Eartheco
Capitalism is a belief system, a form of social psychology, fabricated on a system of falsehoods. (Mies et al. 2000; TED 2015, July 24) Evil, defined by social psychologist Dr. Zimbardo, means crimes against humanity. (Zimbardo, 2008) Capitalism has many concepts and practices in it that can only be interpreted as crimes against humanity, our planet of life, and Earth home. (Democracy Now, 2003, Nov. 27) Anthropologist Harari considers capitalism the world’s largest religion, a shared symbolic consciousness. (TED, 2015, July 24) Capitalism has become a worldview, informing people’s sense of being, doing, values, and attitudes. Capitalism is unfair, often operating through mental and physical trickery and betrayal. (Mies et al, 2000; Democracy Now 2003) Debt is determined by minimal physical transactional exchanges, meanwhile anyone can steal or destroy another’s finances as a form of behavioral and spiritual debt that goes unrecorded. (Graeber, 2011) For this reason Graeber considers debt “moral confusion,” not accounting for contexts beyond one’s control. Most of the world is discontented with capitalism and looking for change, an alternative economic system.
There are some universal qualities sought by all alternative economic systems: environmentally sustainable production, democratic solidarity, equality, diversity, creative self-management and self-determination, cooperative community, fair allocations of resources, and meeting human needs. (Akuno & Meyer, 2023; Albert, 2003; Hickel, 2020; Mies et al, 2000; Saito 2020; Schmelzer et al 2022) These are also the qualities of Indigenous cultures informed by the Indigenous Worldview (I-WV). (Jacobs & Narvaez 2022; Callaghan & Gordon 2023; Celidwen 2024) When economic problems get extreme and systems fail, human cooperation happens naturally. (Akuno & Meyer 2023; Curl, 2009; Mies et al, 2000; Nembhard, 2014) These innate principles of human kindness and self-organization always reappear in response to crisis as we know from cooperative history and liberation movements. Qualities of Indigenous lifeways are a concrete universal instinct and desire of humanity worldwide. The I-WV is our latent healthy social psychology, our goodness in relations and reciprocity, and our complex intelligence of efficiency.
Earth Economics (Eartheco) is an alternative economic system based on the I-WV, and Indigenous methods of organization. It differs from other economic models in that it removes money from the equation of economy, and it requires good, flexible, authentic, wise and prestigious leadership worldwide. Leadership is an important aspect of Indigenous cultures and the I-WV, however everyone is acknowledged as a leader in their own way, with their own knowledge. (Callaghan & Gordon 2023) The problem with most economic models is that it does not address the intangible social psychology, which with the presence of money, always happens. “Lucifer Effect,” where people follow the violator, is always present subtly and small scale in non-Indigenous societies, escalating periodically when power dynamics become amplified. (Zimbardo 2008; Lobaczewski et al, 1998) I attribute this power imbalance to the money system. The I-WV, needs to be taught and consistently practiced for contextual and relational intelligence. This enables people to see truth and discern healthy, good behavior from unhealthy bad behavior. Through the I-WV, people can heal their minds and hearts, learn how to follow their heart, finding their own knowledge and purpose.
In traditional, Indigenous economics, social prestige is based in generosity. (Polanyi 1944) There is no profit, no hoarding, and no permanent possessions (or at least not in excess). Society is based on trust and trustworthiness, the same qualities that get developed through cooperative networking. (Jacobs and Narvaez, 2022; Nembhard, 2014) People enjoy giving, and “today’s giving will be tomorrow’s receiving.” (Polanyi 1944, p52) Indigenous people have reverence and reciprocity with the Earth, considering themselves responsible for maintaining Earth’s balance. (Grenz 2024; Callaghan & Gordon 2023; Jacobs & Narvaez 2022) The I-WV perceives the Earth as sacred and takes responsibility for the planet and nature’s abundance. In global policy this would translate to ending extraction practices, fracking and using fossil fuels, and ending pollution by eliminating toxic industries and plastic. Laws and policies for Eartheco need to be established on a global level through the UN. The rest of Eartheco is meant to be a spontaneous co-arising within the boundaries of Indigenous ethical natural Law.
