Revel in it or Rebel against it, Capitalism is the Cultural Ocean in which we all swim.
I'm trying to decide if I actually came up with that line or if I heard it somewhere and forgot where I heard it. If it sounds like somebody else's line, let me know. I'm all for giving credit where credit is due.
I know people that LOVE Capitalism and all the different ways it makes it possible for people to make money. I know people who HATE Capitalism and wish they could just do whatever they want and not worry about having enough cash.
Me, I swing back and forth like a bi-polar monkey: grabbing bananas and then flinging poo.
What I do know is that Capitalism is pervasive in America right now. We can all dream about how things should be and fight and work to make them different. But you can't turn your back on this beast and more than you can turn your back on a charging bull (or bear). You have to pay attention despite your personal feelings and wishes or this system will leave you destitute.
I know, I know! I started with Oceans and then went to monkeys and bears and bulls. I should make up my mind and stick to a metaphor already. But I don't want to.
I don't want money to be the measure of everything in my life. Some things are more important to me than money. But with no money, it is hard to survive, let alone thrive, in a America. So I try to balance my money making with the other things in my life. I try to do without some things that would be nice, because I don't want to spend the money-making time on them and take that time away from the things that are super important to me: like my girls and my art.
Switching metaphors back to oceans again: So what do you do to ride the waves of Capitalism? Do you struggle just to keep your head above water? Can you manage to surf the waves and ride out the storms with style and your dignity intact? Do we all have to become sharks just to survive?
I've got no solid answers. But I'd like to believe we can use money as a measure for somethings and make fair exchanges, while recognizing that many things that are vital and important should never be measured in terms of dollars and therefor should never be sold for dollars.
Good luck and fair sailing to us all.
--Jay Larsen
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My Painting "Deep Dive" is available for Capitalistic Sale at our Etsy Store.
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Come See us March 28-30th 2014, Emerald City Comicon 14 - Seattle WA
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