Age Of Abundance: The War That Is Brewing
It is no secret that we presently reside in the Age of Scarcity. Our entire economic model is based upon scarce resources. We exploit the planet to gain control of these resources in an unequal manner. For the past 100 years, oil is at the core of this economic model.
That is rapidly changing. We are starting to move into the Age of Abundance. As much as that excites many people, it scares a great deal more.
One of the factors that is difficult for people to deal with is that the present structures that profit from the scarcity are going to be eliminated. Of course, this is not something they are going to do without a fight. We are seeing every mechanism used to delay/eliminate the threat. Of course, it is useless, just like the destroying of machines did not hinder the Industrial Revolution from taking place.
The exponential technologies we see created are penetrating at an incredible rate. This will only increase as time goes by especially when AI is added to the mix. The new economy is based upon software, not physical items. The largest transportation company in the world owns no cars; the biggest lodger has no rooms; the biggest bank has no branches (cryptocurrency).
What we are witnessing is the resistance to the new economy. Too many are invested in the old model. Hence we see tribalism and protectionism everywhere we look. Trump wants to build a wall and eliminate trade agreements. Brexit is taking place. Car dealers want Tesla banned from selling cars direct. The banksters want Bitcoin made illegal.
We are going to look at these measures with the same amount of humor as we do the Luddites destroying machines more than a century ago. It will be just as fruitless.
The challenge we are having is that too many people simply are not able to take part in economy in transition. For those who are able, they are so accustomed to the scarcity economy that they operate under the same constraints. We are moving into the sharing economy yet when resources get scarce, sharing gets tossed aside.
Industries such as oil, banking, and communications are worth trillions of dollars. All of these are ripe for disruption since they depend upon scarcity. Oil is being replaced by renewables; banking by cryptocurrency; communications with digital transmissions (and soon brain to brain). In essence, decentralization is starting to enter the picture.
This means that our resources will be allocated more efficiently. What is not in digital form will be produced closer to the end user. AI, along with blockchain, will play a big part in using our physical resources with greater efficiency. Excess energy production, as an example, will be routed to the areas that need it instead of going to waste. This is just one of the untold ways our future will operate.
Nevertheless, the battle is going to rage on. The starting point is with each individual. Most of us operated under the scarcity model for decades. We worked in it, tried to provide for our families, and suffered greatly under this model. Yet so many still are defending it.
Cryptocurrencies are just the first wave of abundance that we will see. Being on STEEM means that one is not going to want for money in as little as 5 years. How can I make this statement? Simply because STEEM is a decentralized blockchain with unlimited potential. There is no cap on what can take place on here.
Here is a question I want you to answer...
When SMTs come out, what is the maximum number of tokens that can be created with it?
The answer is unlimited.
Taking it one step further, how many airdrops of tokens given to STEEM holders can take place?
Again, unlimited.
What is the maximum price that STEEM can hit?
Unlimited.
What is the maximum number of applications that can be on this blockchain?
There is no maximum.
I bring this up as an example of what happens when one steps into the Age of Abundance. Each day people have more information than they could read in 10 lifetimes. Yet, 30 years ago, this was not the case.
Of course, having so much information means that our attention is scarce. Hence, we are moving towards the attention economy. Entities that want to gain our focus are going to have to provide for that privilege. This is something they are accustomed to do but we are not. Google, Facebook and broadcasters know what our attention is worth yet we do not have a clue.
It is time we all started to think differently. Being on STEEM means that we have a basic understanding of the shift that is taking place. Nevertheless, it is easy to pay lip service to the idea of abundance and uplifting humanity. It is another to truly believe that.
I will close with this....
Centralization is about controlling others; decentralization is about controlling oneself.
Are you in Abundance or Scarcity? We are starting to have a choice.
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Very well written agree with you 100%.
I saw this documentary called Water & Power: A California Heist on Netflix check it out very interesting. Water is becoming very scarce with the long droughts and companies are profiting off underground water that is being pumped out at an alarming rate which will drain our ground water supply and causes the land above to sink.
Which is another example when something is scrace the value goes up.
Yes natural resources are put under the control of governments who then turn them over to their cronies in corporations. Throughout the entire process, people are paid and the general masses suffer. Scarcity is a poison that affects us all. Few take the time to consider the damage that is being done by engaging upon such a system. Sadly, we are all tied into it to varying degrees.
That is why blockchain is so important...it starts to make things more transparent, something most companies do not want.
Definitely the public deserves to be able to see the truth. If you take the cover off all these shady companies they will think twice before engaging in destructive activities.
