We Are All Victims Of The System

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For change we need unity.

There are thousands of not-for-profit organizations, philanthropic organizations, each working for a certain goal. One takes care of abused children. Another takes care of abused women. The next takes care of cancer. Thousands of philanthropic organizations are working alone, by themselves. All the philanthropic organizations from around the world,—well-meaning organizations with millions of people, not together. They don't talk to each other. If we want to change how the world is run, and away from a predominantly materialistic orientation, those that want change need to be united.

I work with CEOs of companies all over the world. They're not bad people. They really are concerned about what's going on as much as you and me. They're concerned that their children, very soon, will not be able to play in the street, or in the field, or in the park—because the sun will give them skin cancer. And their children will not know many flowers anymore. They will not know many animals anymore either. They will be sitting at home, playing computer games all day, unable to go outside because of crime, because they will get cancer from the sun, because they will not be able to breathe. Those CEOs, leaders of business, are concerned. Each one of them. What in the system prevents them from doing what needs to be done about their concerns? They might do it individually but that is not enough. The system is stronger than any individual.

If you are a CEO and you don't produce the profits that the stock market predicts you should produce, your owners are going to sell your stock, your stock is going to go down in price and that will hurt you personally one way or another. The system has taken over and we are all victims of the system. They are not the villains. They are the victims like you and me.

What we need to do is change the system, but in order to change the system, we have to be politically powerful otherwise we’re not going to change the system because politicians watch the votes. We need to get the well meaning, socially oriented organizations with millions of members united, the people who support the nonprofits, to say, “We will all together as one vote for those politicians that believe in what we believe.”

And that might change the system. Let those that pollute pay to clean the pollution. As is, some industries pollute, do not pay for the damage done, profits are up although they should not be taking into account the damage done to society, their stock goes up in value and CEOs get fat bonuses.In order to change the system, we need to get the politicians on our side.

In order to get the politicians on our side, we have to get the votes. In order to get the votes, we have to get together. As is, each socially conscious organization is taking care of its little mission but missing the big picture. This is nice, but it’s not going to change the world. The business system is an integrated one. It has capital markets. It has training universities for their leadership. They have advertising and marketing acumen. The business ecosystem is a well oiled machine to deliver goods. They have the money to impact political votes and get the decisions they want. In comparison the well-meaning philanthropic and socially conscious organizations are divided, competing for the same funds, and for the same attention. There is no way change will happen. It’s going to get worse and worse until it gets so bad that it will force unity for change and I hope it will not be too late.