Democracy? Plutocracy!

Most examples of democracy today consist of top-down governments ruled by elites of parties that depend on private capital to reach the power and stay there. Elections and markets are free in theory, but in practice they mighty power is in the hands of those controlling big concentrations of money. A system with these characteristics has a name: plutocracy.

This system does not work for the whole society but for the powerful minorities that control markets and states.

Liberty, equality, fraternity... where?

Wealth, safety, progress... for whom?

We the consumers and voters must leave this system behind in order to seek happiness for everyone.

What can you do?
Surround yourself with good people. Keep in touch with nature. Be free and express yourself but avoid the lure of individualism promoted by The Establishment to isolate you and put you to work for them.

Reduce your dependency on money. Spend less by focusing on basic needs and by finding social alternatives to paid products and services. Learn and teach to cover accessible needs by yourself or cooperating within your circles and your communities.

Reduce your dependency on corporations and financial companies. Support volunteers, self-employed professionals, cooperatives, and other businesses run by producers directly. Become one of them.

Individual freedom and social capital
Democracy and capitalism defeated feudalism waiving the flag of individual freedom and social progress. Today freedom and progress can be enjoyed selfishly according to purchase power. Money has become an end in itself. Detached from any material value, money has morphed into an abstract concept multiplied by emission and inflation. Money buys power, including democracies.

Individual freedom and social progress can be pursued through other means while pursuing the goal of happiness for everyone. Social capital, the direct capacity of creating products and services, is more valuable than money. Social capital is priceless, as it provides wealth and happiness as one. And it cannot be purchased: the only way of producing social capital is through altruism, cooperation, and emotional exchange. The accumulation of social capital is a learning process no different than a Spiral path.

The evolution of capitalism
Capitalism wanted to appear benevolent, natural, and eternal. However, in its current incarnation as a global plutocracy it is cruel, unsustainable, and it will crash. Even if it keeps distracting many people from the wars, oppression and poverty it causes, it cannot trick the balance and limitations of nature.

The traditional system to enable production and commerce has evolved into a financial cloud that devours everything and extracts income from anywhere. Individual responsibility has been diluted, obfuscated, and exempted by law. While some people get immensely richer they are never accountable of losses. Their mistakes and maneuvers are paid by the society at large thanks to a political framework that they have sponsored.

Privatizing revenues and socializing losses: this is how politicians ruling democratic states serve the plutocrats at the expense of the citizens they represent. Through corruption and cronyism, a globalized elite holds the reins regardless of bankruptcies and elections. They control public and private finances, media and armies. Their concentration of power keeps growing.

What is to be done?