How do you free your life from capitalism?
(rabble.ca)Dear Ms. Communicate,
As an anti-capitalist feminist, I try to avoid as much as possible participation in the economic system. But, how do you free yourself from the chains of capitalism and globalization in a world that’s dictated by economic gain? I try to spend a single day not using anything made in China, but it’s impossible!
Concerned Anti-Capitalist
Dear Concerned,
You’ve asked a definitive question for the engaged First-Worlder. Wanting to live an ethical and non-exploitative life as an anti-capitalist begins by understanding the role of money in your life. This can be divided into two categories: 1. How money/capital is spent by you, and 2. How money/capital comes into your life.
It is highly unlikely that you, or any or us, can completely disengage from the system and not benefit from any exploited labour at all, either here in Canada or overseas. That said, it doesn’t mean you just give up and go shop at Old Vany or McDonald’s though. Happy mediums, people!
I suggest that you live your life as ethically as possible, and reduce your engagement in the global capital cesspool as much as you can. This can involve any of the following.
Outgoing:
•Have less stuff, and accumulate less stuff.
•Give your stuff away that you aren’t using. “Stuff” includes clothes, books, shoes, anything old and broken that you’re going to fix “someday,” anything you haven’t used for over a year.
•Don’t buy new, ever.
•Buy used
•Share
•Reduce, reuse, recycle. Especially the first two!
•Pay off all your debt as soon as possible.
•Don’t use a credit card, ever.
•Don’t go into debt, ever.
•Shop at independent proprietors/businesses as much as possible. Remove your spending dollar from chains like Malwart, Cramazon/Crapters, Crudson’s Bayou, Sneers, Canadian Tired, etc.
Incoming:
Unfortunately, any paid work that you participate in will engage the capitalist machinery in some way. Here are some suggestions that don’t involve working at places like advertising agencies, government bureaucracies or medium- and large-corporations.
•Develop skills for jobs that don’t directly engage the capitalist machinery.
•Find paid work at NGOs, non-profits, starting your own business venture or working for a sole-proprietor.
•Work for organizations like the public school board, universities, colleges, trade schools, hospitals, community health organizations, community legal organizations.
Of course I recognize that changing a career simply in order to not engage the capitalist machinery is pretty serious, and is not possible for most of us. It’s worth it to ponder why that is, though.
I understand too that this is a huge topic that we don’t have space for here. Perhaps a conversation on the babble discussion board is called for.
Ms. Communicate
It’s a tough life living on the Left! A friend of mine was so staunch at reducing her footprint that, after switching to the Okinawa diet and reducing her garbage to a small bag, she found she had to draw the line when it came to tissues. She opted for disposables over the hankey.
I’m finding it tough as a journalist. I don’t want to get spun back into the “objective” cycle again, but I need to make a living. I’m learning that I can establish myself as a progressive journalist in the mainstream press, it just takes a more disciplined approach. Comments, suggestions on subverting the capitalist ideology from within?
