So many yeses. And the part I can't go past is that the rich holing themselves up in bunkers and gated communities will also have nothing left. Because we are interdependent (they/we have just forgotten their/our dependence). It is literally a race to the bottom. That is the problem—forgetting/ignoring/being oblivious to your dependencies, results in your own extinction in the end too. Despite all 'our' (we exclusive—mātou) efforts to escape our reliance on others, we too are ecological. Always and forever. (I want to add a FFS here...). It doesn't matter what you label it—it is eco-logic that actually sits underneath everything. Super appreciate your work Ryan.
This is bang on. But how? The poisons of ‘socialist’ becoming an insult and the relentless avarice of the 1% makes it nigh on impossible to get this message out to those who need to understand it. It’s not sexy, it’s scary. It’s not as compelling as a new phone or plumped up lips or scratching over the bones of What’s Wrong With Megan. Populations have been dumbed down to the extent that the dopamine hit is king. Lust after things that are impossible to afford, never question what is enough. We live in interesting times. When will our bubble burst? And what will be left when it does ?
Depressing but thank you for the excellent analysis.
Excellent article Ryan, great writing so on the mark. Bloody scary that we are watching capitalism at it’s most evil and dystopian in the US and know everyday in Aotearoa that Luxon, Seymour and Willis are ‘working hard’ to push us down the same corridor taking from and punching down on the poor, working class, young, women, māori, vulnerable and syphoning off to the wealthy. The budget another assault and the RSB will be the cherry on top for them. Wake the fuck up Aotearoa. Keep up your great mahi Ryan.
Consumer-spectator is a delightful descriptor, but I would add ‘victim’, most abusive relationships rely on the victim not being able to see the whole picture
Great article! The problem is changing the perception of 'socialism'. The few socialist politicians there are don't seem to be able to articulate what it is or how it could work. People have been brainwashed into believing we would all be wearing grey jumpsuits and tilling the fields.
It's been obvious to me for time that if Labour and Co try and fight the next election in the center they will lose. And by all accounts that is what they are planning. The obvious reason of course is the right has the media to control the narrative. Which is exactly what happened when Jacinda tried to introduce Three Waters. Removing the possibility of private ownership was never going to fly.
Agree, there are some great minds on the ‘non capitalist side’ (and I don’t mean in politics) that could surely conceive a plan that beats them at their own game?? Eg
The billionaire class warn us that ‘socialism’ = ‘communism’, and if we chose that route every asset will be collectively owned and there will be just one class of ‘mediocrity’. And, of course, the proletariat. But this isn’t socialism. Socialism, to my mind, is simply the building of caring communities and working together for the good of all sectors of society.
I've read this a few times now. It's absolutely excellent. The system we designed, that we write the rules for, the rules for how we run our world have got away from us, no longer serving humanity but capital, past the point of genocide and into the destruction of the biome of planet Earth itself. It's becoming existentially desperate that we change course. When we do this, it's essential that we centre life – life itself, the quality of everyone's lives, the progression of our species and the life of our planet as our key performance indicators. The ideas of neoliberalism are literally the same as a cancer, and they are having the same effect on our world. We must cut it out.
Thank you for your thoughtful commentary, as always. I have wandered down similar pathways as I've tried to make sense of the insane times in which we live, whilst still keeping my head above water.
I wonder if a side step isn't required. Maybe we're not looking to 'reclaim' socialism - and instead the word you are looking for offers a uniquely kiwi solution, still in the making? Kotahitanga was offered by Kingi Tuheitia for ALL, not just Maori. Kotahitanga embodies the relationship and collective endeavour of the socialism you speak of, and/plus. It helps us to weave together (all of us) the complexity of te taura tangata - the rope of man, and we're in the process of learning by doing, right now.
Read this after just putting down the book "They call it love", Alba Gotby - centred on the need to radically restrucutre society. Both regrettably cathartic and necessary reads. Thanks Ryan.
So many yeses. And the part I can't go past is that the rich holing themselves up in bunkers and gated communities will also have nothing left. Because we are interdependent (they/we have just forgotten their/our dependence). It is literally a race to the bottom. That is the problem—forgetting/ignoring/being oblivious to your dependencies, results in your own extinction in the end too. Despite all 'our' (we exclusive—mātou) efforts to escape our reliance on others, we too are ecological. Always and forever. (I want to add a FFS here...). It doesn't matter what you label it—it is eco-logic that actually sits underneath everything. Super appreciate your work Ryan.
Always grateful for your expansive and wholistic perspective.
