this process – and this is the secret of creation = THE WILLINGNESS TO FAIL.

There was a great quote by Zig Ziglar, a salesman, and he said some along the following:

“Failure is only failure when you don’t learn from it” and “Remember, failure is an event, not a person”

So, what are we able to learn from this?

If you’re truly passionate about creating a new world, then buckle up your seatbelts Dorothy, and be prepared and willing to fail countless times, because that is what it will take – nothing less. I for one have decide that I am willing to fail, make mistakes, and do the wrong thing, as many times as is required until I get it – until I do have an impact – until this world do show signs of change. And this is not because I need success as a motivation, it’s because I’ve decided that this is what I am going to do with my life – nothing more and nothing less – I will live to make a difference.

Thus for anyone out there that has given up, realize that the only way to break through, and make a difference in this world, is through failure – there is no other way – so pull your sleeves up and let’s walk the process of creation until this is done.

Investigate the Living Income Guaranteed and let’s get it done.

Living On Stolen Money – Decision or Consequence?

A life of crime is two-part documentary (I’ve posted embeds of the videos in the bottom of the post), where a filmmaker follows some criminals during two periods in their lifetime. The first time he meets them they are in their late twenties and still quite strong and vigorous, and they are sustaining themselves through shoplifting. In part two he meets them when they are in their middle thirties and life has begun to take a toll on them.

What is so interesting about this documentary is that it reveals the mindset of the criminals, the WHY of their decision to become criminals. Several times throughout the documentary they exclaim that they are able to make much more money through stealing than through having a regular job. Working one day as a shoplifter makes them around 3000 dollars, while working one day at McDonald’s makes them about 80 dollars. Thus, what is clear is that these people are not driven by some form of bad moral, or psychopathic desire to cause harm to others. No – in-fact these shoplifters are economist’s showing to us what kind of consequences our current economic system create.

It’s obvious that thieves, shoplifters and burglars are not an incident or mishap, they are consequence, they are not an anomaly, they are a predictable outcome – the result of an equation. For those of us that have led a life of money, it’s hard to relate to and understand what goes through a person’s mind when he or she decides to become professional shoplifter, because most of us born in economically stable environments would perceive it as immoral, wrong and barbarian. However, for someone born at the very low end of the hierarchy theft and a criminal life is a way of escaping a permanent sentence to a life poverty, and hard work.

Economists would probably agree with me, because it’s simple mathematics, when there is no support for those at the bottom, no hope for a better life, no ability to rise and build a life for oneself, then crime is a way out = supply and demand = cause and effect = problem and consequence.

Thus, realize, when crime rise, it’s not something bad, it’s actually an indication that something is very, very wrong with society, and that there are some drastic changes required. Realize that when prisons are filled to the brim with people, then we have a sick society, and that sickness can be traced back to the unequal distribution of money and resources.

This is where we require embracing a paradigm shift, because in order to make our lives better, our society more safe, our life experiences more rewarding, we must learn to give – we must learn to give, as we’d like to receive. Most of us have extremely difficult to grasp this concept, and when confronted with it, we shiver and turn inside, immediately out of our mouths comes the statements that “it’s unfair!” – “they should work for their money!” – “we can’t change that!” – “there will always be crime!” – but see, this is not common sense, this is assumptions, ideas, projections, and in actuality useless opinions that have no significance in terms of how reality actually works.

The fact is that, when we make the decision to give all an equal opportunity to make something worthwhile of themselves in this world, we are doing ourselves a significant favor. We will in doing that release so much pressure, fear, and society will become a completely different place, where crime will be significantly less.

One of the solutions we’re able to implement is a minimum wage, and not just any minimum wage, but a big minimum wage with which one can buy luxurious items, start a family and make one’s life comfortable and enjoyable. Manual labor such as working for McDonald’s, or similar, shouldn’t be awarded with a salary that merely puts one on the breadline. Instead dedicating oneself to contributing to society should be awarded amply; it should be more profitable to live honestly than to make living as a criminal.

So, the key to designing a successful society is to ask us the question WHY? Because everything that happens in this world does so for a reason – our physical reality is filled with equations and these in turn produce various results, and through changing the variables, we’ll change the result.

Investigate the Living Income Guaranteed and allow yourself to step up and become a social engineer, question the movement of your daily life, what happens, why it happens, and how it could be changed in such a way that all are included. Because it’s clear that – there are SOLUTIONS – we must simply be brave enough to see and apply them.

