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Andrew Smith's avatar

We badly need to have a sense of upward mobility - the idea that the people at the bottom can make their lives better through a reasonably fair process involving innovation, hard work, and luck.

When that stops working, pitchforks start coming out. They're out now. There's just so much wealth inequality that the upward component for those at the bottom is virtually nonexistent. This leads to all sorts of bad outcomes like the loss of the rule of law (if there's no hope in improving your status, why bother following the rules of the system?) and a lack of voting. Severe wealth inequality is very, very bad.

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

"(if there's no hope in improving your status, why bother following the rules of the system?) and a lack of voting. Severe wealth inequality is very, very bad." When the system can no longer favor you, there isn't no need to follow rules. Crime, racism, and other things are done to punish what we see as tormentors. It is justifiable psychologically for that's the last defense as a human. Some of our current problems are traceable to the systemic obstructers.

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Andrew Smith's avatar

Yes, 100%!

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Fay Reid's avatar

Good post, Edwin. Too many people do not understand that any economy ONLY works when regulated toward fairness for all persons in the sphere. Adam Smith, in his "Wealth of Nations" published in 1776, while stating that capitalism was the best economic system for prosperity stated it must be regulated and those regulations enforced to prevent the greed of a few to obstruct the good of the many. In America, the two Roosevelt cousins understood this and used the legal system to break up monopolies, strengthen the right of labor so we have had periods where life for the vast majority of Americans was pretty darned good. Then little by little greed raises its ugly head. Con men step in and we return to monopolistic oligarchy. The thing for citizens such as yourself to do is keep asking for laws to prevent the fat cats sitting at the top to accumulate all the wealth, leaving only the dregs for the rest of you citizenry.

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

Thoughtful, deep perspective about capitalism and what necessary interventions to be rolled out. And true Adam Smith had a premonition that some few would take over capitalism and monopolise. The government was the option in the past centuries and it really worked well as you said. However, later the government, an entity mandated to stop greed, was influenced by the wealthy; politics was intertwined with capitalists who funded politicians. So, politicians became subordinates of the wealthy class. And today, the results are disastrous; widening income inequality, mounting debts, students hardly complete loan repayments, etc. The systems of production have been hijacked!

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Fay Reid's avatar

All true, and with this November election we are fighting to continue our democracy instead of sliding backwards into authoritarianism.

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Malik Djinadou's avatar

Great article Edwin! I’m curious to know your thoughts on the matatu issue: what would you propose matatu owners to do to make being a driver more equitable?

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

It is a requirement for matatus to join SACCO. However, they should to redefine terms and conditions and value that they get. They should aim for decentraling decisions systems and powers to participate in decision making. This would limit monopolistic decision making of saccos on how to spend their fees. However, I know the powerless nature of matatu owners in accessing spaces owned by saccos. They are fragmented and may not agree to mount resistance. It will only take cumulative efforts to flip the coin.

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Malik Djinadou's avatar

Thank you Edwin. What does the flipping the coin mean in this case? The equitable shareholding idea solution is something I am interested in.

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

Yes, that can be the best approach to centralized powers. By flipping the coin, owners can change the approach to decision making and shares as you claimed. Currently, those with more shares often make decisions that favor themselves and throw others under the bus. If shares are the same, I think matatu owners can find voice in the sector and reclaim their fortunes

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Malik Djinadou's avatar

I see. Thanks Edwin

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

Welcome and thank you for passing by

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Tomas Milka's avatar

A thoughtful take on capitalism. Love this part:

"But, you have paid the price by dehumanizing yourself; an empty soul, depressed mind, loneliness, confusion, a mountain of debt, and meaningless work are unfortunately the default aftermath."

We are definitely paying the price by dehumanizing ourselves. Just look at these corporate people and what their lifestyle looks like. To succeed in these environments dehumanizing yourself is mandatory and the side effects of it are left for each one's personal load of issues to bare. However, there is always a way to be healthy, even in a sick society. It just tends to require courage, determination, willpower and trust that it is possible to live life in a different way.

