We are all part of the many tribes that inhabit this world. Each tribe, be it ancient or new, has its own practices and priorities. Those part of our tribe are friends and family, those from opposing tribes are considered enemies and insurgents. Tribes settle tribal lands and defend them. Each claims a piece of the Earth to be theirs and all others are trespassers. To bolster our tribe, we trade with other tribes. This exchange of goods and services is the basis of any economy. The method of exchange has changed over time, but money as a facilitator of exchange has remained constant since the Bronze Age.
Powerful tribes become nations and tribal beliefs become law. Over time, great nations fall under the weight of prosperity. All the greatest of kingdoms fell, none of them escaped the wrath of time. In the end, things change. The once productive farmlands lay fallow, seas become fished out, and the waste of a society crushes it from the inside. The mighty fall and the meek continue to exist. The world returns to its tribes and civilization is paused again. Can the human animal ever achieve both a sustainable and an equitable society? All the elements are here now!
The fact is that in North America, before the European settlers invaded, life was balanced. Most native tribes found peaceful ways to coexist with the environment around them. Tribes did war on each other for resources, land, or just power. Those conflicts never did harm to the land and those who followed were able to utilize that area to live. Unfortunately, modern conflict and expansion does the opposite. Cities were razed to the ground by the Mongol hoard as a means of preventing war. It made those who would oppose the massive army too fearful to fight. The British economic conquest and expansion had similar effects on the land. English industry would maximize profits at the expense of their colonies. Once the land was over-used and fallow, they would move to the next place to exploit, leaving the native life devastated and damaged.
Now our economic tribalism is set to topple the world financial system. Each government does its best to exploit the monetary system to promote and to prop up their national economic well-being. This exploitation leads to corruption and disruptive practices. China, America, India, Europe, Africa, and every world economic power flex their muscles to corner the market the best they can, that’s considered good business. A strong economy doesn’t mean a socially free or just society, it just means that the currency can be used to facilitate exchange at an equitable rate.
In the late 1960’s a movement started. They focused on personal freedom and peaceful coexistence with all living things. Hippies or Flower Children did their best to change the focus of the mighty United States. Unknown to them, the industrial/military complex was on track for their most profitable time yet! The failure of the movement was the failure to make an economic impact, instead of a social one. Many became rich from exploiting the “Summer of Love” and the “Hippy” movement. They were able to elevate common musicians to “Gods!” These Rock Gods became rich beyond their dreams but did little with their wealth and power.
George Harrison changed that with one concert. He started a movement of social justice and charity that remains the core of the music industry today. It is expected that our “stars” should work to make the world a better place, and it is working on a small scale. The Global Citizen movement is by far the most effective charity at this current time. They created a tribe, a group of like-minded individuals ready to work to help those in need. It’s working and we need to learn from Hugh Jackman, the man behind 28 worldwide charitable organizations. We can make a difference; we must choose better. We rise together or fall into the next dark age.
