One point I'd add around labor is talent drain from communities. "Trained, skilled and educated workers are more productive and better resourced to be good community members." This CAN be true IF these workers leverage their skills and education in service of their communities. That said, what often happens is that these individuals get sucked in by the extractive class pursuing individual capitalistic motivations (ie, chasing the highest salary / status). The large corporations you mention, "Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Walmart, Exxon. Tech companies, Big Box Stores, and Fossil Fuel companies", depend on hiring highly educated and/or skilled people to ensure they stay on top, and they spend a lot of money to recruit those people, poaching them away from competitors and, potentially, more community-oriented careers. A shift requires these skilled / educated individuals to channel their leverage in service of communities, forgoing their personal wealth maximization. I'm currently working on an essay (I actually cite one of your pieces in it) that I'll be publishing soon, which dives into this deeper. I'd love to get your thoughts on it once it's live!
Thanks Vincent! Totally agree, the talent drain is real, and won’t stop without a massive cultural shift in priorities. On top of that, there is talent drain completely away from America. Entrepreneurs with their choice of where to start a company are already souring on America due to its systemic issues particularly around gun control and private healthcare costs. Many smart and talented people will take their business to a country with socialized healthcare and put their kids in schools where they don’t have to worry about guns. Bleak, but a potential feedback loop of talent drain.
I hear you. Though I'm sure there will also be entrepreneurial talent arriving in the US specifically because of the financial and legal conditions that fuel the type of extraction you are wanting to curb.
Spencer, this is an excellent treatise -- thank you so much for synthesizing and providing all this information! the 'wealth drain' vs 'wealth circulation' breakdown is very helpful, as are the included resources. wonderful work
Thank you for this extremely well-timed essay. I would love to have more resources on governance and ecosystems if you'd have some time to spare. I'm looking forward to more in the series.
Really great piece, Spencer!
One point I'd add around labor is talent drain from communities. "Trained, skilled and educated workers are more productive and better resourced to be good community members." This CAN be true IF these workers leverage their skills and education in service of their communities. That said, what often happens is that these individuals get sucked in by the extractive class pursuing individual capitalistic motivations (ie, chasing the highest salary / status). The large corporations you mention, "Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Walmart, Exxon. Tech companies, Big Box Stores, and Fossil Fuel companies", depend on hiring highly educated and/or skilled people to ensure they stay on top, and they spend a lot of money to recruit those people, poaching them away from competitors and, potentially, more community-oriented careers. A shift requires these skilled / educated individuals to channel their leverage in service of communities, forgoing their personal wealth maximization. I'm currently working on an essay (I actually cite one of your pieces in it) that I'll be publishing soon, which dives into this deeper. I'd love to get your thoughts on it once it's live!
Thanks Vincent! Totally agree, the talent drain is real, and won’t stop without a massive cultural shift in priorities. On top of that, there is talent drain completely away from America. Entrepreneurs with their choice of where to start a company are already souring on America due to its systemic issues particularly around gun control and private healthcare costs. Many smart and talented people will take their business to a country with socialized healthcare and put their kids in schools where they don’t have to worry about guns. Bleak, but a potential feedback loop of talent drain.
Looking forward to reading your piece!
I hear you. Though I'm sure there will also be entrepreneurial talent arriving in the US specifically because of the financial and legal conditions that fuel the type of extraction you are wanting to curb.
In the meantime, I think you might find this essay interesting, where I discuss the logical fallacies committed by orgs / individuals looking to maximize impact, as well as an alternate approach that I believe leads to better outcomes: https://open.substack.com/pub/vsanchezgomez/p/the-case-for-a-values-oriented-approach
Dude! You’re me if I was better at writing! Hahahaha ! I just found an idol to aspire towards on this app, I’m so happy !!!! 😂😂🥰🥰💕💕
hahahha very sweet of you! My favorite part of writing is when I can put words to what others have long been thinking about.
Brilliant concept and such practical tips for making it happen. My brain hurts thinking about how much energy this took! Thanks Spencer.
Loved this! Did some digging and found where that graphic was from: https://www.academia.edu/44034387/Dennis_Livingston_Social_Graphics. Loving this series
You're a hero! I can't tell you how many times I searched Dennis Livingston with various keywords on Google Scholar and Google Books. Thank youuuuu
Also: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jannon/3807786370
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2011/09/21/dennis-livingston-activist-and-artist-dies/
Spencer, this is an excellent treatise -- thank you so much for synthesizing and providing all this information! the 'wealth drain' vs 'wealth circulation' breakdown is very helpful, as are the included resources. wonderful work
Thank you for this extremely well-timed essay. I would love to have more resources on governance and ecosystems if you'd have some time to spare. I'm looking forward to more in the series.