What do you think we should do with ourselves once profitable industries have no use for us?
My follow up curiosity: how can we find success & sustainability in meeting our basic needs and security by turning our backs right back on global industry (and government) by working inward within our local communities?
The only uniquely human pursuits are art and human connection. Those both fly directly in the face of what our sick society values. There is no freedom (or success and sustainability) until we find a way to end runaway consumption.
Many of my friends just seem to be like Coneheads. That was not how I was raised. I dislike buying anything, unless I really have to.
My phone is 4 years old, another in my family is from 2017. My car is almost 20. I refuse to buy shit just to have something "new".
Don't blame the seller for what the consumer wants (except for all the dark patterns, marketing BS, etc - now that I can squarely put on the companies, and would like a return to tighter controls, and stronger legal options).
Die I guess? At least in America that's how it will go.
The entirety of all profits belong to the ownership class short of any taxation they can't get around. Those taxes will never be allowed to provide for people that "aren't productive" (read: aren't increasing the wealth of the ownership class.)
We recently let a tax credit ment to help families with children expire because "there will be less of an incentive for parents to work."
We are nothing but tools to grow someone else's wealth. :(
Step one is to find a group of like minded LOCAL individuals that all have an interest in supporting each other. It doesn't matter how you find each other - game groups, religion, gardening clubs, etc. Just build a clan and make sure you are willing to support each other.
So, basically, what we've always done, and has been eroded in recent decades? (Not being snarky, you make a good point, it's what humanity has always done, and many people still do, it just doesn't make it to the top of the social media pages).
Build a positive and supportive relationship with your neighbors, set up a community group or multiple for different purposes, love people just because you can and plant trees whose shade you will never enjoy. The real human world was meant to run off of cooperation and connection. Whatever shadow we're living in now is not the truth to the human condition, and it is why there is infinite suffering.