Big Business

With the advent of fossil fuels, humans today, live on the nonrenewable planetary resources that belong to all future humanity; all future generations will be denied access to them because we're now consuming thousands of years worth of nonrenewable natural resources at astounding rates; like 10,000 years worth every 10,000 weeks! That's a 100% certainty they'll have none; what impact that will have on all Earth species is easy to imagine; complete human dependency on it now, will be our species undoing.

Consequently, I'm not an advocate for capitalism or consumerism; just the opposite (more at Micro Mobile). If I were on a different planet, where money was not the centerpiece of the species, I'd build my own small shelter, grow and raise all sustenance, and live a simple life.

But that's not what we're facing. So, I researched the cheapest way to live an intentional, sustainable, simple lifestyle, and that is now what I'm doing. It's not ideal, but it's all I can do for now. Better than remaining a mindless follower of all that came before us.

Inside the paradigm of ecology, sustainability and environmental stewardship, there are now only two types of humans; the gas burners and the non-gas burners. The gas burners are the only problem; we non-gas burners are the only solution. But non-gas burners are opposed by, or even hated by, most of the gas burners. Hate and anger mostly comes from guilt and shame.

The gas burners buy fossil fuel products, creating the demand (study Keynesian Demand-Drives-Supply Economics). The gas burners who suffer from cognitive dissonance, must and will, self-justify; that's achieved mainly by blame-shifting, outright denial of overwhelming facts (and thus the prophesies about this time), and by victimism. But cars represent over 90% of the average persons ecological footprint. Obviously we need homes & food, but not cars!

The gas burners come in 2 types; those that think it's their right to burn-burn-burn, and as much as they whim, because they bought it with their money! So screw you and all future humans, I'll burn-burn-burn just for fun (vroom): I got mine so FU! It's evidence of the dehumanized. And 2nd are those who've been victimized by the monsters of Big Business; they blame-shift by building collectives of other gas burners, to target guilty corporations (and no doubt, they are guilty).

Big Oil Advertisement Psychologists spin things their way by playing Devil's Advocate, pulled from old Ad-Boy playbooks. They know Big Oil is either hated, or tolerated because of dependency, or when people make money from its existence. In fact, the entire Car Cult Industry must side with the sources of their income (duh), regardless of its planet-killing dystopia show 🎥.

On Social Media, Big Oil Ad Agents will pose as disgruntled consumers and will literally point the finger at Big Oil for all the woes they cause. This helps to keep their customers loyal to the burn-burn-burn; to buy all future human's share of Earth's nonrenewable natural resources. It's not our fault as victimized consumerists, it's Big Oil who is to blame! It relieves them of any personal accountability, and thus any personal responsibility, and thus change.

And Big Oil has no problem taking all the blame, so long as its customers do not stop buying, just because they feel shame or guilt or dis-eased. Big Oil only cares about massive profits now; they do not care about humanity future. So it's drill-drill-drill & burn-burn-burn baby! Environmentalists may wish to fight Big Oil in court, but Big Oil has all the gasoline pump dollars they get from the gas burners, to easily fight back and win; it's all rigged by/for the wealth class.

Now, if it's all Big Oil's fault, as their stage-show villain, then the buyer is just a victim; this mentality trap frees them to continue the burn-burn-burn, but without guilt; well, for a short time anyway, as it always resurfaces when they see/hear any condemnation from non-gas burners: That impulse to accidentally kill a cyclist emerges when spotted.

But that's why this page is called Big Business. Now, many Big Corporations are surely at fault in damaging Earth, but Big Oil would, in fact, not be big, if every gas burner quit their addiction and stopped buying from them, financially enabling them. And that means the gas burner also must stop enabling other big gas burners that are not necessary, like the Airline Industry. Most humans desperately need to be inconvenienced!

But the ego damaged sedentaries, really want to burn-burn-burn, and, they need Big Oil to be ecologically responsible, and, they want cheap gas. This is, of course, impossible without oil subsidies, but facts cannot matter in self-justification mode; this is why blame-shifting is always employed at this juncture. Since I'm going to continue my addiction, it's the dealers (sellers; makers) fault for my condition as a victim! And any level of reinforcement of that is followed religiously on Social Media; it has literally made Social Media!

