When Capitalism Goes Awry
Now don’t get me wrong. I believe in capitalism over all other national forms of economic structure. I do believe, however, that something has gotten our economic system out of whack. Right now, the old aphorism that it takes money to make money has never been more true. Entrepreneurs, inventors, craftsmen and authors find themselves disenfranchised when it comes to getting noticed or marketing their products. It takes a hefty bankroll to break into the public consciousness.
Social media leveled the playing field for a short time, but then Facebook began
manipulating the posts, so no one knows who actually receives what is put online. The ever mysterious metrics on Google make reaching people on the world wide web more a case of hocus pocus and less a marketing strategy that anyone can implement with precision. The slow demise of the printed newspaper has compounded the dilemma. Even catching the eye of a reporter is difficult when the electronic age insulates them from unwanted solicitation. The cost of advertising on any of these platforms also favors the lucky recipient with a bankroll.
The result cheapens the market because what we see is not necessarily the best of the best. Cream doesn’t always rise to the top in a manipulated market. And it’s not up to you or me to judge the difference…that’s been done for us and we’ve been spoon-fed what we are allowed to see. The invisible faces of people pulling strings do that for us.
My question is: How long are we going to let the invisible entities muddy up the waters? It’s time to rise up and figure a way around the stranglehold. I have ideas. Pockets of people could create accounts for startups and we could finance ourselves. The successful startup would then pay back funds for the next recipient. Another option is the evolution of a new social platform with transparent algorithms. And finally, we need to champion the worthy causes we see around us.
It isn’t easy, I know. I most recently co-hosted expos for artists and small businesses. We committed ourselves to advancing their careers…yet we were hampered by a a twisted and tightly regulated medium in which to do it.
I welcome other suggestions. It’s up to we the people to change things. What are your ideas?
Comentários