Designing Efficiency through Evidence-based Knowledge
One issue I find with alternative economic models is that they are either too ridged and complicated, unadaptable to many people’s lives, or too vague without clear solutions. The UN needs to be addressed in its poor practices, decolonized from the capitalistic worldview, and indigenized to the values of the I-WV, which are universally shared throughout the world. Multinational corporations, fossil fuels, plastic production, and other harmful, unnecessary, unethical activities toward the Earth and the Earth community need to be illegal. Unhealthy leaders need to be replaced, and wise authentic leaders around the world need to be made available for assisting the remodeling of economics and industries.
The entire world needs to adopt a “no money policy.” For preliminary stages of Eartheco, or maybe as a permanent feature, everyone should have a scan recorder on purchases. This is for two reasons. One is that in times of supply and demand a producer can assess who is the best candidate for receiving the products they have to offer, based on complementary assets or need. Secondly, for the sake of monitoring human behavior in Eartheco, learning and awareness, it would be good to have a database of allocation.
Everyone has unlimited buying power. We can think of it as one giant, abundant collective bank account. A Great Spirit Fund can provide for everyone’s needs, keeps on giving with no remunerative restrictions. Although some private ownership is important, physical assets need to be capped at a hypothetical $500 million. For an individual to own that amount, they would have to be able to maintain and manage it with people wanting to assist the property owner. Values will ultimately shift to authentic work, needs, and responsibilities once controlling and distracting social structures are removed. Everyone has different lifeways, so some people may want to focus on their mental health, education, travel, or beautifying the local space for the community. People want purpose and feel good with purpose. There will be many new jobs available in Eartheco as we creatively design and heal our home.
Councils for problem solving and innovation will be needed. Many inventions of the past have been blocked by economic elites in the selfish usurping of money accumulation. International communication platforms are possible for organizing certain projects or domains of life. People can also gather in person with expertise. Experimentation, feedback systems of information, and networking are all possible through the internet. Every area can organize as it would like, and still network with other areas. Local assemblies work well for check-ins and to discuss issues. (Akuno & Meyer) A diversity of methods and practice within the ethical ‘Law” of Earth expands human potential, and is necessary for adapting to various places, people, or conditions. Education will be encouraged for skills, training and expertise, and for teaching heartfulness in Eartheco. Humanity’s ability to self-organize and motivate toward necessary work on the Earth is natural. Eartheco does not have to be universally systematized as long as the I-WV is broadly adopted, with all economic practices adhering to its principles.
In drawing on Nobel prize winner Ostrom’s work on systemic sustainable evolution, she identifies eight conditions that need to be met. (Wilson 2016) One is clearly defined boundaries. With this concept, worldly Laws and agreements need to be set with the understanding that Earth and life is sacred. Each culture area needs to respect other culture areas. Proportional equivalence, meaning benefits over-ride costs can be translated as knowing each action is either a win-win or a lose-lose for all authentic selves. Personality disordered traits such as a false self creation or ego trauma cannot be fed; only true selves are nourished. What is truly good for one person, or the Earth, is good for all people. Collective choice agreement is where no one is bossed around, and everyone has freedom of self-determination within their own boundaries. Monitoring each other in the community is a natural byproduct of the I-WV in our responsibilities to care for each other. In Indigenous ways social pressures interrupt selfish behaviors. (Sahlins, 1972) With the teaching and popularization of the Indigenous perception through a healthy Mind-Heart trait, clear complex vision using 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and pluralism/relativism observation methods can serve as a collective social control process. (Celidwen 2024; Yunkaporta 2020; Jacobs & Narvaez 2022) Graduated sanctions, fair, fast conflict resolution, local autonomy, individual autonomy and appropriate relationships with tiers of rulemaking are all possible with polycentric governance as “Law” within people’s hearts and networked between hearts. The invisible mind-heart hierarchy is egalitarian, which means there is attunement between each person in their gifts, talents, and roles of leadership. The Earth can be a “common-pool resource” ecosystem for all beings, allowing each their right to abundance, space/land, homes, food, self-development, and anything else essential for evolution. (Wilson 2016) Bottom-up problem-solving and organization abounds, with top-down UN policy.