Now, the tobacco industry never got a dime from all nonsmokers, and yet, after everything that people know about tobacco today, the Industry still thrives anyway. I have zero power over individual consumer acts, or even corporate acts, but I do have 100% control over what I buy, and do not buy; and so does everyone else. Blaming Big Corp will change zero: It's been done a million times over already, and the pumps still pump more, every passing year, anyway.

Blameshifting might misdirect the guilt for a short time, but the only actual solution, is to never start smoking to begin with, or, quit now and forever. And it is the same with fossil fuels. Humans lived from (say) 200,000 BC thru 1900 AD without ever consuming any of it; that stands as the overwhelming empiricism supporting the fact that humans can continue into the 25th century, consuming none, if/when one volition's it.

Anyone at any time can end their addictions; I'll wager a trillion cash! Silly number, right? It's as much of a fact as is 2+2=4 but the only difference is that people are not egocentrically wounded by math equations. The human species existed for many millennia without media devices or other nonstop temptation devices. Services I donate ($5 mo.) to that do not advertise: SomaFM; PBS; Neocities.

I use devices, but I use Firefox or LibreWolf browsers with uBlock Origin running on everything; I avoid Apps on all things like secondhand smoke! I borrow (free) DVD & music CD from my Public Library and rip them all onto a personal storage device; I stream none of that. The only time I ever see Ad World products is when watching antenna direct live sports.

All Big Tech is malware! FOSS is the enemy of all Big Tech; their greatest losses came/come from them. So, rather than the battle they waged since their 20th century beginnings, they pretended to join FOSS, now represented in a number of pathways, all with the same goal; data mining extraction.

It does not matter the software, the operating system, etc; if the hardware itself has ever been in the possession of any Big Tech entity, it's a resource they can back door into. It would take nothing to partition a chip (WiFi; BT; even BIOS) that could perform trickle extraction.

So many users are duped by the belief that (i.e.) installing Graphene OS (of all phones made globally) on a Google Pixel, will save them from privacy issues or data mining from Google; pointing to a number of technical looking websites that appear to validate this belief. But businesses have been creating such delusions to gain more customers or advantages, for over a millennia now, planet wide.

Humans are fascinatingly gullible creatures. But it is often pride and ego that locks some into such delusions; doing things this way, or that way, and for years, and also preaching to others of its goodness; then suddenly faced with a direct challenge to that belief system? At this stage, a person must do one of two things; confess openly of being wrong in word & deed, or two, dig deeper for justifications to support the beliefs, be they religious, political or economic.

The Feds have control, via the IRS, over the monetary arena of all US businesses and citizens. The Feds also run Agencies like the FCC who decide if/how communications businesses get to operate on the Internet, owned or controlled in the US by The Feds. Even now, State and Local political underlings of The Feds, are showing their capitulation and fealty unto them.

The Feds control the purse strings and licensing permissions of all commercial and educational entities, as well as the Military. So, everyone at Big Tech is toeing the line; The Feds can make business life hell! Under a USCNS/21 mandate, The Feds can take over Internet centered businesses; therefore, they must comply! The relationship between Big Tech and Big Gov will result in compliance with The Feds, especially when facing a new more authoritarian regime.

And there is far more knowledge that no News Reporter will ever hear about. For one example, if an individual had a Facebook account and its App on one device, ever, they mined more data from that user than any other single thing a user can do online; it's burnt onto many servers and sold repeatedly already. In its early days, many Meta geeks were recruited and now work for US Spy entities.

So online security and privacy are illusions; unless one was very careful, from day–one of using Tech, and did not use any Social Media. But even then there's certain amounts of data tagged to the individual. It's a matter of what you want known about you. How do you think they find so much child porn on users various computational devices? Not all of it of course, but a lot, and that's a very good thing, unless you're the one busted.

I'm old (school); my name, address & phone number used to be listed in publicly accessible phone books; one at every pay phone booth & in all public libraries. My Social Security number was printed on the front of my (US) photo drivers license and other ID's. So this personal data was once, not perceived as a necessary thing to hide. The government knows everything: Medical records, banking, home address, the works!

So the question becomes, what do you wish to protect? From who? As a FOSS Tech, I get a new credit card if I notice even the oddest of activity, and every few years I'll get a new routing number (account). What you want to protect most are the things that could cost you money, or be a safety or security risk.

Human history is about how and why human civilizations flourished then faded away. Cities grew around old trade routes; I live alongside the River of the Monks, where for hundreds of years, shipping was mostly water based. Humans have always moved where it made the most sense; people used resources sustainably, or else they'd create unlivable conditions; that has not changed.

