Sunday, December 8, 2013

The Memes That Keep Us In Bondage

From Facebook this morning:

The way that banks work!
A story:
An old Native American wanted a loan for $500.
The banker pulled out the loan application.
"What are you going to do with the 
money?" he asks the Indian.

"Buy Silver, make jewelry, and sell it," was the response.

"What have you got for collateral?"
"Don't know collateral," replied the Indian
"Well that's something of value that would cover the cost of the loan. |

"Have you got any vehicles?"
"Yes. 1949 Chevy pickup," replied the Indian
The banker shook his head, "How about livestock?"
"Yes, I have a horse," replied the Indian
"How old is it?" the banker asks.
"Don't know, has no teeth," replies the Indian

Finally the banker decided to make the $500 loan.

Several weeks later the old man was back in the bank.
He pulled out a roll of bills, "Here to pay." he said.
He then handed the banker the money to pay his loan off.

"What are you going to do with the rest of that money?" the banker asks.
"Put in hogan", replied the Indian

"Why don't you deposit it in my bank," the banker asked.
"Don't know deposit," replied the Indian
"You put the money in our bank and we take care of it for you.
Whenever you want to use it, you can withdraw it."

The old Indian leaned across the desk and asks the banker...

"What you got for collateral?" (FB post by Denis Cooney)


What is funny about this joke is how the Native American calls the banker on a standard practice of banking. What is not funny about this joke is how we just accept that it's okay for bankers to earn money for themselves by charging interest on our money, and how we just accept no one else can do it!

The point is, there are many, many memes we have been programmed with to such a degree that we no longer question their legitimacy!!! It is exactly these sort of memes that keep us living within a subtle form of slavery. When we believe these memes are truth, we allow ourselves to be kept in bondage!

What's wrong with bankers charging interest on money they loan out to people, you ask? In order to answer that question, we need to look at what money actually is. Money is a system by which products and services are given values so that these products and services can be traded equitably. While the concept isn't all bad, there can be problems with ranking products and services evenly. Any good attorney (are there any good attorneys?) can argue why something should be of greater or lesser value. My question is, where does the fair come in? Who makes that determination? Society as a whole? The rulers? God?

Let's look at a concrete example. In our society we pay medical doctors extremely well because we value their role of bringing health to the masses. While it can be argued they provide an extremely valuable service, what makes their roles as healers any more valuable than farmers? Musicians and artists? Builders? Factory workers? Fast food employees? Bankers? Should working hard be a factor in this equation? What about talent? The irony of paying doctors (and other occupations) well is the fact that we often end up with doctors who are motivated to become doctors because they will be well paid as opposed to actually having the talent and ability to be gifted healers. Do we really want to be part of a society where we are not encouraged to use our talents for the benefit of all? A society where only certain things are valued and the rest considered unworthy?

Here are some of the memes we believe that keep us in continued bondage:

  • It's okay for banks to make money off our hard-earned money.
  • Bankers are too big to jail. If some of them go to jail, they deserve to be in special prisons for white collar criminals.
  • Certain occupations are worth more than others.
  • It's a dog-eat-dog, competitive sort of world. That's natural selection or survival of the fittest.
  • Our world's finances should be in the control of people who understand money--the bankers.
There are many more memes we could come up with. The point is, our society is seriously broken. Many of us are hurting and in pain with little relief in sight. 

As a very empathetic person, the pain has become unbearable. I can no longer just sit on the sidelines and watch people die their slow, agonizing deaths.

It is time for us to look at our beliefs and decide whether or not they can still be used, or if they serve to keep us on bondage. Don't be afraid to question what you have been taught. The truth really will set us free!


1 comment:

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