Business

Culture Jamming, by Kalle Lasn

America has been subverted by corporate agendas and its elected officials bow before corporate power as a condition of their survival in office

Published

2 years ago

August 2, 2021

Jeff Davidson

Here are excerpts from the culture-shaking book, Culture Jamming by Kalle Lasn, published by William Morrow in 1999, which rings truer now than ever!

A Multitrillion-dollar Brand

America is no longer a country. It’s a multitrillion-dollar brand…. essentially no different from McDonald’s, Marlboro or General Motors. It’s an image “sold” not only to the citizens of the U.S., but to consumers worldwide. The American brand is associated with catch-words such as “democracy;’ “opportunity” and “freedom.” But like cigarettes that are sold as symbols of vitality and youthful rebellion, the American reality is very different from its brand image.

America has been subverted by corporate agendas. Its elected officials bow before corporate power as a condition of their survival in office. A collective sense of powerlessness and disillusionment has set in. A deeply felt sense of betrayal is brewing.

By The People?

American culture is no longer created by the people. Our stories, once passed from one generation to the next by parents, neighbors and teachers, are now told by corporations with “something to sell as well as to tell.” Brands, products, fashions, celebrities, entertainments, the very spectacles that surround the production of culture, are now our culture.

Our role is mostly to listen and watch-and then, based on what we have heard and seen, to buy.

A free, authentic life is not possible in America today. We are being manipulated in the most insidious way. Our emotions, personalities and core values are under siege from media and cultural forces too complex to decode. A continuous product message has woven itself into the very fabric of our existence.

Most North Americans now live designer lives: sleep, eat, sit in car, work, shop, watch TV, sleep again. I doubt there’s more than a handful of free, spontaneous minutes anywhere in that cycle.

Smile Button Culture

The human spirit of prideful contrariness and fierce independence has been oddly tamed. We have evolved into a smile-button culture. We wear the trendiest fashions, drive the best cars industry can produce and project an image of incredible aff1uence-cool people living life to the hilt.

Behind that happy mask is a face so ugly it invariably shocks the hell out of my friends from developing countries who come to visit, expecting the giddy Americana depicted on TV and finding instead a horror show of disconnection and anomie.

Our mass media dispense a kind of Huxleyan “soma.” The most powerful narcotic in the world is the promise of belonging. And belonging is best achieved by conforming to the prescriptions of America™. In this way a perverted sense of cool takes hold of the imaginations of our children. And thus a heavily manipulative corporate ethos drives our culture.

The Facade of Cool

Cool is indispensable, and readily, endlessly dispensed. You can get it on every corner (for the right price), though it’s highly addictive and its effects are short-lived. If you’re here for cool today, you’ll almost certainly be back for more tomorrow.

American cool is a global pandemic. Communities, traditions, cultural heritages, sovereignty, whole histories are being replaced by a barren American monoculture.

Living in Japan during its period of sharpest transition to a western way of life, I was astonished by the speed and force with which the American brand took hold. I saw a culture with thousands of years of tradition behind it vanquished in two generations. Suddenly, high school girls were selling themselves after class for $150 a trick so they’d have cash to buy American jeans and handbags.

The Earth cannot support the lifestyle of the cool hunting American-style consumer. We have sought, bought, spewed and devoured too much, too fast, too brazenly, and now we’re about to pay.

Killing the Planet

Economic “progress” is killing the planet. This did not fully hit home for me until nightmarish environmental stories suddenly appeared on the news: acid rain, dying seals in the North Sea, medical waste washing up on New York beaches, garbage barges turned away from port after port, and the discovery that the milk in American mothers’ breasts had four times the amount of DDT permitted in cow’s milk.

To people like me, for whom time had always seemed like a constant, eternally moving train which people got on and, seventy years later, got off, it was the end of innocence. The premonition of ecocide — planetary death — became real and it terrified me. It still does.

