Phil Ruston

I watched Question Time last week and I was not surprised to see the debate turn to the subject of whether WE (the UK) should help to bail out Greece.

I see today that the chocolate retailer Thorntons are selling their shops and Carpetright look like following the same path.

Technology = Less Jobs
Less Jobs = Less Income
Less Income = Less products bought
Less products bought = Businesses Collapse
Businesses Collapse = Less Jobs

…and so on and so forth. This is quite a simplified illustration and, although there may be other factors involved, the fundamentals are clear. As you can see, the present system cannot sustain itself, especially today.

We need fundamental global change. A change of system, a change in how we think. The us and them patriotic mentality that our Governments make us believe we should be proud of are obsolete and only serve to preserve the real us and them: Us, the striving workers and Them, the ruling dark powers and corporations who will do anything to maintain their grip on wealth and power. We are all human beings and need resources from the same place: the Earth.

A resource based economy is not perfect but it is far better and, in theory, offers abundance for everyone.
If you’re interested, visit http://www.thezeitgeistmovementuk.com/ and http://www.thevenusproject.com/

What are the most common mistakes businesses make with their social media strategies? 3 answers on Quora

What are the most common mistakes businesses make with their social media strategies?

It’s not the most ‘engaging’ way to start a post but my new crusade was ignited whilst watching the Star Trek movie marathon on Film 4 (UK) last week. Please don’t think that I have difficulty in distinguishing fiction from reality. I do, however, have real issues in understanding the realities of our society.

According to one of the afore-mentioned films, in the 24th century, there is no money. People strive (work) for the good of the planet and to better themselves.

This may seem like science fiction. The fact is that our technological advances far outdate our monetary system. How many times do you hear people say, “the rich get richer, and the poor stay poor”? Although to a certain degree, this statement has more validity on one side of the fence, it holds true. Not only do the rich protect their wealth, the powerful protect their power. Both have devised strategies leaving them ‘untouchable’.

We are sold poor products so that we need to renew, keeping the wheels of industry turning. What a bizarre state of affairs! We see adverts of the little African girl who has to walk ten miles every day to get clean water and the images tug on our heartstrings leaving the less wealthy to throw money at a problem that was originally created by money. Billions of dollars are poured into war to secure oil. How can we assume ownership of something that comes from the earth? If there were no financial gain, no power, we could put all this energy and all our human efforts into medicine, preservation of our planet, an abundance for everyone through the fruits of technology and further our understanding of our planet and our universe.

The ability to do this is here, now. The will isn’t. Especially from the privileged and powerful.

The financial system cannot succeed. It will collapse, taking many casualties and even the privileged will topple.

So where do we start as an alternative? If you wish to know about a new approach as to how we could evolve, please visit The Zeitgeist Movement. To read in depth about a system that could replace the stagnant status quo, download The Zeitgeist Movement Activist Orientation Guide.

There are many things in politics and in the news which, to me, seem short-sighted and backwards-thinking. Nothing more so than the classification of drugs.

Our (UK) system does not work because it is set up to please the ill-informed masses. Before I set out my case, I want to be clear about two things: I do not condone or support the use of any drugs other than for medicinal purposes and, secondly, drugs do not have to be illegal to be dangerous.

In fact, I can only imagine that the single most problematic drug used for recreational purposes is alcohol. Alcohol is legal but causes social and personal problems to a degree that most of us do not want to admit to.

As an illustration to the illogical nature of our drugs classification system, I want to make a comparison between the legal drug, alcohol and two class ‘A’ illegal drugs, magic mushrooms and heroin.

Magic Mushrooms became illegal class ‘A’ drugs in the mid 2000′s. This drug grows naturally, it does not usually cause aggression and is not known to be addictive. For possessing or dealing with this natural substance you can expect a hefty fine or even a prison sentence.

Heroin is highly addictive but the crimes associated with heroin are in the obtaining and dealing of the drug rather than the effects. However, we all gladly accept that town centres across the UK on a Friday and Saturday night become an arena for binge drinking debauchery, violence and behaviour that a sober society would simply not stand for. Our police force’s resources are soaked up by this socially accepted drug use.

So where am I going with all this. What I propose is, what may seem in this unevolved society, radical but if you read with an open mind and think about it, it is a win-win idea.

Legalise ALL drugs. Whether a drug is legal or not, people are still going to get them. The ‘war on drugs’ will never end in the current climate. However, if all drugs were legalised and distributed through the GP on the NHS, you immediately achieve the following:

• Get rid of the dealers and associated crime in obtaining illegal substances
• You could tax drugs to help get rid of some of our debt
• Because the crime element is removed, the police could put their resources into other areas
• Drug use could be monitored by the GP and rehabilitation offered
• Users would be getting pure substances and not dangerous bogus ingrediants used to increase profits

Keeping something illegal keeps it ‘underground’ and harder to control. Bring it in to the light. Again, most of the crime associated with drugs is a result of the trade and obtaining and NOT the effects of the drug. Eradicate those areas, we can monitor, control, tax and rehabilitate. To me, this is perfect sense.

If any politician reads this blog and thinks, ‘we can’t legalise drugs, it will make us unpopular’ than I say this:

• Educate people about looking at the bigger picture and bringing the problem into the light
• To be honest, you couldn’t get any more unpopular than you were during the expenses scandal

You want to make real change, Mr. Cameron – be radical and evolve.