Contemplation and Anticipation
Most problems come from power dynamics set up through money and scarcity. Although we cannot blame money for all our problems, we can blame belief systems, of which the value of money is one. Money is randomly fabricated by commercial banks and banks, and randomly generated through markets. (Schmeizer et al, 2020; Polanyi, 1944) It is arbitrary and a distraction from real values. In capitalism politics and money drive our decisions. Human thought processes, mental health and behaviors are profoundly distorted by capitalistic influences. Women’s work, raising children, cleaning, care services, social work, subsistence work, personal work, having time for mental processing and contemplation, are all important parts of life which go unpaid. (Federici 2012; Hayden 1982; Mies et al, 2000) These are just as valuable, if not more valuable, than generating cash money. In concerns of people being lazy or greedy, these issues will be less of a problem as people have decreased stress responses, or as inner work becomes more prevalent and valued. In knowing most people’s reaction to being unemployed, it is stressful and hard psychological work to not be busy in projects and collaborations. Education and training is free and unlimited for people to shift directions in work. Many people have different preferences for work, and every type of work is valid. Some people enjoy factory work and housecleaning. Others enjoy teaching or managing operations. All types of production are valued, visible or invisible, simple or complicated.
Supply, for the most part, is already able to meet demand, yet it goes to waste. People can only eat so much, and we have plenty of food for everyone. Everyone will need a phone for scan transactions, and although there may be temporary supply issues, electronics can be refurbished and they should be made with more careful attention so they do not break or need to be replaced so quickly. Things have a way of working out if we keep things flexible and allow everyone to contribute knowledge to our Earth systems.
Production shifts will require innovation. For instance, in the elimination of plastic, banana leaves could serve as an alternative packaging material. Most packaging can be eliminated. Problems of waste are more about inefficient systems rather than impossibility. We need to devote time to devise environmentally friendly user systems. For electricity, water, wind, or free energy systems can come into the forefront. Solar is not practical and not environmentally friendly with its production necessities. Free energy has been invented before, and there are currently small devices of this. However due to the politics of economics, these options are blocked for money making profit industries. The slaughter of animals needs to be reduced drastically due to the extreme levels of excessive waste. Vegetarian food innovation, and sharing new recipes can be creative and fun. We can set a time limit for altering and degrowth, changing systems first partially, and then fully. If we remove money from the equation of economics, there will be no incentive to block changes made at the top. We can reprioritize innovative planning as primary. Creativity will naturally flourish. We can reorient toward real values of humanity and a sustainable planet. Without cash, pressures and constraints that drive decisions towards false values are eliminated. There is no more incentive to serve unethical leaders, greed, and evil.
Organizational formats can remain open-ended to allow every local area or specialized area of work to design its own systems. Leaders will still exist; however they will not be placed in power due to financial status. Real democracy must return to every vote counting. Without money, inauthentic power will no longer have dominance, and most power dynamics will instantly be defused.
Conclusion
We need to bring truth back to our value systems. History shows us that we can trust in human nature to organize, find meaning and purpose in productive ways, whether it is internal or external production or services. Cooperative networking, natural leaders, and human kindness always surface when capitalistic systems lose their grip on communities. (Curl 2009) Many powerful movements are already happening around the world to gain independence from capitalism. Some examples are Jackson Rising Redux, Parecon models, Mondragon, the Subsistence Perspective, food sovereignty movements among Indigenous peoples, and La Via Campesina. However, capitalism is still an obstacle. With the elimination of money, all these systems can flourish, and people can put time and energy into new creative, regenerative work. Indigenous economy worked for millions of years. (Celidwen, 2024) TEK and Indigenous leaders still strive to revive our countries, lands, and waters. With the wisdom of the I-WV, heartfulness which must inform mindfulness, and an attuned, egalitarian mind-heart hierarchy, we can turn to each other in truth and integrity, with honest exchanges and communication. Money is an inverted form of power. We can quickly bring real values back to life, work, and exchange by abolishing the money system, ending excessive accumulation, and establishing production laws.
Working together we can create a new world that honors diversity and autonomy, provides equity, care and reciprocity. Growing networks of Indigenous leaders and teachers is also essential. Instead of the old sayings, “kill the Indigenous, save the person; let’s conquer nature; it’s not personal, it’s business;” based in personality disorder, Eartheco sounds like “stop the personality disorder, save true self; let’s conquer evils so we can reconnect through love, with each other and the Earth; Everything is personal, from heart to heart.” Eartheco is designed for human potential, creative freedom, providing abundance for all beings in our “Earth home.” It honors real values and truth of humanity, life, and Earth.
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