I think you are right. And the task for many of us is to be ready for the change.
Are we ready for a life where we don't have to work, where it's not those who strive the hardest who are the most rewarded?
I think some are, and some will live it as another financial crisis, just much bigger than the last one.
Because when we don't have to compete for paid jobs because abundance is everywhere, then what is life about?
Inner peace, sharing, patience, creativity would be some of my main answers, but others surely have different and just as valid ideas.
And it will be very interesting to see how these ideas can co-exist in the abundance economy.
Even more critical....how do we deal with our identity when it isnt tied to our profession.
The first thing people ask is "what do you do for a living"? Most tie their self worth to the jobs.
This will be as big a change for many as what to do with the time.
I guess the new question will have to be "what do you enjoy doing?" instead of which job title you hold.
I guess were going to see a lot of hobby gardeners growing their own tomatoes suddenly...
Or it simply could be "what have you gotten done" or "What have you started lately". But hey, I was never realy into this system in place now, so I have thought that I'm propably first of a next generation, generation that want's to get things done unlike those "in labor or out labor" slobs.
"Centralization is about controlling others; decentralization is about controlling oneself."
Bravo!
D.
Great post. Ordinary people live in scarcity, banksters probably not. They control everything. I hope this is going to change. Crypto is our most powerful weapon against this corrupt system.
I think we are currently in both abundance and scarcity. I also expect to be financially independent in 5 years though I will have a back up plan just in case.
Yeah, we are kind of in both worlds. It'll be interesting to see what stays centralized, and what doesn't.
The sharing economy is the future. I can't wait when everyone has free, green energy. And when transportation costs hardly anything. I'm thankful to be a part of the shift and Steem will certainly be a tool for it.
Free energy is the major game changer. All stems from that. We live in a world of such inequality because of the energy difference. There are parts of the world, like the west, where energy is plentiful and relatively cheap. Yet others like Africa are still in the dark ages since power is not there. They operate on a manual model while the west enjoys automation.
This is something that renewables are changing. Ironically, many parts of the west are slow to adopt it....meaning they could get left behind.
I watched a documentary where it showed that Germany requires all new buildings to use at least 30% of green energy.
That is interesting! most parts of Africa are really backward and not ready for innovations. Personal gain is foremost to our leaders. What can I say... change is gradual. Someday we would get there.
There is no doubt a major shift is taking place.
To start, renewable energy is now economically viable meaning that corporations are embracing them. Facebook and Google going green on their server farms, while might be part of a green initiative, are only doing it because it is financially viable.
Diesel vehicles are starting to be banned by cities too.
Be aware that this whole "excelerated climate-change" might be a biggest scam of this century.
Governments are sure believing in the abundance theory... they are spurting out money like no tomorrow
LOL great point.
Except it isnt really money but debt. That is the problem with the bankster system, money is really a debtor's note.
So expansion of debt...I guess that is an abundance of something.
yes we are entering into the age of transition. apart from cryptocurrencies, there are tangible, grounded earth based ways we can take part in this.
there are actually whole communities that are taking part of something called transition towns. they're towns who have opted out of the antiquated model of scarcity. in their own words:
find one near you here. i have visited many of these communities and the inspiration and drive is palpable. humans get excited when they have renewed purpose and when we are doing good. too long have we believed the myth of every human for themself. we're entering into a new time of abundance and just like a seed head produces more seeds than it needs in the next generations, humans are soon stepping into a commerce of similar proportions. thanks, as always.
Loved this post! I have talked to many people about blockchain and unlimited abundance and I get a blank look! I will refer them to this post.
Attention is the new currency, and everyone has their share to give and earn. It is our most valuable asset that we can give, and steemit and other blockchain based technologies are the first to show us that our attention is valuable.
Companies like FB made billions by selling OUR attention to whoever the highest bidder was. Youtube used OUR content to profit from the attention that WE should have profited from.
Now instead of giving away our attention, we can pay it to people and projects that we support and want to see thrive. Instead of giving away our value we get paid what we are worth to the community of people who are paying attention to us.
Steemit is awesome, tell your friends and follow up with them, getting in early will be a strong advantage to do what you want to do with your life sooner
Before those entities, the broadcasters knew the value of it. Back in the day, before remote controls, we actually watched the commercials. Broadcasters have been paid a pretty penny for out attention. Look at what a Superbowl ad goes for....the attention of 80 million people is worth a pretty penny for 30 seconds.
Now we are in the pay us economy...they want our attention, it has a price for advertisers. No longer are we obligated to let someone else profit off it.