Planet Ponzi
I don’t know about you, but I sure enjoyed Bernie Madoff’s ponz-o-matic perp-walk for the cameras yesterday. Who doesn’t love a billionaire on the red carpet in cuffs? Fascinating! How does a greedy geezer get away with such a colossal swindle for so long? But I’m not talking about government’s lack of oversight here (that’s a whole other mess), I mean the quiet checks and balances within a man’s own soul. This is why we stare at pictures of criminals, isn’t it? We hope to find answers written somewhere in the face. We need to sigh with relief that they’re not us… But not so fast. It turns out we do in fact share something in common with Madoff, and his scam offers us a valuable opportunity to understand ourselves in fresh terms. That is: the human race has been running a vast con job on mother earth herself… and the gig is nearly up. Welcome to Planet Ponzi.
A Ponzi scheme is basically when you pay off early investors with money from newer investors. It’s also called a pyramid scheme because it grows in the shape of a triangle – each new tier of victims must be bigger to cover payments to all previous tiers. This is sustainable only so long as you can keep more and more fresh money flowing in. But once that dries up, even a little, the whole thing collapses. They always do, and usually quite quickly. What’s astonishing about Madoff is that it went on for so long and got so big.
But Bernie’s mischief is a sideshow to the main stage. Are you sitting down? The global economy actually works in a similar way, and we’re watching the whole house of cards teeter as voodoo economics collides hard with planet earth.
Capitalism is all about growth. It thrives on the creation of more and more wealth. Follow the money back to its roots and you’ll always find natural resources. Our desire to exploit natural resources is certainly nothing new. But for thousands of years we, like all living things, were part of a food chain that was limited by each year’s sunlight. We understood the circle of life because we lived in it. But through the millennia our pesky penchant for science, mixed with some God-given dominion, slowly pulled us away from the garden. Our dislocation took an abrupt turn off track with the discovery of oil. Suddenly, a million years worth of stored sunlight was available in a moment. The industrial revolution kicked into high gear. Enormous amounts of energy were applied exploiting other resources, which in turn were used to exploit yet more resources, on and on in a vicious cycle of production, consumption and waste that grows like… you guessed it, a Ponzi scheme. Today we have a complex industrial food system that’s 30 times more energy-dependent than just a century ago. Not to mention all that stupid shit they sell on infomercials late night.
Capitalism is a cool party train so long as the oil wells are pumping and there’s somewhere to dump the waste. But over the past decade or so, we’ve been shaken with the realization that Mama Earth has her limits. She’s slamming on the brakes and the boxcars of the Economy Express are piling up in a spectacular derailment. As the dust settles, we’re beginning to think hard about a new way of doing business where the earth gets to vote again.
I’ll never forget my first lesson in ecology: a Native Alaskan ceremonial mask I saw in a museum when I was a kid. A crazy-assed spirit face, and on the sides it had hands with big holes in the palms. I learned the holes represented a guiding rule: for every salmon you catch, you have to let one slip through. When’s the last time you saw them do that on Deadliest Catch? The next big lesson came from the compost pile: in nature, there is no waste. The thing is, there’s nothing romantic or remarkable about this view of life. It IS life. Nature is self-sustaining, ponzi schemes are not. Native people acted on behalf of their unborn’s unborn, corporations act on behalf of the next quarterly report. The earth is round, yet we’ve been jamming it into a pyramid-shaped box.
In court yesterday, Bernard Madoff pleaded guilty. The fallen billionaire will probably die in prison. He hung his head and expressed deep regret for the pain he caused. He explained that when it started, he thought it would end quickly. It just grew out of control. He said, “As the years went by I realized this day, and my arrest, would inevitably come.” Call him the greedy sociopath he certainly is – don’t forget the swine specifically targeted charities! (he also screwed amazing activists like John Robbins of Diet for a New America fame). But let’s also stop and think about the Madoff in all of us. The part of us that knows we must stop, knows our day in court will come, but we lack the courage to do the right thing. Old Bernie’s cooked. But for us there’s still time – although not much. Big Mama’s negotiating for a limited time only.
Our ticket back home is renewable energy. Sun, wind, and waves are forever so they can’t be boxed into a ponzi scheme. Amidst this crisis there’s enormous opportunity and great hope. The days of denial are over. We have a new leader of the free world who embraces science and progressive, holistic, long-view solutions. These first 50 days of Obama’s term have been dizzying in the scope of change. So much legislation and money is being directed to these issues that I can’t keep track. Huge sums for renewable energy. Please share links and details that you may have!
