Politics.

If I had to categorize myself, I am a radical leftist, I am a communist. Communism is the only political system that supports complete equality – coexisting. The communism I believe in, the communism I advocate, drastically differentiates from the stigma that appears in someone’s head once they hear the word “communism.” I don’t believe in materiality, currency, hierarchy, many things that are the foundation of capitalist societies. Our lives revolve around a little, green, arbitrary piece of paper.  This insignificant piece of paper can make us reside on top of the universe, or make us reside in a card board box. Our democracy and riches that are supposedly associated with it were created to provide beatitude, but in contrast, it’s created indigence, hunger, depression, widening the gap between the rich and the poor, etc. I believe superlative happiness can only be achieved by living minimally. But living in such a complicated world, it’s almost impossible to live simplistically. And once we are accustomed to these superficial indulgences, how are we supposed to live with nothing and be content? Henry David Thoreau once said, and this is a severe oversimplification, that man needs food and shelter to survive. Once man has a fireplace in his shelter, he will need food, fire, and shelter to survive. And once a man has clothes to wear in his shelter, he will need clothes, shelter, fire, and food to survive. And once he has a stove to cook his food, he will need a stove, clothes, shelter, fire, and food to survive. The cycle goes on and on infinitely, and if man was reduced to only owning the initial food and shelter, he would not know how to live. Now we have cars, influential media, synthetic drugs, plastic surgery, and an incessant flow of bullshit being created that none of us need but claim to be essential. I want a society that works to better the society, not for money-a society that views itself as a whole, not individual parts; a society that shares, not hoards, a society that has ambition originating from a want to better the community, not to be better than others in the community. And if the community found having a currency crucial, the money would be in a giant bowl in the middle of the town. I’m cognizant of the naivetés involved in my thinking, and that communism is well conceived in theory, but that’s where it will stay – in theory.  I sincerely believe, though, that if my mentality and anomalous way of thinking was spread universally, new variables pertaining to ways of life would we explored, because the current situation is not beneficial except to the one percent. Maybe if we all lived in huts as hunters and gatherers we would find our essence and meaning in each other, not the relentless need to acquire new objects and feel superior to our peers.   Now that we are accustomed to such ample amounts of materiality and superficiality, though, a communist system in today’s society would be much different, but it is also a system I highly advocate. Everyone would have the same salary. The only problem with that is the overwhelming greed that indubitably overpowers this planet. What would be the reason to go to school when you could get a sufficient amount of money being a gas station attendant? We would have to point our moral compasses north and succeed to better ourselves and the world, not for money or to surpass the rest of society. And if we all had the same salary, there would be no social hierarchy, with other restrictions of course; such as the privilege of keeping money in Swiss banks being abrogated.  With same salaries, the jobs overlooked would regain their importance, such as individuals who work at day cares, teachers, and all other occupations involving the socialization of young children. For a more equal government to succeed, we have to start at the roots – the younger generations. But how can we start at the young generations, if they don’t have sufficient care? Europe treats child care as one of the most important occupations, opposed to America where the pay is loathsome. And in Europe, inevitably, the children are growing up to be more emotionally healthy, with more emotional connections and stability. Also, with same salaries, it would be completely and utterly impossible for corporations to obtain the power they have now. There would be no minimum wage; but a maximum wage. Mayo Hospital is practicing something similar to this, and they claim that their staff replaces financial envy with friendship. If this disunited world united without the continuous need to submerge themselves with as much money as possible, it would create the most profound solidarity. If this equivocal concept was made unequivocal by ceaseless optimism and an authentic care for the universe, the economy would repair itself, the general well-being of earth’s inhabitants would drastically increase, and the world would coexist.

-Hannah