Capitalism Trains Us To Blame Each Other For Systemic Abuses
Republished here, with permission, from Caitlin’s Newsletter, Caitlin Johnstone, Aug 16, 2026, https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/
The capitalist empire blames all systemic problems on the individual.
The problem isn’t billionaire megacorporations polluting the planet, it’s that you drive a car.
The problem isn’t that it’s getting harder and harder to afford to live as the ruling class extracts more and more value from labor, it’s that you’re not working hard enough and you’re making bad decisions.
Soaring police brutality isn’t a problem, the problem is that the guy in the current viral police brutality video didn’t obey orders correctly.
Israel’s not an irredeemably racist endeavor dependent on nonstop violence and apartheid, it’s just some naughty settlers and a few bad apples in the IDF.
We don’t live in a highly controlled oligarchy where both parties inflict war, ecocide, injustice and tyranny upon the rest of humanity on behalf of their wealthy donors, the problem is that you haven’t been voting for the correct candidates.
We don’t live under an evil empire that feeds on human blood, it only looks that way because some individuals in charge made some unwise foreign policy decisions at certain points in history.
The blame always lands on the individual, not the system, and you can recognize this as the cynical manipulation that it is because the blame only ever goes one way:
• The individual business executives whose decisions are destroying our ecosystem are never held to account.
• The individual government officials whose depraved foreign policy decisions destroy countless lives are never imprisoned for war crimes.
• The oligarchs who are reaping massive profits expanding the surveillance state and profiteering off war, tyranny and sickness are allowed to keep buying politicians and private islands without suffering any consequences.
Notice how “blame the individual” never applies in these cases. If you want these individuals to be treated like a problem, then you’re a radical. You’re an extremist. You need to be put on a terrorist watch list. You and your friends need to be monitored and infiltrated by federal police. When it comes to those who prop up and profit from the system, blaming the individual is strictly prohibited.
Jailing an impoverished man for periodically shoplifting to survive? That’s fine; he should have behaved himself. Jailing a billionaire for buying elections and poisoning our planet? That’s evil. Shame on you for even thinking that.
Jailing a worker for stealing from her employer? That’s as it should be; thieves should be punished. Jailing a wealthy business owner for stealing wages from thousands of employees? Get outta here, Stalin, that’s a civil case. They can have their paychecks when they’ve won their class action lawsuit.
Under the capitalist empire, we are taught that all we can do is make sure we’re not a part of the giant permanent underclass who must suffer and toil for meager wages while always one mistake away from destitution. It is taken as a given that the underclass must always exist, and that all we can do is make wise decisions as individuals to ensure that we’re not among the unfortunate riff raff our society is built on top of.
It’s like we’ve all been trapped in a crowded room by some psycho who is flooding the room with water, and he’s telling us over the loudspeaker “Now you’d better make sure you climb on top of the others, or you’ll drown!” In that scenario the psycho is clearly the problem, but we’ve been trained to see the individuals who can’t get their heads above water as the problem.
Whenever anyone goes online to complain about how hard it is to keep their bills paid or buy a house under the current system, they are swarmed by capitalism apologists telling them to work harder, spend less, and try to get a better job. Which is a lot like calling the fire department when a crowded building is burning and being told “Well I guess you’d better stay away from the flames then.” No matter how well I as an individual stay away from the flames, there are still people trapped in the burning building who need help. Making the conversation about my actions as an individual is just an excuse to avoid addressing the large-scale nature of the problem.
People consent to this nonsense because we’ve been indoctrinated into it our entire lives. Propaganda isn’t just there to get us to consent to wars, it’s there to get us buying into the entire system.
The pop music is about owning stuff and having a good time.
The TV shows are about people who are thriving so much under the current system that they have time and energy to get into hilarious hijinks.
The movies are about protagonists applying their willpower and working hard over musical montages to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals as individuals.
The news stories fixate on the latest attention-grabbing controversy while ignoring terrible things like homelessness and industrial ecocide.
Our schooling tells us that communist countries have always been oppressive totalitarian wastelands and that capitalism offers us freedom and happiness.
At no time are we ever offered the suggestion that things could be better than they are. Over and over again in innumerable ways throughout our lives, we are told that the current order is the only way things could ever be.
Our minds have been carefully groomed to accept the imperial status quo as normal and healthy, and to see every failure of the system as a failure of the individual. We need to reclaim our minds from the social engineers who have conditioned us to think this way and begin cultivating unorthodox, unauthorized worldviews. We need to stop blaming each other for the failures of the system, stop scrambling to climb on top of each other to keep our heads above water, and start working together to eliminate the psychos who have trapped us in this room.
The AMI Story
2007. After more than fifty years, studying, making and teaching art, I am retired and living in Germany. I am exploring graphic software and experimenting with repeat patterns and thrust vectors for gestural abstracts. AMI appeared in my sketches, complete, with a name. A unique and perfect, asymmetrical, biomorphic shape. It fascinated me, then; and the fascination persists. AMI is compelling and mysterious. AMI has a non-physical component that I do not understand; and cannot explain.
The pencil sketch was scanned and refined with graphic software. A large version was printed on heavy paper. This paper AMI shape was used, over time, to make the first eight AMI paintings.
AMI, was used to make multiple variations of three different repeat pattern designs; a heart shape graphic design; and a group of tear-drop shape Boteh / Buta, graphic designs.