We all have to do our part to fan these winds of change. As my wife Kris says, it’s time to “turn shit into champagne.” Of course, that’s a sustainable, local, organic shit vineyard. 2009 will be a great vintage.
Peace,
Brian
If you liked this post, click LIKE below!
30 Comments
Brian!!!
Fantastic post, really this just has to resonate for EVERYONE.
I find myself using the same lines on my kids that my parents used on me. Things were sooo different “back then” and we long for both change and the way things were at the same time.
You are so right, we must participate in the initiation of change – we have to think beyond the immediate future and consider the long term health of the planet.
I’m soooo happy you are posting here…I really miss the cool discussions we used to have on the forum (hint, hint).
Thanks for the shot of inspiration and thanks Kris for sharing your hubby with us! Have a green weekend.
xo Sherry
WOW!!!
Nice to see you sharing here Brian! Yes, what you are raising is part of our collective shadow, and we must accept & acknowledge what we have been doing, so that we can transform it. Although we can point fingers at prominent figues such as Bush, Madoff, etc., they can be seen as mediums that reflect aspects of our collective shadow & give us a view into what isn’t working, is broken etc. Whatever you may say about George Bush’s policies, the frustrations that grew in reaction to his policies, readied us for change. One could view some of the current events we are observing & experiencing as change-makers, catalysts for us to collectively transform.
Another dimension of the issues you raise with Mama Earth, are our often unconscious appetites for “excess”, whether that comes in the form of consumerism, wastefulness, or just buying more than we need. A key aspect of this, beyond the sheer use of resources & waste, is that this behavior is often connected to an unconscious attempt at filling ourselves up in some way, making ourselves feel better. We are often disconnected with our selves and our planet.
Yes, we should absolutely become more aware about our wasteful use of resources, but along with this, I think it would be helpful to reconnect with ourselves & find out “where” these behaviors come from in the 1st place. I believe this process of increased self-awareness can also translate into planetary awareness & re-connection. In this way, many of these collective issues we are facing also have the potential for spiritual transofrmation too!
xoxo Michalene
Listening to “Hot Flat and Crowded” on cd, sustainable wind, sun and waves is THE only way to ensure there is even a planet to live on for our kids, not our grandkids, it is happening NOW!
thanks for this Brian!
love deb
Renewable energy is the key. Additionally, it would cause the collapse of a lot of crappy governments who are in power out of the belief that they are “controllable” and do nothing for their citizens but have them live unsatisfied lives. Renewable energy is good karma all around.
Oops ^^^ just to support our never-ending need of energy via oil.
AMEN bro!! I am so excited to see what our new Pres can do for renewables…and living in Colorado we have so much to offer the rest of the country: sunshine, wind, and so much more! I love thinking about the day when I can get of the grid! Ed Begley is my hero for now, he rides a bike to power his toaster =) Shine On!
WOW Brian!!! FAB POST!! Even though I might be the token Ayn Randian of the group (don’t spit me out, I’m just saying), your post was absolutely spot on. Great analogies, and what literary verve! “ponz-o-matic perp-walk” indeed. Give us more Brian!!!!
Brian, super fantastic! Wow! Those are the kinds of words that really make us all think! Please keep sharing!
Well said Brian!
Brian, I’ve taught grades 6-8 for the past 12 years. I love my job as a teacher – kids are amazing people with incredible ideas and spirit. Althought I have always made healthy eating, thoughtful consumption and sustainable existence part of the curriculum, I am continually disheartened by the choices that my students make regarding food and rapid consumerism (often not out of thier own choosing)
I resent strongly the media that kids are sujected to!! Making them feel like the are less if they do not have the latest packaged food or electronic gaget. There is so much pressure on kids to think in the box. I spend my days taeching math, English and thinking outside the box, but I feel like I’m swimming against a storm – a storm of all the MCeverything in our world.
I’m very grateful for the political-econimic changes currently underway. *Global re-organization* I know it is a painful process, but Iam hopeful that it will remind us, teach us, maybe even force us to treat the planet and our bodies as the precious things that they are.
Thank you for your post.
Brian.. you all know me.. and you all know how I make a livng. I love that quote from jaws… I feel like Quint today.. I absolutely am speechless which is a once in a milliniu thing. I would love to repost this blog on basicmissions.com and all the other sites I associate with. It is time for an internal reconning folks.. and it has never been said beer. I and with you. I am trying despartely to keep my part of the shit down and the composting at a height. Bravo Brian. Please blog more often. I love your take on things.. Thanks. Callie
An old teacher used to say that events that rose up in the public eye and made their way into our televisions, usually did so b/c they were a mirror to who we are as a culture, and they were there to teach us something. You’ve hit on something so profound. And even I have been quick to judge this man, but yes, in a way, I am Bernie Madoff. Sobering.
