Some thoughts and questions concerning politicians PART 4

I know that it’s not as simple as just pushing a button, when it comes getting rid of our politicians. Neither do I believe in getting rid of all of the institutions that keep things in order, even though I believe that the abolishment of any type of coercive authority is the end-goal of political evolution. 

But there are a few things that we as individuals can do: We can stop complying with laws that we don’t agree with. We can get clear about our values, so that we can start trusting ourselves more, when it comes to ethics and what to believe and think. Simply put, we can do our best to come to terms with who we are and what we stand for. What I find helpful, and which doesn’t need any deeper reflection, is the golden rule, both in its positive and negative form. In other word, both “treat others as you want to be treated” and “don’t treat others in ways that you would not like to be treated”. As far as I’m concerned, with regards to my interactions with other people and my role in society, this is the only moral code that I am required to follow, whether or not it is written into law with regard to the particular issue that I am facing. 

We can stop allowing mass-media to control our attention and instead consciously choose what to focus on. Right now we don’t know who to trust or what to believe in. But we can always work on ourselves and our character. We always have a choice when it comes to our morals, attitudes and how we conduct ourselves in the world. Our only limitations here, is or physical circumstances and how developed our characters are.

Some thoughts and questions concerning politicians PART 3

Let me propose something: What if a veil has been pulled over our eyes, making us think that we need politicians? What if in fact the politicians, together with those they truly work for (not the people!), are the very reason our world isn’t a paradise right now? What if we are all glorious children of God? What if we are all one and all connected (yes, this goes even for our rulers, even if they are among the ones that are most cut off from this connection)? What if we only need to answer to God? What if God’s authority is never based on obligation, coercion or fear of punishment? What if God’s rules, stemming from his infinite love and wisdom, are always good for us? What if God’s guidance is always available to us, in meditation, prayer, the reading of sacred scriptures or whatever other ways to connect with him that we find? What if the first step towards this connection and towards letting go of the need for worldly authorities, is to let go of the ego’s selfish, fearful wants and desires? What if the ego’s wants and desires will only lead to dissatisfaction and frustration anyway, so that we don’t ever have give up anything of true value to us? What if we just need to start stepping into our true identities, if we want to get rid of worldly rulers forever?

Some thoughts and questions concerning politicians PART 2

 “Wait a minute”, you might say. “Don’t we have a democratic process that guarantees that we have an influence over the political system?”

I don’t know how many seriously still believe this, but for argument’s sake: Do you really consider choosing what party to vote for, among a small number of real choices, in a gigantic political machinery that most people have very little understanding of, real influence? Parties that differ only with regard to a very small number of questions, while being in relative agreement on many important questions, such as surveillance, bodily autonomy, copyright, corporate influence over politics or censorship. Or why not how society should respond to a global crisis?

Parties that are not even really held accountable when it comes to the small number of questions where they do differ. Parties that function within a system where the bigger parties have their campaigns funded by tax money. Where only the bigger parties get their voices heard in the mass-media. Where the same mass-media, together with the parties, decide what questions get attention and what questions aren’t acceptable to discuss at all. In a society where social- and professional consequences prevent many people from even discussing certain issues, privately as well as publicly. 

With this in mind, can we really talk about “influence over the political system” and keep a straight face?

Some thoughts and questions concerning politicians PART 1

Considering everything that is going on in the world, are our lives better or worse because of our leaders? Are they deserving of the salaries that we pay them? Or would we do better without them? Just saying…

Do you think that the world and your life is better or worse because of people like Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Justin Trudeau, Volodomyr Zelenskyj, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Boris Johnson, or why not Magdalena Andersson here in Sweden? Do you think that it’s better or worse to have these people in power instead of no one at all? Do you think that the people that came before them in general did a much better job? Did you ever say yes to having a government? When did you ever say yes to giving them your money in order for them to govern you? To start wars? Or shut down society so that everyone becomes depressed and the economy crashes?

If you were an employer and had employees that managed their jobs so that you actually lost money, would you let them keep their jobs? If these were the only types of employees you could find, would you keep running the company the same way, or would you rethink the whole structure?

Now, I’m of course not saying that these people, or anyone else, have no right to exist. That is the job of people in power…

But why not give them more modest salaries and create meta-verses for them, where they can play around with our non-elected, real rulers and other, less successful people with similar personalities? There they can play games that satisfy their power-hungers instead, whether this power hunger consists of sending people into war, forcing people to do things against their will, or forbidding people from doing things that they want to do but does not harm anyone. Then those of us that want to live as sovereign, free people together with God in all the multiple dimensions of the real world can do so in peace.

Polarization

Let’s all hate Russia. Let’s all hate Putin and call him the next Hitler. Or let’s do the opposite. Let’s see everything Putin does as totally justifiable and let’s see the USA and the West as the real enemy. Let’s believe everything that the mainstream media tells us. Or everything that alternative media tells us. Or every new meme that is spread in the forums that we frequently visit. Or Russian media. Or Russian media is all propaganda while we can trust our media. Or vice versa.

And let’s hate everyone that disagrees with us and call them idiots, nazis, communists, misogynists, sheep etcetera. Because value loaded labels usually make way for a productive discussion and show that we are truly prepared to understand each other and try to take in new perspectives. It is much better to uncritically listen to those that we have been taught by society to regard as trustworthy sources, or those that our friends tell us are trustworthy, or those that we happen to agree with on other issues, instead of actually trying to understand the issue at hand with all its nuances and complexities. 

Or we could take a step back, realize that at the core we are all one, all beloved children of God, that very few of us actually want to harm anyone or deliberately believe harmful lies. We could try to feel sympathy for each others’ struggles with coming to terms with what is going on, in a world where we are more and more coming face to face, with the fact that sources that once were deemed trustworthy, have become corrupt. With the fact that no clear-cut alternative has presented itself. With the fact that power hinges on the control of perception and beliefs. That all global actors know and exploit this. Not just the ones that we happen to disagree with.

I believe that no matter what side a person is on, we need to be very cautious with people that spread hate, demonize their opponents and cast blame while completely ignoring their own shadow. This goes for all conflicts.

I also believe that in these times where it is literally impossible to know what worldly sources that we can trust, we need to first and foremost look inwards. To seek God and his guidance, because God is the only one that we always know that we can trust. As long as we look to the world for answers, we will only find more confusion. But when we start to shift by looking within and take responsibility for who we are and our part in the mess that we are in, rather than blaming others for it, others will start to shift as well. When others see our change, they will want to follow. Because this is doubtless a crucial and necessary step in human evolution. And once someone understands this, there is no going back for that person, even if he/she naturally will stumble many times along the way. And for such a person, truth becomes more and more important, while being right becomes less and less important. Because such a person will gradually come to the realization, that what is important is his/her connection with God and other people, not to force one’s will on the world. And such a connection leaves no room for lies, deception and manipulation. Such a connection is the antithesis of polarization.