How can I make Contributionism happen?
So, how can you help Contributionism make the jump from theory to reality? What steps can you take to help shepherd it into existence? I understand that a change can be daunting — but it will only get harder with each passing year, unless we take action.
The most important thing you can do? Talk about it. Truly.
Tell others about Contributionism. Words and ideas are powerful — and the more this one spreads, the more effectively we can articulate the change we want to see. So tell your friends about it. Share this site. Read the book - alone or with a group for accountability. There is strength in numbers.
We can either watch the uber-rich flaunt their wealth on social media and wish we were like them, or we can use that same platform to promote Contributionism. It’s better than plummeting deeper and deeper into debt slavery while being distracted by ads and consumerism.
What else?
Spreading the word is important - but without action, nothing will happen.
So, what action must you take to promote Contributionism?
Whenever possible, DO NOT shop from large, non-Contributionist corporations.
Instead, shop Contributionist, local, or independent.
By voting with our wallets, we can create opportunities for Contributionist entrepreneurs at the same time as we pressure existing companies to adopt Contributionist policies. Head to the “As a Consumer” page to see exactly how this works.
Class collaboration
This strategy is both simple and complex. “Buy from Contributionist or independent companies, and boycott corporations” sounds pretty straightforward — but I won’t pretend we live in a simple world. There are items we need, and in the late-stage capitalist society we’ve created, many of them might only be available through a mega-corporation — at least for now.
The success of Contributionism relies on two groups: consumers, and businesses.
Without consumers making an effort to shop Contributionist (or at least independent) these businesses will fail. If they fail, consumers have a harder time finding ethical options, and end up forced to give their money to a big corporation.
Without Contributionist businesses opening (or existing ones converting) consumers will be forced to give their money to corporations — even if they’d prefer to buy Contributionist. This will make the corporations stronger, and independent companies less capable of survival.
For this to work, we have to be in it together. We need solidarity amongst the working and middle classes.
I understand things aren’t that hard yet - but you’re a dying breed. You can sell your soul and roll the dice on being one of the handful that scrambles to the top before the middle class is no more — or you can team up with the working class to expand the middle once again.
You’re the ones with the resources to start businesses. You’re in a position to take a risk. As Contributionism gains steam, people will be looking for Contributionist businesses to buy from. This is an opportunity. Find out what people need that isn’t being provided by a Contributionist company and start your own business. Spread the theory and advertise that you’re Contributionist, and you’ll have no problem finding customers.
Middle Class Readers:
I know that things are hard. It’s getting more and more difficult to make ends meet, and uncertainty about the future lurks around every corner. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it will only get worse. Look at economic trends since the ‘60s. Look at the path we’re being led down by our wealthy (or wealthy-funded) leaders. The system we have is a one-way ride. We need to change it.
In order to do that, we need to make some sacrifices. I’m not talking about sacrifices that are the natural result of the situation getting worse — I’m talking about sacrifices that will lead to a better tomorrow.
Sacrificing a tiny bit of social media time to do some research before buying something.
Sacrificing the privilege of free next-day shipping to buy from an actual company.
Sacrificing a few dollars to invest in a Contributionist or independent business instead of giving it to a mega-corporation.
Yes, we are giving some things up — but we’re giving them up temporarily to create a future we want for ourselves.
Working Class Readers:
This is our fight
Left or right, most of us can agree that the government as it currently stands is owned by business interests and lobbying groups. They won’t all fight for us — so we must fight for ourselves. The way to do that is through supporting one another and using the free market.
Listen — I understand that our attention spans are shot. We’ve been so overstimulated that we have difficulty focusing on anything for a length of time. We’ve been so over-convenienced that going out of our way to buy from good companies seems like a mountain.
I’m here to tell you: we can do this. We have the power — so long as we can commit to just two things.
In our consumerist culture, a fast pace means fast profits. Fashions change monthly. News stories capture national attention, then fade into obscurity. Billion-dollar industries exist solely to mine our attention for profit.
We’ve been conditioned by corporations to have short attention spans — the very thing we NEED if we want to take our nation back from them and fix the damage they’ve caused to our world and our society. What we need to do now is focus up.
I used to work as a personal trainer, and I would tell my client that fitness doesn’t come just from a month in the gym. It’s a lifestyle change.
