How can it not?
The promise of making more money drives some people to risk investment or commit more hours and do so immediately, encouraged by the knowledge that the first through the post will gain the advantage of brand or patent.
So what do we want from our innovation?
To answer that perhaps we should ask what do we want from life?
Presumably the wisest answer will come from those who look back from their death beds and list the things they would have changed.
Do they say 'Made more money', or do they say 'Spent quality time with my loves ones'?
So surely our innovations should allow us to spend more time with our loves ones.
In terms of health I think this does hold true. We are able to cure more diseases and put other ailments on hold. Were we not living such unhealthy lifestyles we would live longer.
But outside health our innovations generally do allow us to work quicker or automate chores. So that's perfect.
No. Both the average mother and the father need to work long hours to support a home?
Why?
Capitalism negates the benefits of innovation.
Supply and demand. Those necessities have become open to private investment and anyone, anywhere with a with a surplus of wealth may and will invest in owning and profiting from necessities. There is no safer investment.
This places the control of supply pricing completely at the hands of the necessity owners.
As more unnecessary money flows into the necessities they go up in price as CEO's seek returns for shareholders that justify their salaries.
The limit will be that of the endurance of the average person.
There is no 'low cost living' that will allow those who enjoy the simple things in life to do their fair share in ever depreciating hours thanks to innovation.
There are rules in place to protect the public from cartels and monopolies but as we have seen recently with Libor, energy pricing and the EU having to step in where London would not, the wrong people seem have to managed to occupy the positions of scrutiny.
With the welfare state as it was there was a 'Get out of jail free' card. Doing nothing, being a sponge. The rising costs of that went into the pockets of the owners of capitalised necessities, while a hopeless generation was created, used to doing almost nothing, now required to do more than one willing to enjoy the simple things should be required to sacrifice.
The all important 'fair share, low skill' middle ground that can bring fulfillment pride and happiness to the most people has gone.
With globalisation these levels slip further for the exportable skill classes. Two new low standards are bought to the mix.
- The lowest level someone in a suppressed regime who has managed to immigrate will tolerate.
- The salary of someone in a low value country but adjusted for transportation and import duties.
Local businesses must pay their staff these locally low salaries to compete, even to sell locally against importers. Everyone working harder, for less, using the latest innovations just to stay afloat.
With real wages slipping the necessity owners have reached the price limit and now seek to multiply their wealth in developing countries where the cost of living will again rise faster then wages. The intended benefit of innovation going to waste.
And in the rush, we consume faster. We can ill afford to consume faster.
So it is clear to me that, regardless of our innovation, the living standards of the majority must continue to deteriorate if we maintain a brand of capitalism where the necessities are also capitalised and where those who write the rules are tied to those same profiteers.
Note.
What saddens me is that intelligent people who understand and accept this continue to vote for individuals who make no legally binding commitment to change it.
If politicians can say one thing and do another you have no information.
If spin is intentionally giving you the wrong impression then you have been lied to.
If you are not able to make an informed decision you do not have a democracy.
Please enforce your right to democracy next time you vote.
Give the next generation a foundation they can build on.
Visit www.goodegg.ork.uk 28th of August.