The Theory of Economy

This summer I had the mixed pleasure of reading a course in Microeconomics and International trade. In microeconomics the primary focus of the researchers is to establish ‘What is the market really doing and why?’ – and this is attempted to be done utilizing mathematical formulas; primarily utilizing the famous graph where two lines cross each-other, the one line sloping downwards (demand) and the other sloping upwards (supply) – and where they meet each other = that’s apparently the optimal price for the product and the optimal quantity of that product in that given market.

What first struck me as being fascinating about these theories was that they seldom predicted how the market would behave in reality, and neither could they be verified with empirical evidence – and most of the time the authors of the my books where busy trying to find reasons and various viewpoints as to why these theories wasn’t working “as they should” – and how they probably did work but it was just that the inventors missed to take into consideration some important factors and variables.

Though, what was the most fascinating about this entire area of research, was how there was this complete worship to the idea that lower prices = higher consumer satisfaction; and that apparently for a market to be functional, what is required is that we produce as many products as possible, to the lowest prices possible, because then the consumers are able to buy as much as possible, and then we’re apparently okay, happy, and have a fruitful existence here on earth.

Obviously, when I looked at these ideas, I silently chuckled – because the logical flaw of this assumption is glaringly simple = the producers are the consumers! YES – that’s the secret of economy and the reason why we’ve got so many unemployed in this day and age is because we’ve failed to understand that when a product is cheaper, someone at the other end gets less money, which in turns means that a (employee) consumer gets less money, which in turns means that the producer gets less customers = and it all ends up in such a way that most lose but a few that manage to reap the monopoly profits of those very low-priced products – because they’ve priced out everyone else.

It’s clear that we have to develop a new way of looking at economics, and that mathematics and statistics isn’t the way to go – no – we actually require to look at the actuality of what is going on. For example, poverty, what is the actuality of poverty? Why does poverty exist to begin with? It’s not a matter of mathematics, rather it’s a matter of seeing what is behind everything in this world – and that is MONEY – money that in itself is a completely innocent creation meant to be but a way of distributing goods and services to where they are required and wanted the most; but in our current system – money has become a point of control – where those that are already rich and on top of things with all possible means make sure the keep those stricken by poverty in place – else we wouldn’t anymore have a functional slave labor force that can produce all of our various gadgets and other mechanics of entertainment.

Thus, what we must ask ourselves, and economists more importantly, is why have we never used our knowledge to produce a sustainable system where all of us are able to create a life that is dignified, cool and enjoyable? What is required for us to do that? MONEY – and what do we need to bring through such money into this world? Resources – so what is then the solution – the real economic master plan as to how to create a world that would be sustainable and practical for all its inhabitants? To agree that we share the resources – at least the basic and most essential resources – those that we MUST HAVE in order to live.

Thus, I stand behind the Living Income Guaranteed – which is a functional, effective and sustainable way of creating a new world for all people where money will be shared – and for those economists that want to make a difference – I suggest that you investigate this concept and bring your knowledge to the table and help to create something from which we can all benefit!

Selling The Solution

”We Want Change! We Want Change! We Want Change!”

Do you recognize these words? They are commonplace in demonstrations, activist efforts, strikes, and various other methods that the civilian public throughout time have used in attempting to enforce political change in this system. Still today, these methods are used in order to build political opinion – though; in this blog I will reveal the ineffectiveness of this strategy – and show that the time of screaming that “We Want Change” is blasé – this is the time to reconsider our role as creators of political opinion – and the first point to look at is HOW we bring forth our message.

This particular point opened up as I was investigating the suggestions from an activist group of how to create political awareness in relation to the Basic Income proposal. The proposed ways to create that awareness was in line with the usual tactic of standing somewhere in the public, the town square for example, as a group of people, screaming that “We Want Change!” – in seeing this I realized how severely ineffective and misplaced this method is.

So, why is it then ineffective and misplaced?

Well, to scream “We Want Change” doesn’t actually show why change is necessary, and neither does it present a practical SOLUTION as to how this change can be implemented effectively. Instead it’s merely people screaming, and actually, the starting point and underlying message coming through when we just scream out our message is that “we are the victims” and “you must change!” – we won’t make the change because it’s apparently up to another to make that change, present the solution, and make it all happen. And what comes through as well is this point of blame – that it’s not “our fault” that this world is the way it is and as such we shouldn’t walk this change – YOU should – because it’s YOUR fault!

What is then the missing point?

