I'm depressed. Not the "I hate/dislike/am disappointed with my life", the "I'm angry/fearful of the world I'm handing my children" type of depression. As an individual am doing all I can to isolate myself and my loved ones from the corrupt economic and political systems that enslave and deceive us. However, I feel I should be doing more. For instance, I should actively participate in my Food Not Bombs Chapter; I should work harder and save my money so I have options should things turn for the worse; I just should be doing more.
But what else can I do? The aforementioned actions I could take are compromises at best. There is a foundational flaw in my life somehow, and I think I found it. America is built on a flawed system of property and representation. Flawed from my perspective, anyway. I believe the supreme goal that all systems of production, society, and economy should be human happiness. The American system of capitalism is perfect for creating wealth and concentrating it within the clutches of a few individuals (in modern times, read "corporations"). A normal person has no other option than to sell his/her labor for a wage while a capitalist gleans profit due to his/her name being on the deed to the property and other invested capital. This sad truth is disheartening. It feels like I'm swimming upstream both financially and ideologically. The system of representation in These United States is limited to choosing between two equally terrible candidates every two, four, and six years. I cannot bring my grievances to anyone with any glimmer of hope that I might be either listened to or offered a real solution. My choices are limited to either compromising my morals on a daily basis, or starve, or fight back and be either imprisoned or killed by the state. As you can see, I don't like the options I'm presented with.
That's why I've been contemplating a fourth solution: Just leave. Leave the country. Why should I limit myself to life within the confines of any certain state? Just because I was born in a certain arbitrarily defined geographical area doesn't mean that I must pledge loyalty to the most powerful entity (the government) within that area. Indeed, the only thing that keeps most people from pursuing what makes them happy is the threat of overwhelming coercion on the part of the state, be it through captivity, theft, pain, or murder.
But then I run into another problem: Where would I go?
I've been tossing a couple of places...
- Exarchia, Greece: Not a state or city, but an anarchist neighborhood within Athens that is largely left alone by the Greek government. Considering the turmoil in which Greece is embroiled right now, this may
change. Either the insurrection is successful, which is unlikely at this time, or the state instills enough fear in the population to stem the onslaught of rocks and molotovs.
- Southern Chiapas, Mexico: The EZLN ceased violent insurrectionary tactics and abided by the peace treaty they signed with the Mexican Government in '96. Since then it has focused on media and international support. I'm okay with living under a Council of Good Government. I am concerned about how they might receive a foreigner from the States. I may be
viewed with suspicion, and thus be unable, at least at first, to live a productive and fulfilling life.
These are the top two so far, but I'm looking for others. If you have any suggestions, leave a comment.