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

Sure, we lost the human side and replace with wealth accumulation at the expense of many facing the uncontrollable. But, as you said, for every problem, there is a solution and it is our mandate to look for that. Thanks for the comment

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Beedledee Beedledum's avatar

Thoughtful, deep, compassionate post, Edwin. The problem today is that we all are under a greedy cartel of global capitalists, and even though the problems started way back, I believe this was always the plan - global control by the few who have vast wealth, resources, all the land and power - and they have their sights set on 'developing nations' because there is still so much to exploit - low wages, mineral and resource rich lands, all of it. Now we have the tech sector which is just as bad - maybe worse! - surveillance and digital realities replacing connection with the natural world and freedoms taken away.

I often think as someone older that the young today won't even know what they have missed - wholesome ways of living that we had as children and young adults. It's so unfair - but they won't even know what they missed because they never had it - are being conditioned to think wealth and power will make them happy - until they feel so empty inside and cut off from life - a hole in their soul- and they won't know why. That is saddest of all. And don't even get me started on bitcoin! Only a few will make real wealth from it.

i think divestment can be effective, if people are privileged and have some wealth. We have got to get the lawless out of making the laws, for starters. Decentralize the banks and our lives. Keep rural lands. Do not sell or leave them. Building local resilience and not letting these hotshot 'influencers' sweet talk people out of their sovereignty and money. There are a lot of shysters out there, all for the grab and greed. It's sad to watch them influence young minds into believing that 'having' rather than 'being' will make them happy. It's good to see people like you paying attention and trying to educate. Your heart always comes through in your posts. Thank you for keeping your heart..

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

It's sad to watch them influence young minds into believing that 'having' rather than 'being' will make them happy. " This part is the slogan of capitalism and sums what's going on currently. Going by the current trajectory, the greedy will rule and continue to unleash powerful tools and ideas that shape our way of living and how we work. And as you mentioned, AI is a case in point. It is now in the hands of the few. They dictate how they want to appear and what they tend to achieve, not for the benefit for all, but the few. Worse, AI is very dangerous to our intelligence and how we think going forward. Similarly, Bitcoin started well but it has since become expensive and only accessible by the few. Will there be a worker-led revolution? I doubt because the chances to toppled the ruling class and inject fairness are minimal. They continue bombarding us with superintelligent tools.

Thank you for always being by my side and for the compliment. You are among those who keep me going (I will send you an email to check what am upto). Asante

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Beedledee Beedledum's avatar

Yes, please. I get the substack reminders and I am sorry to confess that I have been going down a substack rabbit hole I wish I were not, and I think many of us are not even sure what it true - which is the aim I think of those at the top. It is evil stuff and it is coming at us in so many ways. So many substackers are reporting on various aspects of it all, but I fear that everything coming at us all is making people crazy with anxiety and with being jerked this way and that. It reflects in the comments - and I feel so sad reading some of them because we need to be uniting with each other all around the world, just as the greedy monsters at the top have done. That's our chance - if they cannot take away our humanity, that is the way to live.

I want to keep with the people who never lose their hearts in all of this - or if they do, we help each other back up. So yes, I want to know what you are up to because you always stay human and use your intelligence to be thoughtful and look for solutions however small - that inspires me to try too. It's this quality of heart that may save humanity, even though the odds are against us.

AI can't have this human heart quality, and the greedy are sick and twisted - they cannot be whole. It's hard to be whole, but you are someone who I think is. Like in all great teachings - stay the steady course, Edwin. Do the things that calm and center you - nature, meditation, prayer, whatever works for you. We all know what these things are for us.

No matter what happens, we need to try to live well and be the best we can be. This is why I love your substack and believe in you and find such value in what you write. The more we find out, the harder it gets - that's what these monsters want. But they don't count on the intelligence of the heart and intuition and interconnection, which is a Universal law. If we go down, we go down knowing we tried. That has to be enough, and no one can see the future so today is the most important day any of us has.

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

Thank you for such kind words and your understanding of all this. Bridging the gap between the top and bottom is my desire to fulfilling. I have sent, you can check your email. Thanks

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