five “r”s to help you divest from capitalism
It is always a good time to further divest ourselves from capitalism.
The reasons for this are numerous. Just a few of the top ones are:
The less we directly engage in capitalism, the less directly we are supporting companies whose practices are abhorrent to any ethical ways of moving through the world. Divesting from capitalism goes beyond boycotting specific companies and aims to boycott the system.
The more we find alternatives to capitalistic exchange, the less of our time and life energy we need to devote to making more money.
Furthermore, finding alternative access points to the essentials of life builds a degree of resilience in the face of the machinations of the anti-poor, white supremacist, cisheteronormative, ableist, and eugenicist powers-that-be.
It is not unlikely that—between rising prices as well as the assault on food stamps programs, free school lunch programs, and affordable medical services—some of the options that currently exist for us to access the essentials of life will become less available (or not available at all). This is as dire in its potential implications as it sounds.
When an exchange of money for goods or services is necessary, the more we do so through community-level commerce instead of company-level capitalism, the more resilient our communities become.
But how do we set about doing so?
Well, at the onset, it’s best that we acknowledge we’ll inevitably do it imperfectly and incompletely.
But, as Logan Grendel frequently points out, values are aspirational. The inevitability of imperfection does not erase the immense amount of transformation that can occur from an ongoing commitment to finding alternatives to engaging in capitalist exchange.
Unfortunately, the available texts and resources that are available about frugal living and ways of building self-sufficiency are imperfect, too.
Even setting aside the right-wing slant that often exists within such resources, they are almost inevitably imbued with unexamined assumptions about readers’ access to transportation, time, energy, skills, and tools.
This is almost unavoidable when specific examples are offered: the more specific and rigid a suggestion is, the more likely it is that it will not fit each person’s unique holistic considerations.
I undoubtedly will write future posts that offer some specific examples, all of which are likely to be helpful to some folks and not helpful to others.
In this post, however, what I am offering instead are ideas for questions that you can ask yourself that may help you to find opportunities for progressively divesting from capitalism that work for you, your life, and your accessibility needs.
It is also worth stating at the onset that I am NOT implying that individuals are responsible for either causing or fixing the systemic injustices that strategically dehumanize and oppress people, communities, and ecosystems.
Not. At. All.
I am simply acknowledging the uncomfortable truth that we still have to do our best to survive and thrive in the midst of this world that has been and continues to be shaped by late-stage capitalism… and that some of the ways that have been available (to different degrees for different people and communities) to help us do so thus far will likely become progressively less and less available to more and more of the population.
Brainstorming options for alternatives won’t smoothly lead us to clear-cut answers or perfect solutions.
However, it does open us to creativity, resilience, and an awareness of possible paths forward into the future that awaits us.
The “R”s
When I was a kiddo in the 80s, a common catch phrase among those who were trying to increase interest in ecofriendly practices was “Reduce - Reuse - Recycle".
In addition to providing some pithy guidance for minimizing one’s carbon footprint, all three of these also provide a valuable framework for brainstorming alternative ways of meeting our needs while minimizing our engagement with capitalistic structures.
Of course, they aren’t enough on their own to fully address the changes that need to be made.
One that I always added when engaging in conversations about those ideas is “Refuse.” After all, there is power in saying no and refusing to fuck with those who harm us and our communities.
And now I offer one additional “R” that I find valuable when thinking about these topics: “Reframe.”
For each of these “R”s, I will provide a few questions that may help each of you find opportunities for accessible, incremental changes that work for you, your life, and your needs.
These are not the only questions that are worth asking along the path towards reduced reliance on capitalism, but perhaps they will jump start your own thinking and lead you to the questions, curiosities, and insights that are most relevant for your life and situation.
Reduce
For the companies that are problematic, but that for whatever reason (including accessibility, of course!) you have not yet been able to fully stop using:
How can I reduce the number of items that I get through this source?
How can I reduce the benefit and profit given to this company as a result of my need to access the items that I need to get from them?
Note that Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers have the highest profit margins on their generic labels, so avoid them whenever possible within your budgetary constraints.
Are there options for meeting the needs that are met by the products that I buy from companies via alternative means (e.g., through barter, Buy Nothing groups, direct interpersonal commerce/exchange, or in ways that don’t require the acquistion of any new items) ?
