I watched the Long Walk

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I don't read a lot of Stephen King. Which in turn means I don't watch a lot of adaptations of Stephen King. But I watched the Long Walk recently, and I am reminded of why dissent is necessary, and why any ideology that divides people will only lead to chaos.

It's a tale as old as time. The nobles declare they have divine right and would hold themselves as superior to the common man.

I am better than you, I get the nice things, you work to make sure I get those things.

The have's versus the have-nots. Those who have oppress the have-nots. The capitalist expect you to make the products, to work the 14-hour shifts, to care for the sick and elderly, while they take it all in. They ride their expensive cars, only for the minimum wage earner fills their tank. They order their expensive steak, and yell at the minimum wage earner because it wasn't rare enough.


Image by biancamentil from Pixabay

Late stage capitalism sees this divide grow even more, to the point that dystopian futures depicted in the Long Walk is almost a reality.

Imagine walking for days hoping to be the last one standing and win so much money and be grated anything you could wish for. It's like the lottery, but you are not just betting a portion of your money; you are betting your life.

I kept thinking: “How can people think that this is worth it?”

But then again, have I ever been in such a point of desperation (financially speaking) that I would take such a risk? I'm sure there are people who are that desperate. By why should anybody be placed in such a position to begin with?

I keep blaming the ad-men, the evangelist of the capitalistic religion. They preach the message of emptiness in your life, and it can only be filled by your next purchase. They preach for you to consume without guilt or discernment, to do whatever it takes to buy that next shiny shit even if it means taking on debt.

Furthermore, they are the worst, because they breed the insecurity that leads to envy, that leads to people making terrible financial decisions that lead to poverty. Or worst still lead to people doing terrible things, even to the detriment of their fellow person, to steal or cheat.

So either be poor and desperate, or be soul-less.

I would like to choose neither.

I decide rather to be contented. To be happy with what I have, aspire for better, but never at the cost of my self or others. A new car isn't worth it if I have to grind the hours and not see my love one. A new gadget isn't worth it if I have to compromise my financial stability.

Resist the ad-men. Greed and overconsumption will not lead to anywhere good. 

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