This is bang on. But how? The poisons of ‘socialist’ becoming an insult and the relentless avarice of the 1% makes it nigh on impossible to get this message out to those who need to understand it. It’s not sexy, it’s scary. It’s not as compelling as a new phone or plumped up lips or scratching over the bones of What’s Wrong With Megan. Populations have been dumbed down to the extent that the dopamine hit is king. Lust after things that are impossible to afford, never question what is enough. We live in interesting times. When will our bubble burst? And what will be left when it does ?
Depressing but thank you for the excellent analysis.
You echo my thoughts exactly.
I didn’t vote
Excellent article Ryan, great writing so on the mark. Bloody scary that we are watching capitalism at it’s most evil and dystopian in the US and know everyday in Aotearoa that Luxon, Seymour and Willis are ‘working hard’ to push us down the same corridor taking from and punching down on the poor, working class, young, women, māori, vulnerable and syphoning off to the wealthy. The budget another assault and the RSB will be the cherry on top for them. Wake the fuck up Aotearoa. Keep up your great mahi Ryan.
Cheers!!!
Consumer-spectator is a delightful descriptor, but I would add ‘victim’, most abusive relationships rely on the victim not being able to see the whole picture
Good point. And even when they realize the relationship is abusive it’s extremely difficult to extract themselves from.
Great article! The problem is changing the perception of 'socialism'. The few socialist politicians there are don't seem to be able to articulate what it is or how it could work. People have been brainwashed into believing we would all be wearing grey jumpsuits and tilling the fields.
Excellent point! I’m hoping if enough of us aren’t scared to use the term we can reclaim it from its misrepresentation.
And if they are looking like they may be successful the weight of the machine comes down hard - think Bernie Sanders or Jeremy Corbyn
It's been obvious to me for time that if Labour and Co try and fight the next election in the center they will lose. And by all accounts that is what they are planning. The obvious reason of course is the right has the media to control the narrative. Which is exactly what happened when Jacinda tried to introduce Three Waters. Removing the possibility of private ownership was never going to fly.
Yes, exactly.
Perhaps a way to achieve change is to work within the system from the bottom up. Co-operative ventures, for example;
Have a look at Mondragon in Spain https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation
Agree, there are some great minds on the ‘non capitalist side’ (and I don’t mean in politics) that could surely conceive a plan that beats them at their own game?? Eg
I meant to add, the alternative is Gaza.
Some of your finest work
Thank you! I was experimenting with a bit less academic and more stream of consciousness type of post. Glad you found it useful.
Love your work Ryan
Thank you!! That means a lot.
The billionaire class warn us that ‘socialism’ = ‘communism’, and if we chose that route every asset will be collectively owned and there will be just one class of ‘mediocrity’. And, of course, the proletariat. But this isn’t socialism. Socialism, to my mind, is simply the building of caring communities and working together for the good of all sectors of society.
I've read this a few times now. It's absolutely excellent. The system we designed, that we write the rules for, the rules for how we run our world have got away from us, no longer serving humanity but capital, past the point of genocide and into the destruction of the biome of planet Earth itself. It's becoming existentially desperate that we change course. When we do this, it's essential that we centre life – life itself, the quality of everyone's lives, the progression of our species and the life of our planet as our key performance indicators. The ideas of neoliberalism are literally the same as a cancer, and they are having the same effect on our world. We must cut it out.
I'm so glad you found it useful. It is indeed existentially desperate, getting moreso every day.
Thank you for your thoughtful commentary, as always. I have wandered down similar pathways as I've tried to make sense of the insane times in which we live, whilst still keeping my head above water.
I wonder if a side step isn't required. Maybe we're not looking to 'reclaim' socialism - and instead the word you are looking for offers a uniquely kiwi solution, still in the making? Kotahitanga was offered by Kingi Tuheitia for ALL, not just Maori. Kotahitanga embodies the relationship and collective endeavour of the socialism you speak of, and/plus. It helps us to weave together (all of us) the complexity of te taura tangata - the rope of man, and we're in the process of learning by doing, right now.
Reformists will cling to half measures, but you’re right: there’s no negotiating with a system built on extraction and death.
Socialism isn’t utopian; it’s survival. The only question left is how much more suffering it’ll take before the working class realizes its power.
Keep sharpening the analysis. We need this fire.
Great work, man. I agree with you completely.
Read this after just putting down the book "They call it love", Alba Gotby - centred on the need to radically restrucutre society. Both regrettably cathartic and necessary reads. Thanks Ryan.
A thought provoking read
Thank you.