The Company Infrastructure

“The people recognize themselves in their commodities; they find their soul in their automobile, hi-fi set, split-level home, kitchen equipment.” ~Herbert Marcuse

Do you ever notice how you travel in circles doing the same motion but under varying circumstances? Obtaining a license is the same as buying food, buying food the same as buying health insurance, buying health insurance the same as being treated in a hospital, being treated in a hospital the same as attending school, attending school the same as going to work. Is this all coincidence? Or is it a “higher purpose”?

“Any so-called material thing that you want is merely a symbol: you want it not for itself, but because it will content your spirit for the moment.” ~Mark Twain

All those actions are similar in that they involve the transferring of one sheet of paper from one location to another. From DMV to supermarket to insurance building to hospital to school to work. Not paper pushing, but paper chasing. Makes it sound as if a mule were following the carrot on the stick, doesn’t it (the carrot of course being papers – remember money is paper despite it being electronic, most still believe it as paper, but that’s another blog post)? If you’re a laborer, then you never MAKE money. Only the wealthy can make money, everyone else just chases it. Working a 9-5 job, or two, does not mean you make money. First, you are promised a set amount of paper at employment, but that’s a lie because that’s not the amount you receive.

“Materialism is the only form of distraction from true bliss.” ~Doug Horton

From that set amount is subtracted various taxes and assurances (er, insurances) and what remains is transacted to your account at the bank. But that’s STILL not what you get. From THAT amount you now subtract all that you owe to various companies (or, bill collectors. How apropos that money is known as bills, and there are bill-collectors. Incidentally, there are also bills of sale, bills of lading, and duck bills, but that’s something else altogether). Whatever remains of that amount, you can use for yourself (but often, that’s still not true, because you have to share that amount with your family if you have one). And even what you have for yourself, you don’t keep, you merely transfer it to other companies to buy company wares, except that’s called shopping (i.e., supermarkets, clothing stores, department stores, car repair and maintenance, gas, etc.).

“Most people seek after what they do not possess and are thus enslaved by the very things they want to acquire.” ~Anwar El-sadat

Suddenly, I’m reminded of the miners before the formation of unions. Seems to me that people live on company land (property taxes), in company housing (mortgage), using company money (Federal Reserve notes, or dollar bills, or money), owing your life and livelihood to the company. Lest you start to become a little dissatisfied with the company arrangement, the company does provide an array of distractions to lay your wearied mind to rest: sports games, board games, online games, video games, DVDs, movies, clubs, bars, drugs, therapy, church, support groups, affairs, fast food, etc.; all of which are owned by the company. What’s the real mindbender about it all though is that all of the company distractions also cost money! So, even when you are engaged in recreation (and even vacation!) you are still laboring for the company.

“You buy furniture. You tell yourself, this is the last sofa I will ever need in my life. Buy the sofa, then for a couple years you’re satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you’ve got your sofa issue handled. Then the right set of dishes. Then the perfect bed. The drapes. The rug. Then you’re trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you.” ~Chuck Palahniuk