The wealth-class have been feeling the proverbial Cutty Wren vibes for some time now; an inherent fear, repeated in almost every nation-state that became $$ top heavy. The differences now, are thousands of Nukes and massively destructive militants, a global currency (the USD), global trade, the Wild Wild Web, and much more.

To keep the proverbial peasants in line, today's wealth-class are (once again) grouping, to figure out how to deal with their underlings, now numbering in the billions. So they push the notion that all consumers are victims of Big Biz; that they need government to fix their exploitation's. Once this ruse gets overexposed via today's Wild Wild Web, the Corporatocracy will just end the ruse, as we enter into The Continuum 🎥.

But how did we get here? Well, I'm Grey Geek! I was there at the birth of the Tech Era. When Alphabet first started gmail, for example, they did not allow multiple accounts; if caught they'd issue a warning, then disable the 2nd + account/s. But people kept doing it, and since they started to make more money spying, than anything else they did/do save their ad revenues, they decided to quietly let it go. Now they actually help users do so.

This meant they could spy on all aspects of their user/s. Since all Big Tech shares user data, the more one interacts with multiple Big Tech entities, the more varied the data they learn and gather, and the more monies they make doing it. But it's not just/only about targeted ads anymore; Government's, Insurance Entities, and so on, benefit (now or in the future) from these user (pro) files.

The reason why privacy centered free email providers do not allow multiple accounts for free, centers on the fact that they make zero monies spying. Since most people interact with Big Tech, who got big by selling user data, they now know more about most users, than those users know about themselves. A Microsoft (Windows OS) device, one phone of any kind or OS, and one Meta account; these 3 alone is all that's needed to build comprehensive user (pro) files.

This is, in part, why a select few are going old school; for me it's how I lived the first 4 decades of my life! I gave up my last car in 2005 for both safety and ecological reasons; I'm an oddity in that I care for people I do not know and are not even born yet. My last cargo van in 2005 was a mid-90's model, so I've literally never been in an automobile with modern tech in it; I only long-haul in Interstate buses & Trains which are logically tracked.

My first smartphone was late 2016; I still have all 4 I've ever bought to date. I also have every hard drive I've ever used; the ones that physically survived are now external EXT4 formatted storage devices, used as redundant backup devices, just in case. Even so, I'm sure there's more known about me than I would have officially consented for with a legal signature.

There has never been, so far, a true Democracy. In fact, Capitalism serves as a powerful deterrent to a true Democracy. This has been known for centuries, but of course, the wealth-class, who hunger-lust for power over other humans, have twisted into political constructs or boxes, for easy identification and elimination. In capitalism, a true justice system cannot exist, because humans have no inherent worth; only ones monetary holdings define human value.

Born in 58, my simple (young man) plan was to marry, have kids and build a home for my family, but such a plan takes 2 long-term! I personally built a house for my 1st wife, but it ended by her shortly thereafter. It also takes a stable economy, and as a builder I was wiped out by the Great Recession, plus 2 divorces, plus a career-ending job injury. I'm a steppingstone man inside capitalism; but I like me anyway.

Alone and retired on US Social Security only, I took in $10,452 for 2024. Thankfully HUD subsidizes landlord profits by covering two-thirds of the insane hyperinflation portion of the rent, caused by inflationary economics, created by the wealth-class of the past, and maintained by them today. I hate enabling it all, but my only other option is homelessness.

Driving since 74, I willingly gave up cars in 2005, once evidence made clear the ecological impacts of the raging wildfire that is the Car Cult. So, I went Micro Mobile; peddle bikes then, and e-scooters now. It had nothing to do with money back then, nor does it today really, though it does help a lot financially, not owning a car. Now cars are a big part of the danger package imposed on us by gas burners.

I learned how to live without cars and couldn't imagine owning one today. Back in the day I'd bus or bike or walk to The W, buy a months worth of supplies, then call a cab to take it all home. Carrying bags on my handlebars was easy for in-between trips or takeout. I got as much delivered as was financially logical. Now everything comes to my door. But that's where big business helps, and sure, someone's going to get stupid rich, but that's unavoidable in capitalism; a system I abhor but am powerless to change.

