A World Without Vision

Why are the two great utopian creeds of religion and socialism in retreat in the western world? Is it because they offer visions of utopia at a time when capitalism rules because it reflects the short-term, fragmented consciousness of an age where distraction and entertainment are used to divert people away from any deeper thought on the bigger issues that might result in a more equal society and world?

 

Could it be that the more capitalist the society, the greater disconnection from long term conviction, belief and faith in the ability to effect significant change? Does capitalism lead to a feeling of powerlessness against the onslaught of consumerism and diversion where marketing, advertising and PR pave the way for another short term craze, obsession or must-have?

 

If you want to see what capitalism has done to the western world look at all the parents anxiously scouring the shops and the internet in the run-up to this Christmas for the year’s have-to-get toy. The message of Christmas is consumerism on an epic scale, as over-the-top as the lunch most people sit down to eat on the day itself and, ultimately, as disappointing. The toys that cause such joy on Christmas morning are often discarded and abandoned within days or weeks, some times they don’t even merit a second glance after the wrapping paper is ripped away. It’s a sad reflection of the times we live in that the most important day in the Christian calendar has been transformed into Consumerfest.

 

Is it any wonder so many of us feel a gnawing emptiness in our lives when we live in a world where disappointment is such an integral part of the package? Desire and anticipation fire through our veins as we hunger for ownership of an item, be it the latest electronic gadget, pair of shoes, CD, DVD, iPhone, but so often, like our children, we begin to feel a tiny trickle of dissatisfaction even as we take them out of their boxes or wrappers.

 

No wonder we seek to counter these feelings of dissatisfaction over the value of our purchases by seeking validation of their desirability and approbation from our friends and colleagues. But isn’t that what everybody does in the adverts?

 

Is consumerism also what drives people in the western world who have given up on the arduous requirements of adhering to traditional Christian religions to seek out alternative faiths which place far less burdens on their devotees – be it the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, his purple clothes and tolerance of sexual freedom in the 70s to Madonna’s embrace of Kabbalah – and to drop them almost as quickly once they have ceased to be this year’s ‘must-have’ spiritual accessory?

 

And is it really any wonder politics too has become so meaningless and powerless in a world ruled by consumerism and short-term gratification? How effective can any politician be when he or she must contend with a populace unwilling or unable to recognise that nothing happens overnight, to understand grand plans and visions are subject to set-backs and disappointments before they can reach any type of realisation?

 

How can anything significant and lasting be achieved when most people in the western world have been conditioned through rampant consumerism to have such a short attention span? Take a look at the current attempt to address climate change. Is it really possible to get people to recognise the scale of the problem and commit to the huge structural changes required to halt it?

 

Can a generation reared on consumerism really grasp the magnitude of such a challenge when they have spent all their lives being sold the promise of quick and painless solutions to every problem they have ever faced? Furthermore, do politicians have the will to push through the required changes when they rely for their re-election on those very same people – when they actually may be those very same people themselves?

 

Could it be that without the countervailing forces of religion and socialism to balance consumerism and emphasise sacrifice in the here and now for the greater good, capitalism will prove itself unable to effect any genuine transformation in human behaviour that will stem the tide? The truth is life is a struggle and great things cannot be achieved overnight, even if there are miracles along the way. But without a vision to inspire that involves all of us and recognises the rights of everyone to an equal measure of the wealth and beauty of this planet, we may have no hope of reversing the climate of atrophy and passivity which consumerism has delivered.