Musings on Capitalism and Love

On my world trip I saw countries only recently transformed into capitalist economies. It was interesting when the former Soviet Union moved to a capitalist economy. I remember my time in Moscow with Dr. Patch Adams and international clowns, I was looking at the Classic Coke billboards and neon signs. When I was clowning I stood next to the Ronald McDonald smiling clown and called this statue ‘my uncle’ attempting to cross cultural barriers. Although the true message of clowns is simply love.

El Salvador comes to mind as it looked to me a mini capitalist economy I was surprised to see so many fastfoods outlets and the US dollar as the primary currency. I saw many South American cities moving towards the luxury living of the capitalist society and I wondered how nature would handle the excess in demand and the externalities through pollution, consumption and a cultivated global thinking of ‘more is better’. The simpler life has often been seen as I recall in Bangkok as suffering in poverty and the capitalist life was seen as modernity and abundant. Perhaps tapping into a longing for abundance. I do recognise their are complex dynamics beneath this musing and I can hear many voices arguing for the capitalist life and those who are arguing against it. The only voice that I think will win the day will be the silent spring of nature. There is no triple bottom line, it is the actual bottom line, which states we can only produce as much as nature can provide. The critical issue is that the flaw in the economic system is the economic system runs on expanding output and increasing sales in order to maximise profit. The reality check here is nature can’t provide for our greed, only our need. It is something we must consider before taking sides. I feel ultimately even in the climate change debate we have passed tipping points. Yet we are in a situation where everyone is still living business-as-usual. I really noticed this travelling. Almost working and living in a dream, I looked for any signs of discussion, there are pockets, but it is not a subject that gets much air play. When it is raised the concern is there. So on some level people are aware and perhaps like the lady in Dublin said to me ‘I don’t want to know, I am surviving’. That is the head in the sand type of fear. I am of the perspective of solve the problem before it happens. That is why I am inspired to write this blog to allow inspiration to guide my thinking and to reconnect with the love that is the real power house of our real nature. The fear just closes us down and refuses to look. I met many in this category too afraid to look, it may mean taking responsibility. Yet in my experience the more you look the more empowered you become and the scary monster becomes a mirror of your own reflection.

The more I reflect the more I see and surprisingly the more optimistic I feel. The more I feel my true nature, the more happy I feel and within that the fear disappears. I have no fear of the future. I am interested about what we have created but I feel a new way is coming. The times we are moving through now are forcing us to look at the pink elephant in the room. Some will jump up and down and label people, others will look to see, they are responsible. That is the beginning of real change.

So in truth these are exciting times, exciting challenges and I feel we have the ability to transform ourselves and the planet. Some could say why so optimistic, I dreamed I was teaching peace. My dream was real. What is real in my view is love. When we follow that without attaching stories to it, it will lead us home to the place of peace. In my heart I have no doubt. It led me away from being an economist/analyst to being a peace clown and poet. How beautiful to connect to my nature, I have never been happier and it is my great pleasure to share this with you.

It is from love that I send this into the world. There is no-one I dislike, all are doing their best given the way they perceive the world. I am learning to accept all of it.