Brian:
We all can relate to this post, whether we want to admit it or not. I feel that with everything going on in the world, i.e. economy, politics, health care things I never thought I would see (I’m 50) that it is a nudge, a big nudge a little voice talking to us and letting us know things need to STOP!! I don’t know if it will be the leader we have now or one to come, there is a reason for everything and there was a reason for Pres. Bush, we may not see it or understand it but he was put in that position for a reason (I feel like an outsider on this site sometimes because people here really condemned Bush but I felt he did the best he could with all the circumstances he had to deal with) so with that said I feel it will be the younger generation, my daughters that will really help/see/demand a change in how things are done and were teaching them by our actions that we do everyday, that is my way of contributing and making the change to help our planet. I try to remember that everyday. Great post
Hey, have you readRed Sky in the Morning by Gustave Speth? I think he talks about the ponzi scheme. If you haven’t read it, you should read it. He’s been talking about this stuff for years, and no one has listened.
Brian,
I love this analogy! Don’t mind if I use it to “spread the word.” Best written article about our mother earth I’ve read in a long time! My hats off to you, good friend! Inspirational!
Yay Brian!!! I second, third and fourth the things everyone has said thus far.
The analogy was brilliant! I think many could really relate to how you’ve presented this.
It’s really fun to see you over here :)
Halleluja, yes and amen! Great article! We really are living on our children’s heritage…
Thanks to everyone for reading, and I appreciate the positive response. Michalene – you’ve really hit on an important point about needing to explore why we consume beyond reason or necessity. There is indeed a spiritual component, a hunger, a vacuum that advertising is designed to expand and exploit. GG’s first-hand experience watching kids getting hooked on consumerism shows what we’re up against. With each passing year, marketing grows more invasive and more ubiquitous. It takes tremendous effort to carve out and protect a sense of yourself that’s truly your own. Tara, thanks for the Red Sky tip, I’ll check it out…. See you all two friday’s from now!
thank you bri!
xo
terri
Fabu!
You rock, BF. Can’t wait til next post!
Great post and I love the analogy. Let’s all step it up….
Cheers,
Casey
Well said, Sir!
Michalene – That was one of the most insightful comments I’ve ever read. I am a huge John Lennon fan and often watch this one old episode of him on Dick Cavett – Cavett hopes to get insight on Americans use of drugs. Lennon said it’s not the drugs we should care about – it’s “the why” drugs are used. Lennon is pointing to that empty feeling – the same one you are pointing too.
I feel like, here we are 40 some odd years and Americans now use consumerism to numb themselves. Until we get to “why” with ourselves individually, we’ll never be able to teach our kids a different way.
And just as an example, I took my nephew food shopping, he’s 6. He kept grabbing things off the shelf, “Auntie, let’s get Sponge Bob, let’s get Spider Man–” He wasn’t even looking at what the food was – he just had to have the character he saw on TV. I looked at the grocery store in a new way that day, insidiously putting those boxes of crud at my nephew’s eye level – it’s all he could see. It made me feel angry that he is so unknowingly manipulated.
Kudos, Brian. Informative, entertaing, inspired,thought and action- provoking, once again. I’d expect nothing less from any post on this site. I’m honored to have found you guys. Best, Michelle
brian
so very well said
keep on writing
u rock
xoxo rosa
Hi Brian- Your insights are so astute, tinted with wit and eloquently expressed. It seems to me that people drawn to invest in these schemes are seduced by the notion
of quick big returns. These days we are encouraged to equate fat finances with success, and it matters so little how they are extruded. ‘Quick fat returns’ almost require the absence of respect both for the earth and humanity- because they are so concerned with cost-cutting to ramp up personal wealth. It’s great that Obama and Co are implementing positive possibilities. At the same time change does not rest in the ethics of one leader- but in the enactment of individual heart awareness. Consuming less, multiplied by as many people that do makes a difference. John Holt, the famous educator said that the most important thing you can give a child in life is an efficient ‘crap detector’. I say ‘no’ to the garbage ‘my’ children ask for an explain. We must credit them with their inherent intelligence and keep their awareness polished and honed- so that they vote with their actions for a healed earth and healthy happy life. You are a brilliant thinker and writer. I am glad I chanced on you today!
test comment. Please delete
Excellent post. So true. Thanks for the reminder to look at ourselves before judging others.
March 13, 2009