If we want a nation of economically “fit” communities, individuals, and businesses, we need to make Contributionism a lifestyle change. So commit to it. Not for a week or a month as part of a trend, but as a habit. Like all habits, you may fall out of it — but it’s whether or not you get back into it that counts. That’s what reveals true character and tenacity. And the longer you keep at it, the easier it will be to continue.
It doesn’t even take all of society being onboard to facilitate this change. In general, it only takes 12-15% of a population to make economic change. This is incredibly achievable — but not if each person does it for a month and then stops. Like hoisting a sail, everyone needs to be pulling at once. So commit, tell others about it, and stay with it.
First: Stay the course
Second: Embrace minor inconveniences
The fight to have self-discipline in the face of tempting convenience is our generation’s fight. I know convenience is nice. I know it’s hard to give up. We’ve been spoiled by instant gratification and ease of living, but remember: for most of human history, ordering something has meant a months-long wait as it’s shipped to you by horse-drawn carriage.
Could pushing for Contributionism make life a little less convenient for us for a while? Sure - but compare that inconvenience to the challenges that humanity has faced in the past. All of us have ancestors who faced down extreme, life-threatening adversity so that we could exist today. Someone in your family tree once fought a wolf in a snowstorm and lived.
Surely, we can face the adversity of doing a little research and supporting Contributionist businesses. Surely, we can have the fortitude to wait a couple of extra days for something to ship or to pay a few extra dollars to buy from good companies. If we can’t even do that, how can our ancestors look at us with anything but disappointment?
I often get some backlash canceling subscriptions and looking for independent businesses to buy from. People will make up excuses about how shipping will be less convenient, or prices will be marginally more expensive. All I can think when I hear this is, “How are you so fragile?” Have we really become so soft and spoiled that we can’t stand a tiny bit of hassle for a little while in order to improve our lives in the long term? Without taking action, our lives will only get harder and harder. There will never be an easier time than now.
Some time ago I myself realized that in spite of complaining about late-stage capitalism, I had an Amazon account. Let me tell you — it was hard to cut that cord. The convenience that it provided me was incredibly tempting. But ultimately, I realized that I have to vote with my wallet, and I cancelled my account. And guess what? Cancelling really hasn’t made my life any worse. I may have to order things a few days sooner, but all in all, things are pretty much the same as before. In fact, they might be better — because cancelling has led to new experiences, memorable adventures, local discoveries, and greater connection to my community.
Opposition
For some businesses, the social, moral, and financial pressures may inspire quick change. For others, it will lead them to cut costs — including jobs. This will be one of the things that supporters and servants of big business will latch onto. “These boycotters are hurting American jobs!” they’ll cry. When you hear this, remember: working in a factory for $1 a day is technically a job. Yes, people may lose jobs in the short term as companies try to cut costs — but many of these jobs don’t even pay a living wage. Through Contributionism, the jobs will come back — but this time they’ll actually pay enough to be worthwhile.
Though Contributionism will ultimately lead to a better experience of life and greater happiness for all (poor and rich) many of the wealthy throughout history and in our own time have proven to be stubbornly short-sighted and self interested. There will be people who oppose Contributionism. They will come out of the woodwork, calling it socialism or communism or impossible idealism. They’ll say it’s too complex or that it will hurt the economy or any number of excuses. They’ll try to find a way to convince people that Contributionism can’t or shouldn’t happen — just like they convinced people that “trickle down” economics would help the working class. The reason is simple: working Americans far outnumber the “leisure class.” The only way they can keep siphoning off money from the labor of their workers is if they can keep us divided and distracted.
When the excuses do come, you need to remember that they’re just that. Excuses. As discussed at length in the book, there are plenty of actual case studies calling B.S. on any criticisms that might be raised by economists. The people making these excuses are doing so out of self interest driven by greed, not the well-being of our nation. They aren’t opposing Contributionism just because they want to be wealthy — because Contributionism does allow for wealthy individuals and an upper class. They’re opposing it because they want to be unfathomably wealthy (a person who makes $1 billion per year makes $8,000 every minute they work) and they don’t mind if that means the people who make it possible for them have to struggle.
We might just have to make a better world for everyone in spite of them.
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