Complacency

12/03/2009 Human Observations
There is a faith in the process of “Barter”, whereby the both the seller and the buyer will equally profit by the exchange; yet no such equality has ever been demonstrated in this process. This practice has continued for centuries, yet distinguished itself as the means to wealth for but a few, while relegating a planetary, and American, population to the supporting role of “consumer”. Through faith we continue to participate in this faulty system believing that even though we are doing the exact same thing in each exchange, we will realize a different result. This process, by the way, of doing the same thing but expecting a different result is an indication of insanity. We know that merchants mark up the price of their merchandise above its actual value to make a profit from those who make the purchase; clearly indicating a lack of equality in the trade. Yet, we depend on this one-sided system to guide our personal and national economies. The reason why such an imbalance exists is because we lack a planetary and American economic and social standard by which all things are measured. So, the wealthy have the advantage over those whose means are the lesser. Some endure this process of continual loss because their personal loss is offset by the large size of their available funds. Yet, those corporate administrators who determine employee wages follow no planetary or American standard that will increase their wages paid equally with the increase of their growing profit margins. Their employment system, like that of buying and selling, provides them the upper hand, taking advantage of the need of an employee, to enslave him to the whim of the employer. It is clear that the continuing increase in the price of needful goods and services will eventually deplete the disproportionate and declining personal economic surplus on which every consumer depends. There was a time when a free American citizen could choose not to participate in this system of eventual depletion, supporting themselves in a system of self-sufficiency through farming, building, the ranching of livestock, or hunting wild game. However, corporate and private greed, and marked over-population, have taken away both the land and the ability of the many to live in such old fashioned independence. As long as the very few control the price and flow of the necessities of American life, there will continue to be an increasing decline in economic middle class. This acceptance of economic exploitation is the very economic apathy anticipated by those whose minds exclude interest in socio-economic equality. Profiting off of others is their master economic passion, their faith being fueled daily by the complacency of the comfortable consumer masses.