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A few weeks ago we touched on abundance on a cautionary note as we track the capitalism’s attempt to co-opt it with Techno-Capitalism brewing in the tech sector. The siren song is that we need to support entrepreneurs and the tech sector to stimulate the path to abundance. We are told, or rather it is assumed, that we need to do this because there is not enough; that we live in a world of scarcity. Thus, we need to put capitalism into overdrive to get to abundance.
Let’s stop right there. There is enough.
It’s a question reconsidering what is enough and redistribution (for fun, check out this post on Enoughness from 2012). The perception that there is not enough is strong, thus we need to keep “rising and grinding.” And of course, for so many people in the current system there is not enough. Capitalism is a winners and losers game with a few winners and mostly losers. It is in the interest of the supporters of capitalism to emphasize scarcity and the un-ending and tough battle for resources. It keeps the system afloat. Scarcity in effect creates an ongoing atmosphere of fear and insecurity and makes it more difficult for change to take root.
But if we could just step back and look at all the wealth that is produced and run the numbers … there is abundance already. It’s just so wildly unevenly distributed.
If I asked you what pops into your head when I say abundance, what comes up? Is it something akin to the glittering technopolises emerging in the Gulf States … an opulence version? Do you imagine a world where stuff is free? That view of abundance is not here … but may be coming if you believe Peter Diamandis, who is perhaps the leading exemplar for the belief technology will provide this opulent abundance. He beats the drum to provide the incentives for tech entrepreneurs to create fabulous wealth such that we will be able to provide goods and services, once reserved for the wealthy few, to any and all who need them. [To his credit, he practices what he preaches with his XPRIZE competitions.]
Last week I noted the emergence of post-growth or degrowth finance. I have a few book reviews brewing on degrowth. It’s pretty fascinating to think about the interplay between degrowth and abundance. Certainly the opulence view of abundance would seem to be quite at odds with abundance. I suspect Diamandis and the tech bros are not enthusiastic proponents of degrowth. I’m going to be a tease here and explore this more deeply in a future post. What seems obvious is that we need to get clear on how degrowth and abundance co-exist. Some expectation-setting is in order! – Andy Hines
it seems we get our information from vastly different sources. sure, some people say that innovation can lead to abundance. the DNC says we just need better balance (because like their marxist brethren they claim to save the oppressed from the oppressors). capitalists say wealth/abundance is not a zero-sum-game.
but, this: ” The siren song is that we need to support entrepreneurs and the tech sector to stimulate the path to abundance. We are told, or rather it is assumed, that we need to do this because there is not enough; that we live in a world of scarcity. Thus, we need to put capitalism into overdrive to get to abundance.”
which sirens are singing that song??