As a poor person I cannot afford to spend more, only to support local businesses, or to stick it to the man. But I do Micro Mobile to certain local businesses often, just not for the things I can shop online for then have delivered to my home, and for a lower price than going local to buy. Plus, I will not drive a car because there's too much risk; I'd commit suicide if I (even accidentally) killed someone over impatiently traversing space.

I used to buy all food, furniture and electronics at regionally owned stores; they all slowly faded away. Regionally owned stores were replaced by national chains like Radio Shack, Circuit City, Tower 🎶, and others, and now they're gone too. These are not my ideal situations, but like most I'm trapped in/by capitalism. I succeed by cutting out the single largest possible ecological footprint; the personal automobile. And following the 7-R's!

So, we are all left with what we're left with; I sparingly use the US Big 3: Walmart & Amazon & Home Depot; they cover the consumer spectrum for regular folk, they deliver, and they're the only retailers with my debit card on file. The advantages of deep corporate pockets is when there's an issue, they have too much money to fight over it; with more money than time they just give customers a return or replacement. But I'm ending my relationship with Amazon in mid 2025 (been Prime since mid 2010).

If there's a data breach, or any legal issues, they have an army of top notch Techs and Attorneys. So there's advantages, but the greatest advantage for customers, besides low prices, is safety; physical and economic. Between the Big 3 I can pick the best deal, and will sometimes use Google Shopping but then go direct (via bookmark) rather than click through. It's unlikely anyone can beat the Big Box Retailers, unless it's a scam or it's repackaged returns.

Aside from all of this, how we can make a difference in this world? Vote with our greatest and most effective weapon in Capitalism; where we spend our money; voting with our dollars! Do not buy anything from any business entity you do not like; for me it's the Giants among the Big; Big Oil & Big Car. They are mega rich psychopaths; they're fully aware that the 165 year reign of oil is coming to an end, but as empty vessels they cannot care; trying to make them feel guilt is impossible.

So, either move to an Amish community and live as they do, or at least get close to that target lifestyle, but without actually becoming Amish (though not opposed to that either). I do it now, and I'm not Amish. Those who will say: Well I'm not living like an Amish! It is these people that will cause all future humans (2100 AD forward) to live just that way, but without a choice.

Step 1: Don't personally buy/burn fossil fuels: Be the change you hope to see in the world! It's hypocritical for a gas burner to condemn other gas burners, business or personal. Step 2: Enable those trying to make a difference, like living in (or moving to) anyplace dedicated to being carbon free. Take your time; research; make a plan; act on it; let all know why you're doing it!

This car-free Micro Mobile guy, lives in an all electric downtown loft (quick video) that gets much of its power from wind. Ultimately however, the Grid is the biggest consumer of electricity.

It is obvious that suburban sprawl is damaging, given that there are literally billions of humans on Earth. If we were only 1 billion, and those who decided not to live in the condense urban centers, actually cared about the natural world, living suburban would really be just a more concentrated version of healthy rural settings. Every home would be elevated off the ground; this would allow the natural world (plants; animals) to live like they have for millennia in that same space.

But the reason why people live separated and segregated lives and lifestyles, is really a Spiritual one; they secretly dislike or hate other humans that are not like them, and want to live apart from them. Hate filled they always look upon the other not-like-me people with disgust; living in condense urban centers means they'd have to interact with other not-like-me people, and the hate-driven need their enemies.

We know they hate the natural world because suburban as well as rural settings typically range from disruptive to devastating upon the natural world. As devout gas burners, they impose the rage of the machine upon all life around them, and everywhere they go, and even enjoy guns, killing, loudness and violence. The myth that they enjoy the peace of nature is too often overwhelmed by their exhibition of disdain for it, as Creator-haters.

This is best seen in Small Town America; they look, feel and smell like veritable junk yards; they're littered with industrial buildings and waste, and riddled with old cars and other fossil-fueled machinery. They are sad with decrepit infrastructure and buildings that should have been demolished decades earlier. It's no wonder youth flee them! The road-scarred Earth is highly offensive to anyone with even a fragment of their humanity remaining within.

Almost everyone can afford a home, they just cannot afford the profit-ridden products of capitalist market housing; there's way too many hands in that proverbial pie. I've built over a hundred conventional homes and I'll bet a million cash right now that I can make it happen, just not the way it's now being done. I also built Tiny Homes, or Cabins as we called them from the 70's until pop culture popularized the term Tiny House.