The first four paintings were minimal, hard edge, painted black lines on a white field. I wanted to present the AMI concept in its unadulterated form. AMI 5 and 6, have two overlapping AMI outlines made with black graphic tape on a white field. The graphic tape makes a thin constant width, hard edge line. AMI 7, is white on a gray field; with no lines. AMI 8, started with black graphic tape contour lines on a white field. Then, it was painted over with a dark gray; and the graphic tape was removed, to expose the white underneath.
Integrated flat panel frames were designed and built for each painting. They were painted with a thick glossy finish, by a company that makes furniture . The first eight paintings are mounted on their flat panel frames with screws, anchors and extruded aluminum hardware.
2019. I began to realize, that the eight AMI paintings had the potential to become a coherent and valuable exhibition. AMI 6 was repainted, with glossy red, blue and white, with wider graphic tape lines. AMI 2 received a new glossy purple background; and AMI 3 background was repainted red. AMI 1 was repainted with deep glossy red and blue, with no lines. AMI 4, got two deep glassy green colors, with no lines. The minimal essence of AMI endures; and the intense colors add delightful characteristics.
AMI 9 and 10, were created to enhance the group. They are larger; and they are influenced more by Pop, Op and design than by minimalist ideas.
In 2026, big dots were added to AMI one and seven. The dot was part of the original sketch; but I ignored it as I focused on maintaining the minimal integrity of the two paintings. The dots changed them completely.
The AMI paintings are heavy and easily damaged; so, a custom box was built for each one. I call them AMI transport pods. They have interesting characteristics of their own. They may be used to transport or store the painting; or, as furniture. They make good benches or tables. The ten pods make two benches that may be used in an exhibition. A single pod may be used with any number of support structures.
The ten AMI paintings have emerged from the complex evolutionary processes that create visual art. They are unique, historically relevant, conceptually sophisticated, expertly crafted, inspired, profound and rare. They are interesting, amiable companions. They belong in museums, where they can be shared with the public.
2026. I have struggled to understand and explain the AMI project. Gradually, I have realized that they may be icons for my own holistic worldview. Recently, I revisited the Tao Te Ching, and Process Philosophy. My understanding of these subjects is limited; but they prompted a better description of the AMI project. ‘AMI is a novel event emerging from the process that creates visual art in this place and time.’ ‘AMI reflects the artist’s benevolent holistic worldview.’
Ideology
I am cautious about all ideologies.
I think, ideologies are linear constructs, that employ fear, confirmation bias and cognitive dissonance, to manage perception and behavior. They share limitations common to other linear constructs. They are intellectual cul-de-sacs: mental traps.
Goodness, Truth and Beauty
Balance.
Explore everything. — Believe nothing.
Wisdom is the goal.
Harmonious evolution is the way.
Contribute.
Celebrate.
Be Love.
High Energy Gestural Abstracts
High energy gestural abstracts, are inspired by abstract expressionism, action painting of the mid twentieth century and brush calligraphy, and the need to reach beyond the familiar. I explore gestural abstracts with ink on heavy art paper.
I work intuitively, interactively, and iteratively. I work with the paper on a flat surface; so I can move and rotate it; and see and work on it from any direction. Consequently, some pieces may be displayed with any side up. This can be a problem when choosing a place for a signature.
I like to stand so I can employ big muscle movement. Speed is important to capture the energy of the event. I have found that attempts to refine the work, often diminishes that energy. Set up takes time; but the creative process is usually completed in a few minutes.
Some pieces start with a plan or with specific thrust vectors. After the first or second step, the process shifts to working with what is on the paper.
I name my work intuitively, playfully. The names have no particular meaning.
Education
Education is helping individuals learn.
Training is teaching skills to individuals and groups.
Education is holistic. Training is linear.
As a teacher, in the United States, I watched the education systems evolve from helping individuals learn to indoctrination and training. As I worked on a doctorate, I saw education management become more like business. I attempted to adjust to the changes; but, my enthusiasm faded; and I did not complete the program.
Education philosophies and systems reflect the philosophies and systems of the culture. As the culture became more linear, the education philosophies and systems became more linear.
Linearism
Uncomfortable with, the linear ideologies and systems of western cultures, I developed the concept of linearism. Linearism is an ideology that holds the primacy of linearity, sacrosanct. I realized that, to evolve in harmony and prosperity, linear concepts and constructs must be embedded in, and constrained by, holistic macro concepts and constructs. Concepts and constructs that are not embedded in and constrained by holistic macro concepts or constructs are not sustainable. Indeed, they are often destructive.
Western civilizations are experiencing confusion and accelerating change. Ideas and systems, that made the collective west, rich and powerful, are no longer fit for purpose. The problems we are experiencing in western cultures, are nearly all caused by unsustainable and destructive linear concepts and constructs. Humans that live in predominantly linear environments are motivated to develop left brain hemisphere functions and ignore or suppress right brain functions. This has created reinforcing cycles of increasingly dangerous linear ideas and systems and people with limited abilities to make holistic, creative or wise choices. The solution is balance; and a restoration of right brain hemisphere dominance.
Recently, I found an expert with a scientific background: Dr Iain McGilchrist. He has produced books and videos about how the human brain works. His website is here.
What is Art?
Art is human expression with an actor, a medium and an observer. The actor is the primary, and often, the only, observer. Art is a human creative process. It is not exclusive. All humans create. Art is, to some extent, autobiographical.
Art is deliberate action. Art is exploration and experimentation. Art is material and spiritual. Art is conscious, subconscious and intuitive. Art can transcend the limits of material reality.
Art is influenced by the combinations of variables that effect the person and the process. The event is unique. It can be imitated; but it can not be duplicated.