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Related Topics:Breathing Space Featured Jeff Davidson

Jeff Davidson

Jeff Davidson is the world's only holder of the title "The Work-Life Balance Expert®" as awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He is the premier thought leader on work-life balance, integration, and harmony. Jeff speaks to organizations that seek to enhance their overall productivity by improving the effectiveness of their people. He is the author of Breathing Space, Simpler Living, Dial it Down, and Everyday Project Management. Visit www.BreathingSpace.com for more information on Jeff's keynote speeches and seminars, including: Managing the Pace with Grace® * Achieving Work-Life Balance™ * Managing Information and Communication Overload®

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This Three Pronged Plan to Overthrow America is Nearly Complete

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May 17, 2023

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The left has long worked to overthrow America and all that it stands for. They have been working at it since early in the 1900’s and it took up more speed in the late 60’s and early 70’s with the rise of the radical left. PolitiCrossing founder Chris Widener explains the three-pronged attack and how it is almost complete, as well as the only things we can do to save ourselves and this country we love.

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SAVE YOURSELF: Is This The Surefire Way to Protect Your Money in the Inevitable Financial Meltdown?

Decentralized finance (DeFi) has emerged as a revolutionary technology.

Published

1 month ago

May 9, 2023

Chris Widener

Don’t miss Rich Dad Poor Dad’s Robert Kiyosaki in this absolutely free webinar: The Coming Financial Tsunami. Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones. Click here NOW to register!

CAN DECENTRALIZED FINANCE BE THE WAY TO SAVE YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY FROM MELTDOWNS AND TYRANNY?

Decentralized finance (DeFi) is built on the blockchain, which offers a wide range of financial services without the need for intermediaries such as banks or other financial institutions. DeFi has emerged as a popular alternative to traditional finance, offering a more open, transparent, and decentralized financial system. In this article, we will explore why DeFi can protect you from a coming financial meltdown and from tyrannical governments.

DeFi is built on the blockchain, which means that it is inherently decentralized. This means that there is no central authority controlling the system, and all transactions are verified and validated by a distributed network of nodes. This makes the system more resilient and less vulnerable to attack or manipulation. Unlike traditional financial systems, where central authorities have the power to manipulate the system, DeFi is designed to be transparent and immutable.

One of the main advantages of DeFi is that it offers greater financial freedom and control to users. DeFi allows users to access a wide range of financial services without the need for intermediaries. This means that users can transact directly with each other, without having to go through banks or other financial institutions. This gives users greater control over their finances and reduces the risks associated with centralized financial systems.

Another advantage of DeFi is that it is highly transparent. All transactions on the blockchain are public and can be verified by anyone. This means that there is no room for fraud or manipulation, as all transactions are visible to all participants in the network. This level of transparency is not possible in traditional financial systems, where transactions are often opaque and difficult to track.

DeFi also offers greater security to users. Transactions on the blockchain are secured using cryptography, making them virtually impossible to hack or manipulate. This means that users can trust the system, knowing that their funds are secure. Traditional financial systems, on the other hand, are often vulnerable to cyberattacks and fraud, which can result in significant financial losses.

Don’t miss Rich Dad Poor Dad’s Robert Kiyosaki in this absolutely free webinar: The Coming Financial Tsunami. Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones. Click here NOW to register!

Furthermore, DeFi is designed to be more inclusive and accessible to everyone. Unlike traditional financial systems, which often have high barriers to entry, DeFi is open to anyone with an internet connection. This means that people who are unbanked or underbanked can access financial services that were previously unavailable to them. This inclusivity is important because it helps to reduce financial inequality and promotes greater financial inclusion.

Finally, DeFi is more resilient than traditional financial systems. DeFi is built on a decentralized network of nodes, which means that there is no single point of failure. This makes the system more resilient to attacks and more resistant to financial meltdowns. In traditional financial systems, a single point of failure can have catastrophic consequences, as we saw in the 2008 financial crisis.