The missing point is really in the most unlikely of places, and particularly for activists it will be shocking, because the primary point that will allow for political forcefulness to come through is the art of SELLING – yes – SELLING – the skill often regarded with despise – because it’s apparently not a “honest” trade.

But why is then that the art of selling is so important?

Realize, that when we want to inflict change in this world, what we must understand is that change comes through within and as individual human beings, because each human being is a building block in what we call ‘the system”, thus for each human being that is able to see the point you’re making, and within that change his, or her way of living, that is a point where you’ve actually created political movement.

The question is thus, what makes people change, and what makes people hear what you say? This is where SELLING comes into play, because the art of selling, is the art of convincing, it’s the art of finding the specific trigger for the human being we communicate with, what they care about, and what they feel about, and through using those trigger points, we are able to affect that persons way of looking at and understanding things.

Thus, for example, with the Living Income proposal, the focus of the activist must here be to explain to the individual human being what would change in his or her world, if a Living Income would be implemented, the activist must SELL the proposal ACTIVELY – which is a what a activist should be doing – namely – activating people in realizing and understanding that there is so MUCH MORE to life than what our current system presents as life – that there is whole universe to explore which have been suppressed by fear, and a bureaucratic system of rules and control.

Real change, and real political movement will as such be born through the process of selling, which is actually the skill of effective communication, and knowing WHO you’re talking with, and what will trigger that particular person to see what you’re saying – and make them see how what you’re saying can benefit their life.

This is why the Living Income proposal is so unique, because it speaks not only the worker class, it also speaks to the bourgeois, the middle class, and the elite, because the Living Income will fire up the economy on all avenues, allowing for the business owners to make more money, the workers to get employed, and the elite to retain their lifestyle unless it’s overly exclusive – obviously – some people that throughout the years have become excessively rich will have to let go of some of their resources.

An example of how to sell the Living Income proposal in America, would be to connect it to the American Dream, in showing that through the Living Income, the American Dream; having your own house, two cars, and having only one of the spouses working yet still retain a sufficient income to sustain the household, would be able to become a reality – this is thus SELLING the Living Income Guaranteed and showing the benefits of change – not merely screaming that “We Want Change” – which won’t create the political movement required for effective and lasting change.

Thus, it’s time to re-evaluate how we have up to this moment in time attempted to enforce change, and realize that there is a lot to learn from the system, from marketing, and from business owners, and that we’ll only be able to create a movement if we effectively show how life could change for others in implementing a Living Income Guaranteed. Let’s become the Wave of Action required to create the necessary momentum in order for real change to take place.

The Era of Enlightened Activism

Many people do see what is going in this world, they do see that the current state of our world is outright abusive, and that it can’t go on as it has – we need to change – this is clear.

The problem with the wave of action that has been spreading throughout the world in various forms, such as for example the Occupy Wall Street-movement, the Arabic Spring – is that there is no clear understanding of HOW to sort out this mess – we do see the problems – but we do not see from WHERE these problems stem – and specifically we don’t see what course of action that will bring forth a lasting and structural solution.

This problem we can be found literally everywhere in all aspects of society, and can also be found in the microcosm of our relationship with ourselves; for example – let’s take a look at my own country of Sweden and what is currently going on in the dimension of crime prevention.

Because what is happening in this arena of the Swedish society, is that it’s slowly falling apart, there is too much crime, and not enough resources to prevent the crime – the polices and attorneys are becoming frustrated because seemingly there is nothing that can be done – and even though the government is pouring more money into the fight against crime, no clear results are visible.

Though, what is it that the Swedish government is missing? Well, the simple fact that crime is not a isolated incidence – crime doesn’t just ‘occur’ – it’s instead a OUTFLOW – it’s a SYMPTOM of an underlying issue that perverts our entire world to become but a survivalist competition where only the strong are allowed to live. Thus, exactly as was the problem with for example the Occupy Wall Street-movement, wherein all attention and focus was fixed on the criminal acts of bankers – no attention and focus is given to sort out the underlying issues.

Thus, let’s take a look at what the underlying issues are – if we self-honestly investigate the nature of the various problems that exist in this world, we are able to see that the absolute majority of them are related to one specific point, one specific aspect of society – and that is – MONEY – or rather – the LACK of money. In our current world system – money is seen and regarded as a commodity that we are able to FIGHT about, and the general view is that we do not have a RIGHT to money – we have but an opportunity to get money – and apparently this opportunity is equal for everyone. But, what happens is that only a select few are able to get their hands on money, and due to the competitive nature that we’ve designed money to exist within, the consequential outflow is that but a few takes it ALL and the rest are forced to fight over the scraps.

