Redistribution, Resentments in the Era of Internet and the 'Wing's.
How to redistribute wealth and power without resentments is a larger question the world always faced and today's world it is asked more and more. People try to answer it in different ways, sometimes with the shades of communal, divisive thinking. But it is a larger question goes beyond. The redistribution often brings fears, often the perceived threats are not a threat. By projecting it as a threat we are making it grow. Similarly, the fears and the noise around it often cause the reactions that were not there in the first place. In such narratives often the real issues of the re-distribution of power and wealth get muddled. One thing to notice that even in all these chaos the wealth starts concentrating in fewer centers and the social mobility takes a hit.
The world is a far better place compared to the olden days. Now we are going through the era of Trillion dollar companies. Still, the inequality in society creates pressure points within the system.
How the Saudi Shaikhs can hold their power and wealth till now? - because of the extreme right-wing government. Now Brunei also going that way. There are a few 'Kings' in the capitalistic world too. To keep their power and hold on the system they too need a right-wing. Even if it is Russia, India or the USA. By saying right-wing, it doesn't mean that they do not include the democratic parties or just include the republicans. It just means the forces that want to keep the status quo and do not want to see progressive reforms that may question their power.
The Internet is a kind of revolution and a very useful tool in democratizing information among the masses. But like any other tools some times it acts as a double-edged sword. With the advent of the internet and people are aware of so many things, a change is still in pending or bound to happen. But it is getting delayed and dwarfed - because there are enough confusion and chaos pumped into the system. People start feeling that everything works here and everyone is correct in some respect. Even greedier, self-centric goals are found justification in the name of consolidation, stock price or sometimes because of a right-wing idea.
The Left is going for more liberal, welfare and wealth Tax related schemes pointing that extremely rich and extreme inequality is a challenge. While the right is going to point the other way the minorities or immigrants are the problems, they are going to take up space. In many cases, the right-wing tactfully and successfully managed the campaigns to inject a feeling of victimhood among the majority. But the truth is very often immigrants/minorities, whether it is Rohingya or immigrants to North America, are the real victims of greedy or policies with no empathy.
As more and more people uplifted there will be higher competition, it doesn’t mean others are victimized. In reality, weaker sections are still not getting their fair share of the pie.
So the scheme is to spread victimhood culture, right-wing ideologies, chaos in the system, reduce the credibility of the institutions and media so that people start feeling that everything works here and everyone is correct in some respect. Even greedier, self-centric goals can be justified and efforts towards meaningful redistribution can be delayed and dwarfed.
We can see the similar patterns US politics, Indian politics, Philippines, Sri Lanka, etc.., These patterns emerge along with the patterns of centralization of power and wealth.
There are no clear cut solutions since human greed is part of the problem. It is a struggle and a journey from the time immemorial. There are always efforts to make it a society of equal opportunities. In India caste system was abolished, some other places apartheid was abolished. Countries freed from invasions. In the 21st century within the democratic system, there were efforts like Arab springs, Occupy Wallstreet, most recently ‘Brand New Congress’. These are all efforts. But as long as an ever-increasing stock price and GDP considered as progress and only a few starts controlling it, it is not easy. But the efforts and the real progress must continue. There are many NGOs around us focusing on various issues. Citizens must be aware and careful so that their votes should not be hijacked by a divisive emotional issue which hides a hidden agenda of keeping the status quo and thus the hold on the power and wealth by a few. It would be better if various NGOs focusing on different issues come together to put their consistent efforts towards basic items of democratic reforms. One single issue for 1 or 2 years till the light seen at the other end of the tunnel. Say block gerrymandering efforts by meaningful regulations. Take up one basic issue that will enable our democracy function without special interests.
The world is a far better place compared to the olden days. Now we are going through the era of Trillion dollar companies. Still, the inequality in society creates pressure points within the system.
How the Saudi Shaikhs can hold their power and wealth till now? - because of the extreme right-wing government. Now Brunei also going that way. There are a few 'Kings' in the capitalistic world too. To keep their power and hold on the system they too need a right-wing. Even if it is Russia, India or the USA. By saying right-wing, it doesn't mean that they do not include the democratic parties or just include the republicans. It just means the forces that want to keep the status quo and do not want to see progressive reforms that may question their power.
The Left is going for more liberal, welfare and wealth Tax related schemes pointing that extremely rich and extreme inequality is a challenge. While the right is going to point the other way the minorities or immigrants are the problems, they are going to take up space. In many cases, the right-wing tactfully and successfully managed the campaigns to inject a feeling of victimhood among the majority. But the truth is very often immigrants/minorities, whether it is Rohingya or immigrants to North America, are the real victims of greedy or policies with no empathy.
As more and more people uplifted there will be higher competition, it doesn’t mean others are victimized. In reality, weaker sections are still not getting their fair share of the pie.
So the scheme is to spread victimhood culture, right-wing ideologies, chaos in the system, reduce the credibility of the institutions and media so that people start feeling that everything works here and everyone is correct in some respect. Even greedier, self-centric goals can be justified and efforts towards meaningful redistribution can be delayed and dwarfed.
We can see the similar patterns US politics, Indian politics, Philippines, Sri Lanka, etc.., These patterns emerge along with the patterns of centralization of power and wealth.
There are no clear cut solutions since human greed is part of the problem. It is a struggle and a journey from the time immemorial. There are always efforts to make it a society of equal opportunities. In India caste system was abolished, some other places apartheid was abolished. Countries freed from invasions. In the 21st century within the democratic system, there were efforts like Arab springs, Occupy Wallstreet, most recently ‘Brand New Congress’. These are all efforts. But as long as an ever-increasing stock price and GDP considered as progress and only a few starts controlling it, it is not easy. But the efforts and the real progress must continue. There are many NGOs around us focusing on various issues. Citizens must be aware and careful so that their votes should not be hijacked by a divisive emotional issue which hides a hidden agenda of keeping the status quo and thus the hold on the power and wealth by a few. It would be better if various NGOs focusing on different issues come together to put their consistent efforts towards basic items of democratic reforms. One single issue for 1 or 2 years till the light seen at the other end of the tunnel. Say block gerrymandering efforts by meaningful regulations. Take up one basic issue that will enable our democracy function without special interests.
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