DeFi is a new and exciting financial system that offers a wide range of benefits over traditional finance. It is transparent, secure, accessible, and resilient, making it an attractive option for people who are looking to protect themselves from a coming financial meltdown. While DeFi is still in its early stages, it has the potential to transform the world of finance, offering a more open, transparent, and decentralized financial system for everyone.

SEVEN BENEFITS OF DECENTRALIZED FINANCE

Decentralized finance (DeFi) has emerged as a revolutionary technology that enables individuals to conduct financial transactions without the need for intermediaries such as banks or financial institutions. DeFi uses blockchain technology, which provides a transparent and secure way of conducting financial transactions. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of decentralized finance, along with a brief overview of crypto and blockchain.

Overview of Crypto and Blockchain

Crypto refers to digital currencies that use cryptography to secure financial transactions and control the creation of new units. Bitcoin, which was created in 2009, is the most well-known cryptocurrency. It is based on blockchain technology, which is a decentralized ledger that records transactions in a transparent and secure manner. Blockchain technology provides a secure and tamper-proof way of recording transactions, making it ideal for use in financial transactions.

Benefits of Decentralized Finance

Lower Transaction Costs

Decentralized finance provides a cost-effective way of conducting financial transactions. Traditional financial systems are often plagued by high transaction costs, which are passed on to customers. DeFi eliminates the need for intermediaries, which means that transaction costs are significantly lower. This makes it easier for individuals to access financial services and reduces the barriers to entry for new players in the market.

Greater Accessibility

DeFi provides greater accessibility to financial services, particularly for individuals who are unbanked or underbanked. In many parts of the world, people do not have access to traditional banking services due to various factors such as lack of documentation, poor credit history, or living in remote areas. DeFi provides a way for these individuals to access financial services using only a smartphone and an internet connection. This has the potential to increase financial inclusion and reduce poverty.

Increased Transparency

One of the main benefits of blockchain technology is its transparency. Transactions recorded on the blockchain are publicly visible, making it easier to trace the flow of funds. This provides a level of transparency that is not possible with traditional financial systems. Decentralized finance leverages this transparency to provide greater accountability and reduce the risk of fraud. This makes DeFi a more secure and trustworthy way of conducting financial transactions.

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More Control Over Personal Data

Traditional financial systems often require individuals to provide personal data such as name, address, and social security number. This data is stored by banks and financial institutions, making it vulnerable to hacks and breaches. DeFi provides individuals with more control over their personal data by using self-sovereign identity solutions. These solutions enable individuals to control their own data and share it only with the parties they trust.

Greater Flexibility

Decentralized finance provides greater flexibility in terms of financial products and services. Traditional financial systems are often rigid, with limited options for customers. DeFi provides a range of financial products and services, including loans, savings accounts, insurance, and investment products. This gives individuals greater flexibility to choose the financial products and services that meet their specific needs.

Faster Settlement Times

Blockchain technology enables faster settlement times for financial transactions. Traditional financial systems often require several intermediaries to process transactions, which can take several days. With DeFi, transactions are processed directly on the blockchain, which means that settlement times can be as fast as a few seconds. This provides greater convenience for customers and reduces the risk of errors and delays.

Reduced Counterparty Risk

Traditional financial systems often involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that one party will fail to fulfill its obligations in a financial transaction. DeFi eliminates counterparty risk by using smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts that automatically execute when certain conditions are met. This provides greater security and reduces the risk of fraud and default.

Conclusion

Decentralized finance is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to transform the financial industry. By eliminating intermediaries, increasing accessibility, increasing transparency, providing more control over personal data, offering greater flexibility, enabling faster settlement times, and reducing counterparty risk, DeFi provides numerous benefits that traditional financial systems cannot match. As DeFi continues to evolve, it has the potential to create a more equitable and inclusive financial system that benefits individuals and communities around the world.

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Investing in decentralized finance (DeFi) and cryptocurrencies involves risk and may result in significant financial losses. Readers are advised to conduct their own research and seek the advice of a financial professional before investing in DeFi or cryptocurrencies. The author and publisher of this article are not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of investing in DeFi or cryptocurrencies.