Christmas is upon us,
and all faiths in the Western world welcome an all too short reprieve
from the utter madness of modern life
For the vast majority,
everyday society has become the antithesis of the Xmas message, many
too busy or absorbed to dissect the social machinations of the so
called civilised world; both people and media generated, and often
intermingled that keeps many within a state of worry and concern.
“Kick a dog, and it
bites another dog” is the old, nasty but true adage. One that
re-directs blame away from the source of true responsibility, to
ferment blame, distrust and hatred within society for the social
disinfrachisement experienced by differing groups.
[NB unfortunately, and
all too ironically the only thing that aligns cross-group ethnic
interests is money, whether legally or illegally obtained; the two
sometimes merged and blurred].
That broad social
anguish has transmuted into the rise of Popularism and Nationalism,
that seeks to blame 'The Other' (ie the immigrant), when infact the
woes of a nation should be laid squarely at the feet of past and
present governments; not at those who sought better lives, often go
without and fulfil jobs in which they work twice as hard.
It has always been
incompetent economic planning – resulting in 'boom and bust' and
'great recessions' – together with a lack of old 'pull-together'
values and consequential raised consciosness, that is at the root of
fermented hatred toward 'The Other'.
[NB The only righteous
exception that justifies dislike, when one ethnic group undertakes an
unprompted social-war against a single individual or small group;
typically for economic reasons so as to displace for their own ends. Such antagonists tend to think themselves clever via their methods, when in fact transparent and cumbersome; the ways of what we today label as 'problem children'...little alters for the perceptions of such low IQ people, even decades after leaving school; which is sad for society at large].
Instead of working
together, for the greater good, different interests are set against
eachother; right versus left, indigenous versus immigrants, the two
sexes, different generations; each side rationalises reasons to
blame.
The result; fragmented
fearful peoples awaiting new hope.
Internal discomfort,
leads not toward enlightenment education, objective reasoning, honest
debate and fairness, but instead eventually a 'zero-sum' game across
society, where the naïve “suckers” who play by the rules of
decency are 'led down garden paths' by a host of opportunitsts; from
false prophets spouting 'Isms' to confidence tricksters saying they
can turn a pot of pennies into a pot of gold.
[NB The collective
Christmas Club fund the archetypal con-trick at this time of year,
and seen virtually each decade. The typically poorer members of
society put money aside throughout the year, only to see their
collected and so sizeable Christmas present monies disappear along
with those they thought they could depend upon. The disgusting aspect
being that their 'friend' who convinced them to do so, remains with
them after the scam so as to appear innocent, but all too often in
league with the perpetrators].
We now live in a
society where it is openly stated that inter-personal relations more
than ever consist of “game”. (A deplorable euphemism for socially
sanctioned manipulation to obtain an end). Whether that be 'playing'
the shop-assistant for a refund on a once-worn party dress, or the
abject untruths imparted upon prospective romantic partner,
picked not because of who they are, but what they have or socially
represent. Or far darker group aligned actions even within a family
to marginalise and financially disinfranchise a person under a veneer of supposed 'Love' (Actually).
Christmas should be a
time to escape the social lunacy, not become ever more embroiled in
it; or even worse actually perpetuate it.
Whether religious, a
partial believer or wholly agnostic, it should be a time for personal
reflection, of what to do to become a better person - whether Christian / Muslim / Hindu etc. Not simply a time to act out
the consumerist fantasy realm of the perfectly dressed, decorated and
theatrical 'bauble-laiden' Christmas.
It all costs, often far
more than many people can in realistically afford. And often people
will 'rationalise' that if governments and companies can operate of
vast piles of credit, why shouldn't their teenager get the latest
e-gadget or a designer item thanks to the 'maxing-out' their credit
card? And hey, the online discount e-code voucher means they are
saving money doesn't it?!
Why bother to help
secure a child's future-life with a savings plan and lesser presents,
when 'the in thing' can be bought now for immediate gratification,
and the grand-parents are good for a large sum when they depart.
That's the modern mentality of even many middle-aged; who have never
held themselves to true self-responsibility.
Capitalism is still part-broken in the West – concerning so in Europe, tracts of the UK and even in the USA with the large
'sub-prime' loan book on Autos.
And the real concern is what next to actually generate value and wealth for the many?
The Populism and
Nationalism we see is merely a reaction, not a solution. Real
solutions are needed far beyond the emotional rhetoric of 'string-up
the globalist bankers' and 'close the borders', and a belief in one
political camp or the other.
Proper, sound and
meaningful socio-economic plans are needed to be seen and activated
to rebalance an innately discredited modern model of Western
Capitalism; that has failed its peoples. Liberal Capitalism moved
Eastward 3 decades ago and was seen to be profoundly transformative
for EM peoples, simply because it re-ran the 20th century
Western model anew elsewhere.
