on equilibrium

Upon reading "On equilibrium" by John Ralston Saul, certain aspects of the current international system come to the forefront. First of all, he comments on humanity's rationality and common sense, a misinterpreted idea that all citizens are fighting for the same thing. However, this is incorrect. If we look at economic models of resource extraction, one would think that a human being is thinking ethically, rather than self-promotionally. This is an incorrect assumption that is indeed fully detrimental. The way in which the resource are extracted, or outsourced at the present day seems like the most irrationally efficient model to undertake. Realistically though they are the product of late-nineteenth century industrial production management theory- which shouldn't be the model that we adopt at this point in time. You would think that paradigms would shift as innovation grows. There is a difference between COMMERCE and freedom to act in international trade. Within a democracy, " citizenship comes first, along with freedom of speech, responsible individualism" (53) and of course social well-being. Nonetheless, it becomes clear that unregulated markets lead to the reinforcement of the poverty cycle and general suffering, and do nothing to encourage free speech, active citizenship and responsible businesses.

We must transcend the self in order to achieve equilibrium. I think that we have fundamentally lost respect within our society. The justification of greed maintains itself just along as the system keeps running. As soon as we have depleted and destroyed our own environments as well as those that do not belong to us, we will learn that sustainability was important.