hopelesshappiness.com

Covid.

Sincerity: freedom from deceit, hypocrisy, or duplicity.

Pretense: false sincerity.

In recent years I have been working to wrap my mind around the inanity that is ‘pretense sincerely believed to be sincerity’. I have been working diligently to find a way to empathetically and interdependently outline and excise the pretense, leaving reality; but for so many of us if pretense were removed we would be devastated by the insubstantiality of the superficial layer that remains. We have become a nation of true believers.

On the web site theculturefactor.com, they have this to say about Norway:

“[Norway scores 8 on Motivation towards Achievement and Success]… ...the softer aspects of culture are valued and encouraged, such as levelling with others, consensus, “independent” cooperation and sympathy for the underdog. Taking care of the environment is important. Trying to be better than others is neither socially nor materially rewarded. Societal solidarity in life is important; work to live and DO your best. Incentives such as free time and flexibility are favoured. Interaction through dialogue and “growing insight” is valued and self development along these terms is encouraged. Focus is on well-being; status is not shown. An effective manager is a supportive one, and decision making is achieved through involvement.”

This to say about Sweden:

“Sweden scores 5 on Motivation towards Achievement and Success and is therefore regarded as a Consensus society. In countries scoring low on Motivation towards Achievement and Success, it is important to keep the work-life balance, and ensure that all are included. An effective manager is supportive to their people, and decision making is achieved through involvement. Managers strive for consensus and people value equality, solidarity and quality in their work lives. Conflicts are resolved by compromise and negotiation, and Swedes are known for their long discussions until a consensus has been reached. Incentives such as free time and flexible work hours and place are favoured. The whole culture is based around ‘lagom’, which means something like not too much, not too little, not too noticeable, everything in moderation. Lagom ensures that everybody has enough and nobody goes without. Lagom is enforced in society by “Jante Law” which should keep people “in place” at all times. It is a fictional law and a Scandinavian concept which counsels people not to boast or try to lift themselves above others.

And this to say about the United States:

“[The United States scores 62 on Motivation towards Achievement and Success]… …Behavior in school, work, and play are based on the shared values that people should “strive to be the best they can be” and that “the winner takes all”. As a result, Americans will tend to display and talk freely about their “successes” and achievements in life. Being successful per se is not a great motivator in American society, but being able to show one’s success. Many American assessment systems are based on precise target setting, by which American employees can show how well a job they did… …Typically, Americans “live to work” so that they can obtain monetary rewards and, as a consequence, attain higher status based on how good one can be. Many white collar workers will move to a more fancy neighbourhood after each and every substantial promotion. It is believed that a certain degree of conflict will bring out the best in people, as it is the goal to be “the winner”. As a consequence, we see a lot of polarization and court cases. This mentality nowadays undermines the American premise of “liberty and justice for all.” Rising inequality is endangering democracy…”

As a human, I cannot completely excise pretense and because pretense has a proclivity towards judgement, reality will always be tainted, and because our national culture favors and encourages pretense, democracy, equality, liberty, and justice are all flailing and writhing in pain, coming closer and closer to death.

Is there anybody out there?

I believe there is, but we're not organized; no system; no real plan.

My definition of anybody? - One who sees things as they are.

An inequitable world turned upside down with too much concentrated power in the wrong hands.

Thomas Piketty from the book “Equality” - “...what's so specific and so brutal with the contemporary ideology of inequality is this way of celebrating the winners and blaming the losers.” (Page 51)

Loser: A person who has failed. Today, in this country, I have failed if I do not own property; I have failed if I do not have savings and retirement and a prestige job; I have failed if I do not go along with power and wealth.

I do not own property, I have no savings, my retirement is sketch, I have a part-time entry level job, and I openly resist power and the status quo, so accordingly I am a loser and it is my fault.

Fortunately (for me and more so for those around me) I don't live by this consensus disparagement. I have become adept at minimizing the importance of condescending heartlessness and bureaucratic hurdles and I have learned to maximize the enjoyment I find in cooking, reading, writing, walking, and taking care of myself in the service of others.

For who I am, I have done okay under the circumstances.

Commodity: A product as opposed to a service.

Commodity vs. Necessity

Premise: to commodify a necessary or essential service is ethically questionable and lazy.

Healthcare, shelter (housing), sustenance (food), education, employment, childcare, credit - today these are necessary and/or essential services that in this country are consistently commodified.

We have to decommodify, but as long as Capitalism is King, we will not.