This in turn leads a myriad of problems such as for example crime, profiteering, social inequality, blame, revolutions, rebellions, civilian disobedience, and obviously – one of the primary points – fear of SURVIVAL – which will force human-beings to take the most barbarian and ruthless of actions – because they are in their fear of survival not able to consider and expand their view to such concepts as empathy, consideration, care and equality.

Thus, we must now move ourselves into an Era of Enlightened Activism – and what must be the starting point of this new activism is that we target the underlying issues – and that we find PRACTICAL solutions to these underlying issues. And what we must understand is that no form of civil disobedience will have the desired effect – because a SOLUTION must be implemented through political means – by majority rule – it must be an actual and well thought-out proposal and not merely a rebellious act of blame towards those apparently in charge.

We must understand that We Are In Charge – We Decide – We will determine the Solution – and we will determine the Change – thus Activism in order to be effective must be coupled with responsibility – because only when we fully take responsibility for a point in realizing that unless we deliver the solution – there will be no solution; will we be able to effectively bring through change and form a world where we can all live in harmony.

Investigate the Living Income Guaranteed – and realize that there are effective solutions we’re able to implement – that will deal with the underlying issues of this current system – so that we do not anymore have to spend all of our precious time attempting and trying to suppress symptoms and effects.

The Complacency Virus

The most common delusion we have that thwarts us from being able to create any change of real significance in this world, is this belief that “everything is okay” – it is as if we have taken a blinder before our eyes that makes us see only what we want to see – and this tends to happen when we have money and a somewhat comfortable life – when we have achieved those points, what sets in is complacency and instead of giving everyone a cool life – we spend the short time we have on this earth trying to satisfy our mental desires.

It should be the other way around, that when we have money, we should understand that we have a opportunity to make a difference, we have the time to spread awareness bring forth change – but what instead happens is that we sink back into the comforts of our minds where we live each day for the sole purpose of filling ourselves with various kinds of positive experiences.

It is fascinating and I see this pattern play out on a daily basis. I have grown up and live in the country of Sweden, and this is a wealthy, industrialized nation where most have a high level of education. Sweden is a country that is in a position of being able to make a difference in this world, because most of us swedes have time on our hands, we can actually make somewhat free choices, because we have money – but what happens instead? Rather we swedes do away with our time on senseless activities, such as drinking, buying more unnecessary things – spending each minute to gain another positive experience – a behavior that is spiteful in its very nature.

Thus, even though we have all the prerequisites necessary to produce a change, we still don’t do it – and why is that? As I said in the beginning, it comes back to complacency, and our tendency to think that everything is okay, because we have the money, and our life is quite comfortable.

But let us look at this presumption that “everything is okay” – because really, can we say that it is?

I mean, fact is that we are all dependent upon money, and fact is that in this world, when we do not have money, the very foundations of our existence will shatter – thus – even though we might think we are safe, because we have money at the money, this is no guarantee – and it is absolutely no guarantee that our children will have access to money. Fact is that our current economic system is slowly crumbling before our very eyes, and even though we might feel comfortable at the moment, we will in time face the consequences – and they will not be pleasant – because what is certain is the current economic system is not sustainable and it will not last.

Thus, what we must realize is that our comfort and the complacency we experience, because everything seems to be fine, it is not real – and each day we are coming closer to the inevitable collapse, wherein also our life will be affected by the ineffectiveness of the current world system – thus – I suggest that we take action now and that we do not wait. Just because we have money, and just because our individual life work at this moment, it doesn’t mean that our collective existence is sustainable – and things will get worse until we stand up and actually bring us to care about our common future and ourselves.

Those of us lucky enough to live in countries where it is still possible to access money, we have a responsibility to spread the word, and show that there is another way to live – and that complacency is really not acceptable – because we have the time and resources, we have the responsibility to act – and we have the responsibility to make sure that all people are endowed with a life worth living – a dignified life – that is what we’d want for ourselves given that we were in the shoes of those less fortunate – so why then not give as we would like to receive?

Read up on the Living Income Guaranteed – and make use of your time, because at some point – it will be all used up – and then there will be no way to go back and change your decisions. We have only this one lifetime – thus – let’s make the best out of it, and see to it that we bring about a world economic system that benefits life and erase poverty forever more – let’s make sure that our children will have a life free from fear.