The Paradigm Shift that Matters

Throughout history, we have had major paradigm shifts. Revolutions in thought that have broken from the mold and formed a new world. And then I thought about property the other day(yesterday, as a matter of fact), and how it seems a lot of grief is caused over it. We fight wars, steal, kill, argue, and generally just treat each other like shit... and for what...

Private property as espoused by capitalists was hit by socialists as bing "theft". So, socialists instead come up with the concept of public/shared property. There is no private property, it is controlled by the group(whether that be the economy centrally run by the government, co-ops, syndacalist workers movements/unions, etc...) But the problem with this is; it's not a paradigm shift. I've got another problem w/socialism, and that's it's interpretation of hegelian dynthesis. However, I don't know enough about Hegel to make a judgement on Marx/Engels version.

But, I'm not advocating a synthesis(which is what Hegels dialectic philosophy is all about)... I think the flaw in socialism(at least marxisms self-righteous view of socialism) is that they believe they are the end of economic evolution. But they are supposed to be the "antithesis" to capitalism. So, what's emerged is the synthesis, and I believe that is what we have in the states... We've merged private property with state-run services(and many other countries too) It's not the extreme, it's the middle, and the joining together of two disparate philosophies in a blend of unity. This is what the real result of the capitalist/socialist dialectic should be...

Now, on to the meat and bones. What are these two antitheses? I see them as being 2 sides of the same coin. The coin is the meta-meme... the foundation which needs to be tossed asunder and replaced by a new meta-meme... this is what is known as the paradigm shift. I don't think we have ever really had a true paradigm shift in our whole history. We've had paradigm revision(and sometimes 2 or 3 whole point upgrades, at that!!!), but it's still the continuation... What the hell is this meta-meme that's the basis of C&S? Well, my friends, it's PROPTERY... And I'm not spouting off dogma like "property is theft"... No, I'm not trying to take the wealth of the few and put it into the hands of the many. In fact, I don't know what we need to do specifically to replace the "property-shaped hole" in our hearts, but we've got to rise above it.

Perhaps this is what the buddha said that by clinging, arises becoming and becoming suffering. Clinging to property now, only prolongs the suffering. We need to stop thinking of ownership. We need to replace that idea with something else. Not shared ownership. We can't let a group "own" land. We need to go beyond, and I don't know what it is, but it's in my heart right now(and my stoned mind!) For 3 million years we've done the same old same old. We've killed over land, we've fought over wives, and who's god is stronger... Which god can bestow us more land... Look at the Israelites after they arose from their oppression. Vini vidi vici... God told us to come, see and kick yo' sorry little ass back to where you came from... And thus did they war with the Caananites, and worshippers of false gods, and those who happened to have a prime piece of real-estate. Colombus. fronteirsman. Space explorers??? Who knows... So, we'd better stop this shit now, and start to think different(and I ain't talkin' Apple computer here folks) b4 it's too late. Hopefully I'll try to put my finger on what it is I feel, and when I do, I'll post it for the world to see!!!

Peace out,
-d.rez