General Discussion

usonian

(22,510 posts)

9. EVERYONE is exploited by our consumer/capitalist society.

Mon Nov 17, 2025, 10:28 AM

Yesterday

I'd like to give examples, but it's basically "whatever sells", and to preserve the oligarchy, whatever outrages.

What "sells" is mostly in "The Seven Deadly Sins"

Porn? Get Rich Quick schemes? Weapons? Quadruple Hamberders? Hmmmmm.

Without these, what economy?

Anyway, I rant at some length here about being hoodwinked for profit.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1324&pid=4222

Spoiler:

“The Three Poisons, Institutionalized” reflects further on what distinguishes our situation from that of the Buddha. He emphasized the importance of transforming the three unwholesome motivations: greed into generosity, ill will into loving-kindness, delusion into wisdom.Today we also have to address their collective versions: our economic system institutionalizes greed, militarism institutionalizes ill will, and the media institutionalize delusion. Any personal awakening we might have on our cushions remains incomplete until it is supplemented by a “social awakening” and a social response to these institutionalized causes of widespread suffering.

I asked myself, having read about malaise (not our DU user malaise) among young men, and I find the common western notion of projecting/blaming others for one's fears, weaknesses and failures (does that sound familiar? ) an especially toxic failure mode, whereas finding one's inner light and strength, and helping others to help oneself, to be a step to success in life. 🪷