In this accelerating Age of Collapse, we are witnessing the wholesale destruction of the Common Good. Our misleaders have abandoned their responsibility to creating a society where human dignity and ecological balance are as important as profit-making.
We are left to ask: How did we get here? What caused this destruction?
We identified thirteen “weapons of mass destruction” of the Common Good:
- Privatization: The transfer of ownership or control of public goods and services to private entities leads to the prioritization of profit over the Common Good, resulting in reduced access, increased costs, and diminished quality of essential services such as healthcare, education, and utilities.
- Deregulation: Relaxing or removing regulations intended to protect public health, safety, and welfare creates opportunities for exploitation, market manipulation, and environmental degradation, undermining the well-being of communities and individuals.
- Corruption and Cronyism: When public officials or institutions prioritize personal gain or favoritism over the welfare of society, it erodes trust and leads to policies that benefit a select few at the expense of the broader population.
- Income Inequality and Poverty: Widening gaps between the wealthy and the poor destabilize communities and hinder social mobility, leading to a concentration of power and resources in the hands of a few while leaving many without the means to access basic necessities and opportunities.
- Environmental Degradation: Policies and practices that prioritize short-term economic gains over long-term sustainability result in irreversible damage to the environment, jeopardizing the health and well-being of present and future generations.
- Media Manipulation and Disinformation: When information is distorted or manipulated to serve specific interests, it undermines public discourse, erodes trust in institutions, and impedes the ability of individuals to make informed decisions, ultimately hindering the pursuit of the Common Good.
- Erosion of Social Cohesion and Trust: Factors such as polarization, discrimination, and social exclusion fracture communities and weaken the bonds that hold society together, making it difficult to address common challenges and promote collective well-being.
- Globalization and Economic Exploitation: While globalization can bring benefits such as increased trade and cultural exchange, it can also lead to economic exploitation, loss of local jobs, and exploitation of labor in developing countries, exacerbating inequalities and undermining the well-being of marginalized communities.
- Lack of Access to Education and Healthcare: Inadequate access to education and healthcare perpetuates cycles of poverty and inequality, limiting opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
- Unchecked Corporate Power: When corporations wield disproportionate influence over government policies and decision-making processes, it leads to policies that prioritize corporate interests over the Common Good, resulting in environmental degradation, worker exploitation, and erosion of consumer protections.
- Systemic Discrimination and Injustice: Discriminatory practices based on factors such as race, gender, religion, or socioeconomic status perpetuate inequalities and marginalize certain groups within society, hindering the realization of equal opportunities and social justice for all.
- Underinvestment in Infrastructure and Public Services: Neglecting essential infrastructure and public services, such as transportation, housing, and social welfare programs, blocks economic development, exacerbates social disparities, and undermines the overall well-being of communities.
- Militarism: An excessive focus on military buildup and aggression diverts resources away from addressing pressing social and economic needs, perpetuates cycles of violence and conflict, and undermines efforts to promote peace, diplomacy, and international cooperation. Additionally, militarism contributes to the erosion of civil liberties, increases the risk of armed conflict, and exacerbates tensions both domestically and globally, ultimately detracting from the pursuit of the Common Good.
What have we forgotten?