Jim Murray

5 years ago · 2 min. reading time · 0 ·

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The War On Progress

The War On Progress

4 Prom
The Quick Side
¥ g Of Thelake

One of the things you learn from spending any time on social media, beside how cute those little pygmy goats are, is that there are literally thousands of ideas out there that will, when given the opportunity, become real game changers in the progress of the world.

But right now, I have a strange feeling that there are a lot of people out there whose brains are so supersaturated with and distracted by political bullshit that they are actually becoming numb to anything to do with progress and more consumed with ennui about their basic rights and freedoms.

These are not the idiots because they don’t process complex ideas like democracy and progress and freedom very well.

But the rest, and I do believe it’s the majority, are for the most part, walking around in a daze, wondering what the hell happened to a world that seemed to be moving forward and now appears to be being slowly and methodically jammed into reverse.

Uncomfortable Numbness & New Priorities

What I believe we are experiencing is bigger than politics.

What we are seeing is what my insightful sister calls the last dying gasp of the old white industrialists.

These people are clinging to destructive, invasive, and environmentally dangerous ways of doing things, especially here in North America. This resistance to real progress is loud and constant and it can wear on your spirit.

You watch so called democracies falling prey to the big industrial con game of deregulation, that allows these smokestack industries to keep on pumping carcinogens into the atmosphere: that allows companies to keep on stripping the land and polluting the water through hydraulic fracturing and uncontrolled waste dumping: that reduces emission control standards for the automotive industry, and these are just the most obvious ones.

With all this coming at you 24/7, it’s very easy to understand why so many of us have become uncomfortably numb.

It’s All About All Of Us

But understand this. These industries are dying and have been for years. There are new and better and more environmentally responsible ways out there that are just itching to replace them on a large scale. And, despite all the protestations and attacks on them, they are growing.

Progressive thinkers, and there are a few of those around, understand this. What we need to do is seek them out, ask them pointed questions and get behind the most progressive of them.

At this point in time in time progressive thinking especially as it pertains to the environment and human impact of it, is far and away the most important thing to be focused on. Because without real progress in this area it’s only a matter of time before very little else will matter.

And the way that happens all depends on our ability to accept and embrace these new ideas and not allow ourselves to be victimized by the greed of old white men and their smokestacks and vehement opposition to progress.

The world is at a crossroads right now. It’s confusing to most people. But some things are painfully obvious. And making greedy rich old men even richer at the expense of our environment is one of the most obvious of all.


1a49d31d.pngJim Murray is an experienced advertising and marketing professional. He has run his own business (Onwords & Upwords), since 1989 after a 20 year career in Toronto as a senior creative person in major Canadian & international advertising agencies. He is a communication strategist, writer, art director, broadcast producer, mildly opinionated op/ed blogger & beBee Brand Ambassador.

Jim lives in St Catharines Ontario (AKA The Quiet Side Of The Lake) and is still working with companies in Toronto whence he came. He is also currently a partner at Bullet Proof Consulting. www.bulletproofconsulting.ca

You can follow Jim

On beBee: https://www.bebee.com/bee/jim-murray

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-murray-b8a3a4/

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jimbobmur

On Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y97gxro4



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Comments

Harvey Lloyd

5 years ago #14

#16
That is a good point and as metophororic as they are, they are quite real.

Jim Murray

5 years ago #13

#15
In all deference to you well reasoned comment, Harvey, I believe that the staw men are all to real and very much in the way of progress.

Harvey Lloyd

5 years ago #12

Regardless of politics we all are looking at the same hole in the ground. You and i stand on opposite sides of the hole. The debate boils down to equality in opportunity or equality in outcome. Progressive believers see equity/outcome and conservatives see opportunity as the foundation. Outcome is up to the individual. To the degree that a person seizes opportunity they drive their own outcome. Progressiveness see the walls to outcome or barriers and think that these walls, if removed, would change the outcome. Jonathan Haidt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SOQduoLgRw&t=30s discusses these challenges as we develop inside of echo chambers. We need both sides of the coin. Liberals to remind us of humanity and conservatism to help us stay grounded in fundamental terms. Taking the straw-man argument on either side and presenting the straw-man as reality serves only to emotionally develop the sides within a paradox that establishes battle lines. An example is that every business is constantly looking to decrease cost and increase revenue, without loosing market share. A complex paradigm i am sure you have bumped into within your expert skills. What happens when the business service/product is provided by a government that is not bound by this paradigm of tension? It becomes political whereby candidates use straw-men discussions to gain votes and make promises that are unfunded. We need each other to discuss the go forward position across many issues. But we cant start from the extremes. We have to start where we are, without judgement, and with a system that allows for the freedoms within our constitution.

Jim Murray

5 years ago #11

#12
Thankjs Wayne Yoshida

Wayne Yoshida

5 years ago #10

Jim Murray gives us something to think about . . .

Wayne Yoshida

5 years ago #9

Thanks Jim. I work for a company that is trying to clear the air. Getting rid of diesel as a transportation fuel. Switching to natural gas, renewable natural gas, hydrogen, electric and other reduced carbon technologies. I am also glad you ride a bicycle -- that is one of the best natural, non-polluting modes of transportation around.

Jim Murray

5 years ago #8

#10
That's actually what I have been doing. The best way to keep all the buillshit from depressing you is to keep away from it. My sister feeds me tips on good stuff to listen to.

Jim Taggart

5 years ago #7

Indeed, the Western world is getting dumbed down by the relentless shovelling of bullshit political commentaries, analyses, etc., to which we, as a so-called knowledge society, have become addicted. If you want a break and exercise your brain and encourage some thinking and reflection, watch some podcasts of such people as Neil Degrasse Tyson, one of the most articulate (and funny) scientists out there. His three hour podcast (Aug. 22) with Joe Rogan is one of his best.

Jim Murray

5 years ago #6

#7
Hey Brian, how's Like in 1955?

Jerry Fletcher

5 years ago #5

Brother Jim, it is with great hope that among those youngsters are some that will plead not to be flung into that briar patch and when flung will tear it a new arsehole. You beat bullies by outsmarting them and then turning their own faults on them just as brer rabbit did. And so it goes.

CityVP Manjit

5 years ago #4

Peel back that new generational label called Generation Z and what I think people will find are teens who are more closely identify with the progressive aspects mentioned in this buzz, and they are not politically pigeon holed in the left and right political distinctions, they are calling out shit on both sides of the aisle. As these youngsters start coming to the end of their school years, the antiquated mindsets that are making hay while they still can will eventually die out. That is how change usually arrives - the mindfuckers begin to die out and the mindful begin to replace them. That is why I am know the present dystopia will pass and I do keep my eye on those within ANY generation who understand things far more holistically and most important practically.

don kerr

5 years ago #3

Abso-freaking-lutely Jim Murray. "The cost of our success is the exhaustion of natural resources, leading to energy crises, climate change, pollution, and the destruction of our habitat. If you exhaust natural resources, there will be nothing left for your children. If we continue in the same direction, humankind is headed for some frightful ordeals, if not extinction." Christian de Duve

Jim Murray

5 years ago #2

#2
Thanks Mr Pascal. Most humbly appreciated.

Pascal Derrien

5 years ago #1

Very very powerfully delivered one of your best on the topic Mr Jim

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