Options here will vary greatly based upon what your needs are and what products you typically go to for meeting those needs!
Conversations with others who have similar needs and who are in similar contexts may be beneficial.
Don’t underestimate the wisdom of those who have been navigating the impacts of poverty, white supremacy, and ableism already.
Unlearn any internalized bullshit you have likely accumulated through the years that only values the education and wisdom offered in institutional settings and white-dominated spaces.
Reuse
Are there items that I already have that can be used in additional ways, or that would help meet additional needs than they are currently meeting?
Am I throwing away items that still have usefulness?
Are there items on my shopping lists and/or wish lists that would be possible to find used, or to access via a shared source?
Thrift stores
Antique stores
Craigslist
Community toolsheds, such as the SEAC Community Toolshed in Rochester, NY
Borrowing from friends
Recycle
Are there ways that items that are no longer being used for their original purpose could be used to meet other needs?
Are there people in my community who could find benefit from the items that no longer meet my needs? What options exist for connecting with them?
Make sure you’re not burdening overextended people or organizations with needing to deal with/store items that are not wanted or that are actually just junk.
Refuse
Are there things that I am in the habit of buying that I don’t actually need?
Note: Pleasure, accessibility, narrative, and sources of relaxation are needs. Unequivocally. We need to stop pretending otherwise.
Are there needs that I am meeting through commodified methods that could be met in other ways?
Are there things that I for sure need to purchase, but for which I could find a more ethical source than the one I have been using?
Are there opportunities for simplifying my shopping list?
Reframe
Are there ways that I have been exchanging currency for usage rights, but not ownership rights? How do I feel about that? What options exist for switching away from this model?
E.g.: Purchasing usage rights to access a book on Kindle is not the same thing as purchasing the pdf or ePub file for a book. Similarly, purchasing usage rights to an Audible file is not the same thing as purchasing the mp3 file of an audio book. Your access is conditional on the continuing largesse of Amazon (which is… not their most well-known quality) and your willingness to continue using their platforms.
Not the least concern related to this matter is the tether it creates to specific apps for accessing the items… apps that benefit companies that are notorious for their dehumanizing human rights practices, shoddy digital security, and unfair pay practices.
Yes, there are methods for accessing the files for things you have purchased usage rights for that folks have figured out. No, I am not a tech expert on how to do so, but if you’re trying to move away from those apps and you need a new hobby, it could be worth looking into.
What is my working understanding of reciprocity?
When exchanging money, energy, or bartering for goods and/or services, ask: does this exchange feel reciprocal?
If not: what would need to change in order for it to feel reciprocal?
Are there opportunities for buying in bulk that I haven’t yet discovered?
Are there creative options for where bulk items can be stored? There is no reason why backups of many kitchen items such as canned goods and water need to be stored in the kitchen instead of, for instance, under a bed.
Are there entry points/skills toward meeting my needs that previous generations would have relied upon, but that have been lost or replaced through the years? Are there any of these that I am interested in learning about and/or integrating into my life?
Get real creative with it! Every time you spend money on anything, ask yourself:
What other items or activities would meet some of the same needs as those provided by this item?
What level of time, energy, and/or money are involved in those other options?
If I were to somehow lose access to the item(s) I am purchasing, which of these alternate approaches toward meeting that need feel the most accessible/interesting/affordable?
Note that starting a practice of asking yourself questions like those listed above does not require you make changes you are not ready for! Nor does it imply that every answer that occurs to you during brainstorming will be accessible, feasible, or preferable.
No, none of these lines of questioning provide certain answers that are clear-cut solutions to the dehumanizing, destructive forces of capitalism.
And also: all of these lines of questioning are invitations to creatively imagine entry points to community resilience.
Simply building a habit of noticing and questioning the ways we engage with, are dependent upon, and are made vulnerable by the forces of capitalism can be helpful.
This habit can help create a conscious awareness that can be profoundly empowering: in my experience, it has helped me continually remind myself that I am more than my role within capitalist structures.
In other words: questioning capitalism is a humanizing practice.
May we all maintain our radical hope for a better future, and may our questions provide enough light for our next step forward, away from capitalist destruction and toward the promise of collective liberation.
