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Although I’ve always had this sense, approaching my forties has made me realize with clarity that society’s goals differ from those of individuals.
In this article we will discuss about those differences and why it’s extremely important to understand this concept very soon in life.
In my opinion, teaching your children this approach, rather than blindly trusting authorities, will open up opportunities for a better life.
Introduction
First of all, I won’t base this analysis on just one country. However, some countries are certainly more inclined to prioritize the needs of their population over their own agendas.
I believe the best approach is to examine the tax structure, the education system, and how individuals ultimately choose their careers.
Opposing purposes
Society seeks obedient followers, while individuals desire freedom
I believe this is the most crucial concept: A country functions much like a company, striving to succeed in the global marketplace and trying to stay ahead.
To achieve this, it needs to export or sell more goods and services than it imports, exploit other countries through wars, or exploit a large segment of its own population.
This means that countries who can’t perform very well will ultimately ending taxing their population as much as it is tolerable if they want to keep being competitive.
In some countries, hidden taxes are imposed under the guise of equality and health, effectively taxing up to 90% of income. It’s fair to say that in these systems, little has changed since the feudal era.
The only individuals who can avoid taxes are entrepreneurs who generate substantial income and employ enough workers to negotiate deals with the government and people with a high position inside the government.
L’art de l’imposition consiste à plumer l’oie pour obtenir le plus possible de plumes avec le moins possible de cris.
Jean-Baptiste Colbert – Contrôleur général des finances de Louis XIV
Society wants people to have jobs, while individuals tend to seek passion and meaning
A job is an activity that you wouldn’t undertake on your own if you weren’t financially compensated for it. Passion is the opposite.
Many individuals are required to fill meaningless jobs for extended periods to keep society functioning. A significant issue may be that, since the industrial era, jobs have become so specialized that people no longer find satisfaction in creating something from scratch.
While this approach has clear advantages, such as reducing the cost of goods, it often results in quality and benefits being skewed in favor of large corporations and shareholders.
The issue is that there are increasing numbers of superficial jobs that don’t significantly enhance our experience as citizens. These jobs also take a mental toll on the people who perform them.
Society wants you to be focus on the future and not the present.
Societies uses the school system for people to be locked in the job path
The main reason why societies can achieve this is school and compulsory until the age of 16 and pretty much advised until 23 years old.
Don’t get me wrong—school is definitely one of the best experiences in life. However, it may be that the system is designed to have you spend a lot of time on less relevant matters, while others get ahead at a young age by pursuing what they truly love.
By the age of 23, you’re already expected to take on a job to support yourself and soon, your family and perhaps this is the goal.
The education system was designed to produce mindless soldiers.
It’s important to recognize that school plays a crucial role up until the age of 16, and the stages from kindergarten to high school are essential for learning how to function in a social group, as well as developing skills in reading, critical thinking, and writing.
As a result, those working in education are just as vital to society as firefighters and police officers. The one area I feel isn’t fully optimized is providing extracurricular activities that help students explore their passions, rather than simply fulfilling obligations.
We recognize that only a small portion of the population will achieve something extraordinary, but it is essential to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to do so, regardless of socioeconomic background or education level.
Society wants individuals to generate income through consumption and remain unfulfilled
Society needs its individuals to live a life of consumption so they can retrieve both taxes and charges from salary. The more a society consume the higher the income for the state, the more they can invest in military innovation for protection or dominance.
This is why society promotes happiness through the consumption of goods. It’s evident that there is also an agenda behind things like personal vehicles, which are increasingly pushed to be electric, and housing prices, which have skyrocketed from $40,000 to $1,000,000 in just a few decades.
In today’s era, most people need to take out a mortgage to buy a home, often for several decades. This makes it very difficult for them to do anything other than follow the cycle established by society. Meaning working all your life to buy something that was close to free centuries or decades ago in some countries.
You are constantly chasing consumption, whether it’s a new item, a vacation, or home improvements. Instead, you should be pursuing your life’s purpose to reach your fullest potential whether it’s spiritual or skills.
Society encourages individuals to engage in conspicuous consumption by buying exclusive goods to appear special, while individuals themselves often desire to develop unique skills or qualities.
Society depreciate money by printing it while individuals are trying to save it
This may be the most vicious cycle: as housing prices increase due to inflation, countries can print money because it’s no longer backed by gold. Countries with trillions in debt will simply print more money to repay lenders, leading to currency depreciation and inflation.
As a result, saving money in the bank becomes less effective, pushing you to buy a house with a mortgage. This not only generates income for the country through taxes but also forces you to spend most of your income and future income.
Some countries impose an inheritance tax. Imagine your parents having paid 70-90% in taxes on their earnings, only for that inheritance to be taxed again when passed down to you.
Society aims to keep the deck constantly reshuffled, unless you’re part of the oligarchy or a legal expert. Keep in mind that some laws are deliberately left in a gray area, allowing judges to interpret them to their own advantage.
Society aims to preserve its structure, while individuals strive to improve it
I always feel that companies like delivery and on-demand driver apps have created jobs for a segment of the population that struggled to find employment due to cultural differences and a desire for independence.
Let’s use Uber and Deliveroo in France as an example. I would bet that these two companies have created more jobs and reduced insecurity by integrating a segment of the population into the workforce.
The main reason is that Uber and Deliveroo are more efficient and cost-effective than traditional services like taxis. This is because their workforce consists of independent contractors who are exempt from paying social charges, although the government has attempted to challenge this in court.
For the government, this represents a threat to their largest revenue source, which is social charges. These are fees paid by individuals who don’t receive unemployment benefits if they are self-employed, and the retirement benefits provided are given decades later without accounting for inflation or compounding interest.
Society and individuals both strive for power
Take the second amendment for example, this amendment essentially serves as a balance of power between the government and its citizens. It is a law designed to prevent the state from exploiting the population without the ability for citizens to resist or revolt if they believe the government is acting unfairly.
This is because the military and police forces, equipped with weapons, cannot be overthrown unless citizens also have access to arms.
Society aims to keep individuals in an endless loop, while individuals seek a thrilling adventure
If life is an experience, our goal should be to make it captivating and extraordinary. Unfortunately, for society to function, most people need to fill essential roles within it.
I’m not suggesting that these jobs lack importance or meaning. Rather, I’m arguing that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue something beyond these roles if their interests and passions lie elsewhere.
Living in multiple societies or countries as a remote worker should be permitted, allowing individuals to explore beyond traditional work and public transportation, and to optimize their income just as effectively as the wealthiest individuals and companies.
Conclusion
Governments exist to ensure that society functions smoothly, making their role crucial.
For example, without the police, rules couldn’t be enforced or respected, leading to a breakdown in safety and a return to a lawless environment where it’s a matter of survival of the fittest.
However, modern societies are far from perfect and can sometimes exploit their citizens. It can often feel as though governments are playing a macro-level strategy game, like Risk, Starcraft or Age of Empires, disregarding the experience of their pawns.
Just as you would be cautious about a government sending soldiers to war, you should be wary of the predetermined paths laid out for you.
Not everything the society has established is necessarily intended to enhance your life, so it’s important to carefully evaluate what is truly best for you and your family.
Just remember, if you come from a modest background, you might be treated like cattle, subject to frequent shavings, or like a basic-level farmer in Age of Empires and you’ll have to find your own way out of it.
What if freedom were defined by the ability to make choices? The choice to pollute or not, the choice to pay social charges or invest that money, the choice to step outside the path laid out by society and live on your own terms.
While not everyone may be suited for this kind of life, the absence of choice can be akin to a form of slavery.
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