Details: Written by: Kamran Mofid; Published: 31 January 2013; Hits: 5119

The news from the “Super-rich”, "gated" community is not good, encouraging, or inspiring. This group is mostly corrupted by the fraudulent philosophy of neo-liberalism which has brought the world to its knees.

The so called neo-liberalism has a fair claim to be the ugliest philosophy the post-war world has produced. Selfishness, it contends, is good, altruism, empathy and compassion are irrational. The poor are guilty for their poverty, whilst the rich deserve unmediated power, because they are worth it. This holds that the only moral course is pure self-interest.

Thus, for this group of individuals, what matters most is money. Success, happiness, well-being, and more, all have monetary values, and all must be measured through monetary means. This is why, many of them are tax-avoiders, cheaters and dodgers. They are paid huge salaries, in absolute and relative terms. But are only moved by huge bonuses to do the jobs for which they are already handsomely paid for. They show no regards for other fellow human beings, nature and environment. Sustainability and responsibility means nothing to them, as long as costs are minimised, profits are maximised, leading to huge bonuses. They have no regard for the common good and no value for volunteerism, service, and selfless giving.

In short, for this group, inspired by modern economic thinking, greed and selfishness are upheld as guiding the ‘invisible hand’ of the market and are therefore exempt from moral consideration.

Thus, in today’s money-only-driven world that they have constructed, which is devoid of any values but the worship of mammon, democracy means the ability to consume, whilst the citizens are valued only as consumers, borrowers and shoppers.

However, there is hope. Out of this despair comes a ray of sunshine, beauty and inspiration to guide the world. There are individuals who have risen above this nonsensical and bankrupt philosophy and have bucked the trend: Individuals with a big heart, which have discovered the awesome power of giving and sharing for the common good. Giving thanks for all the blessings life has offered them, by giving back to their local or global community.

As it has been noted, at its core, giving is a means of uniting all the members of our human community through a process of bonding so that we may live together in peace, harmony and security. Giving, in all its forms, is the gesture that attempts to equalize the differences that separate the rich from the poor and the privileged from the disadvantaged. It is inspired by an innate urge to dissolve the barriers that make people feel distant from each other. Because we are inherently social beings from our first breath to our last, giving is a statement of openness and trust that affirms we are all similar in our humanity and mortality.

Indeed, throughout history there have been many examples of such individuals, changing their world for better. Today, in this blog, I wish to highlight one individual from Africa, sharing his wealth with many, whilst inspired to do so, by the African spirit of "ubuntu" - a belief system which translates as "I am because you are", meaning individuals need other people to be fulfilled.

An anthropologist proposed a game to the kids in an African tribe. He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told the kids that who ever got there first won the sweet fruits. When he told them to run they all took each others hands and ran together, then sat together enjoying their treats. When he asked them why they had run like that as one could have had all the fruits for himself they said:''UBUNTU, how can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?''

Now see the power of UBUNTU in action:

South Africa's richest black man, Patrice Motsepe, has announced he is giving away half his wealth to improve the lives of the poor.

The mining magnate said the money would be handled by the Motsepe Foundation to address education and health issues.

Mr Motsepe has a net worth of $2.65bn (£1.67bn), Forbes' rich list estimates.

"I decided quite some time ago to give at least half of the funds generated by our family assets to uplift poor and other disadvantaged and marginalised South Africans but was also duty-bound and committed to ensuring that it would be done in a way that protects the interests and retains the confidence of our shareholders and investors," said Mr Motsepe.

Mr Motsepe said he was also inspired by the spirit of "ubuntu" - an African belief system which translates as "I am because you are", meaning individuals need other people to be fulfilled.

"South Africans are caring, compassionate and loving people. It has always been part of our culture and tradition to assist and care for less fortunate and marginalised members of our communities. This culture is also embodied in the spirit and tradition of ubuntu/botho," he said.

Read more:

Patrice Motsepe: South African tycoon to donate millions

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21259399

The Giving Pledge

http://givingpledge.org/

How Much is Enough? Money and the Good Life

http://www.gcgi.info/blog/333-how-much-is-enough-money-and-the-good-life

The Good Life: In Pursuit of Happiness?

http://www.gcgi.info/blog/316-the-good-life-in-pursuit-of-happiness

Details: Written by: Kamran Mofid; Published: 30 January 2013; Hits: 3170

In today’s money-only-driven world, devoid of any values but the worship of mammon, democracy means the ability to consume, whilsts the citizens are valued only as consumers.

Read on:

…”To see how this works, it is necessary to understand the context of Cameronite "localism". Its premises are rooted in what might be called a neoliberal governmentality – the idea that through the correct application of market-based incentives, people can be gradually moulded into neoliberal subjects. People's behaviour, driven by such incentives, would determine how they thought and felt about the world. As the French philosopher Louis Althusser once put it, "Kneel down, move your lips in prayer, and you shall believe."

Davos is the place. The VIPs and the not very VIPS are all there, saying this or that. But knowing the history of Davos since 1971, we know that by and large, not much good has come out of these elaborate and very expensive meetings. Nothing, but a lot of hot air, you might say.

Now let us, as Larry Elliott writing in the Guardian has done, construct a possible rewarding and useful panel at Davos.

What if Karl Marx and Keynes, Friedman and Schumacher were at the 43rd World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on a panel and charied by the IMF's Christine Lagarde, addressing the global current crises?

Let us see how this panel may have proceeded.

The Wisdom of "ubuntu": Giving and Sharing for the Common Good

The Commodification of Life: A path to turn the citizens into neo-liberal consumers

In today’s money-only-driven world, devoid of any values but the worship of mammon, democracy means the ability to consume, whilsts the citizens are valued only as consumers.

The greatest debate of them all: Imaging a dialogue between Marx, Keynes, Friedman and Schumacher on current global crises

Davos is the place. The VIPs and the not very VIPS are all there, saying this or that. But knowing the history of Davos since 1971, we know that by and large, not much good has come out of these elaborate and very expensive meetings. Nothing, but a lot of hot air, you might say.