But for many, it
appears to have “run-out of steam” in the West, and the profits
and dividends are not being fairly, let alone evenly, spread.
Capitalism (and its
personal gains amongst the then true 'liberal elite') once funded the
Applied sciences, conceptualised, engineered and built machinary,
erected factories for such machinary, constructed hundreds of miles
of canals and railways, provided new much improved housing and
hospitals. Elements that transformed Western society; for the good of
all.
Today the worst of
capitalism see billions plowed into a myriad start-up ventures, in
the hope that one in one-hundred make it big (and so billions lost).
Or channelled to cult-like leaders with 'disruptive dreams' who
promote themselves as nigh on the next Massiah. Or directed toward
the transformation of sectors and conglomerates through divestment
and spin-offs, some worthy and value-adding, some simply 'blue-book'
fee-taking schemes for savvy bankers who know how to cajole naïve
board members seeking the ideal of 'unlocking value'.
Never as now, has
capitalism needed better direction, and truly strong socio-economic
PESTEL pivot-points upon which to leverage itself.
The 'Internet of
Things' may appear to be a transformative pillar – making the
everyday e-enabled – but far more must be done in re-designing the
fundamental structures of our everyday.
[NB readers may
remember my previously described and illustrated example per
society's 'mobile infrastructure', with a radical yet rationally
evolved transformation of Emergency Service Vans (Police, Ambulance,
Fire, Specialist). Wherein designed-in high-value functionality is
carried over in the Modular 'Pod' format (that becomes the central
idiom) not the chassis architecture and propulsion units. It was a
call for 'future-proofed' functional flexibility that generates new industry sub-sectors.].
At the social level,
whether or not 'Brexit' (and maybe even 'Frexit') succeeds, Western
countries will need to look beyond the unfortunate emergence of
self-centric Tribalism.
(NB In this regard the
French, with the unity of the peaceful (ie not Parisienne) Rural
'Gilets Jaunes' appear to see the bigger picture of social cohesion;
something that many in Britain appear to reject).
Brexit means looking
beyond Europe and toward the Rest of the World; from Africa to
Indonesia. And whilst large pockets of that new opportunity are
obviously Christian – USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Russia and variously in Africa; but much of it wholly
unChristian and non-white: 'Yellow, Brown and Black' (in order of
regional potential').
This the true irony of
an inward looking Britain and its concern for regained independenace
via New Nationalism.
Thus Britain must
simultaneously operate as Britons: English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and
also as true Internationalists.
The outcome possibly an
even greater schism in the country, where the locals as small private
business concerns operate grown and larger local economies within
their counties and so obviously trade within the Realm.
But there must also be
the Internationalists; and they will inevitably be drawn from
cultures that reflect those of the Other countries with which to
trade: the BRICs, MINTs and CIVETS.
Given the economic
decimation of much of the country, from rural to even inner cities,
“Britain for the British” is an understandable reaction.
But this Christmas,
remember that the Cross of St George, within the Union Flag and Union
Jack, derives from a character whose own roots stretch deep
into the 'Middle-Orient'; a Saint for both Christians and Muslim. Infact, likely adopted by Christians from Muslims during The Crusades, so as to convert those within the sphere of influence of Christian coastal fortresses.
As the human origin and
manifestation of the George Cross, Saint George has become an icon
amongst those of the far right; who for many emerged as the voice of
the over-looked and unheard – for very good reason - and inevitably
reside within the 'dog bites dog' atmosphere that stems from long
drawn-out hard times, blame upon the Other, and the hope for better
times.
Those better times will
only come from far better directed Capitalism, and will only come
from maximisation of meaninful industry, services and trade both
across County borders inside the UK and across Country borders far
beyond.
Economic growth and
social improvement depends upon not just leaders but the common-folk
too. All powerful leaders throughout history, no matter how latterly
depicted, knew this to be true.
It is infact incumbant
upon the common man and woman to be as equally responsible for their
own conduct and contributions, as that of their leaders....to invest
in themselves for their own futures: spiritually, educationally and
financially.
The game of 'noughts
and crosses' may well result in a 'zero-sum' outcome; but the
national and global game of Crosses, Crescents and many other
Signifiers besides depends upon fairness, honesty and decency; and
not under-handed, self-serving tribalism, hypocracy and deceit.
The West is in a prime
position to once again conceptually change the face of human existence
through new imagined and created futures.
But it will take far
better and visionary Business Management at the sector and corporate
level, and far better Portfolio Management and business interaction
at the Institutional level to do so.
“Merry Christmas”
to one and all..... from the Battersby's of North Yorkshire to the
Watanabe's of Northern Yamanashi.
And remember, whether
atheist or faithful-follower or anything between.... never make money
your religion....since you will not own it.... but it will own you.
The fixation about money is the true lunacy of the modern age.
