Systemic Economic Oppression
10/20/2020 –David Carr — Systemic Economic Oppression has been the force and factor that has driven people to change their lives for hundreds of years. Systemic economic oppression kept slaves building the pyramids, kept peasants living outside the castles while serving the elites, kept poor people in Europe in servitude and tenancy without property rights, created caste societies in India, and fostered the will to create the United States of America. It was a glorious day when people could get on a ship (if they could afford to) and reach the promise land (if they survived the journey and shipboard diseases) to arrive on the shores occupied by the Native Americans with nothing more than the things they brought. They froze or starved in the winters, or were killed by others.
Native Americans believe they are part of the world, not owners, which is maybe why they were so willing to accept the refugees, and even sell Manhattan island for a bag of jewelry and coins. Native Americans welcomed the settlers to their lands, not knowing the oppression these white faces had endured, or the suffering these people would bring to the Indian people. The Power of firesticks soon overwhelmed the Native Americans, and a new country was born. Copyright ©10/20/20 DJC All Rights Reserved
Systemic Economic Oppression has endured because people and families with money had the resources and connections to construct buildings and buy raw goods to fuel crude machines, long before 3D printing and automation. People were needed as recently as the 1970’s to manufacture the universe of things that came to dominate our materialistic, post WWII world. The Untied States moved from survival of The Great Depression, the Dust Bowl and World War II into a generation of manufacturing and consumption that largely excluded people of color, as evidenced by Property Ownership Laws in many states.
Systemic Economic Oppression allowed the wealthiest people to incorporate themselves into Corporations and Limited Liability Corporations, which provided creative tax benefits unavailable to the hard working W2 wage earners who were the backbone of the industrial and manufacturing ages, long before it was cost effective to bring container ships over the Pacific.
Systemic Economic Oppression has created a global employment and monetary structure that allows workers in foreign countries to be paid $1200 to $2500 per year to manufacture coveted electronics, home furnishings and designer clothes, mainstays of our consumer culture. How does a person feel wearing a $500 piece of clothing that was made by another person who makes $40/week, or less than 0.80USD per hour? I don’t know.
Systemic Economic Oppression is slowly closing more small businesses and gutting employment opportunities as internet merchants set up huge ware houses staffed with robots and low wage workers. Robots are replacing people in every single employment theatre in the USA.
Systemic Economic Oppression is causing anger and fear in the established middle classes, while violence and crime plagues people of color who have been oppressed for years. The disproportionate levels of non-white prison populations could be an indicator of hopelessness and lack of opportunity, or the choice to be entrepreneurs in the often-unseen cash markets of vice behavior. It’s interesting to see the number of people serving time for drug dealing and sex business which could be compared to any other business enterprise, except that its illegal. Why were these people unable to secure jobs in their own neighborhoods? Outsourcing to overseas importers? Automation? Inferior Schools? Are crimes of substance abuse rooted in the seemingly hopeless bonds of poverty, inequality and lack of gainful employment? Copyright ©10/20/20 DJC All Rights Reserved
For the United States of America to be the promised land, there needs to be opportunity for those who are able to seek it, and security for those who are disabled from caring for themselves. Many people have become disabled by drug abuse and alcoholism, while others have become economically disabled by unemployment and self-created debt. Regardless of the past, there needs to be a gainful path forward where every citizen has the opportunity and the responsibility to make a difference though willing participation in a vocation. There should be no free ride for life at taxpayer expense by legal exploitation of the law. Everybody has a skill to offer and a way to make tomorrow better., Especially when many very wealthy people are legally not paying proportionate taxes. Wealthy people can choose philanthropic action by employing the American Reinvestment Economic Acceleration Act, which I wrote in 2016 (my thesis of capital gain investment was introduced in 2017 as Opportunity Zones). There is no solution for everyone, yet there is a path forward when people see each other as neighbors more than random strangers ripe for exploitation or groundless blame.
Power is the ability to achieve results. Power is what drives industry and change. Power is exercised in our decisions when we vote in a democracy. Power is held in our wallets by where we spend money, and what we buy. Power is in our bodies when we are healthy by choices of food and lifestyle. Power is held in our hand when we choose a screen to watch or interact with. Power is in our hearts and minds when we choose compassion, exploitation, greed, charity, inclusion or blame. We all have the power to engage or resist the issues of our lives, in the days we walk the earth.
The awareness of unrealized power can create hope and direction, instead of exclusion, frustration fear and anger. Systemic Economic Oppression has been the foundation of civilization for so long these operating systems will always strive to bring order back in the way that keeps the wealthy in power. How much is enough when greed is a recognized as an addiction? What is the social responsibility of the wealthiest one, three or five percent to invest in the economic and social foundations of the United States of America? Are we going to see more castles (gated communities and billionaire skyscrapers), more fighting amongst the peasants for scraps? Will we witness those with the most wealth recognize the great responsibility they have to their neighbors and the future of humanity?
Rich people can be defined in death as social and economic philanthropists whose mission in life was to make the future better for those who will follow, or as greedy, self-absorbed misers who cared little for anyone but themselves. Everybody must make this decision about who they will see in the mirror of their life. I choose to plant trees of which I may never enjoy the shade, build schools where I may never study, write stories and articles that may never be read, advocate for a sustainable environment on Earth for my grandchildren, and plant fields which I will never harvest. Copyright ©10/20/20 DJC 1114 All Rights Reserved. David Carr is a self-employed dad and husband who is committed to crafting a sustainable future for the grandchildren. Mr. Carr is an Inland Wetlands Commissioner who authors commentary on environmental stewardship, real estate ownership, recreational technology and holistic family development.
