Distractions

By John Perkins

I was recently invited on a zoom podcast to discuss the importance of transforming a Death Economy to a Life Economy. My conversation with the host was progressing well, our dialogue bouncing back and forth through our laptops. Just as I was diving into our dire need to restructure and transform our current Death Economy his voice jumped to interrupt me— "Do you think our last election was stolen by Joe Biden?"

“I have no reason to believe it was,” I responded. “However, by asking that question you distracted us from the conversation we were having.”

“Hmmm. . . But. . .”

I felt compelled to set the record straight. “We were talking about the most important issue in the world today.” I gave him my most serious Leonardo DiCaprio stare. “Your distraction says tons about what’s hurting the United States at this critical time in history.” I searched for an example that would make this easier. “Do you remember the movie The Gladiator?” I reached into the far-off corners of a distant memory.

He thought for a moment. “The Russel Crowe film?”

 “That’s it. The scene where several senators were discussing the importance of the gladiatorial games for distracting the public from Rome’s decline.” I looked directly into the camera on my computer. “We’re doing that here in America, right now. Your question about the election is just one of many examples.”

“We don’t have gladiators.” 

“No, but we are obsessed with TV sports.”

“You think that compares?”

I had to smile at his wrinkled brow. “I don’t think sports is the big problem today – unless you’re filling your veins with cholesterol while watching it.” 

He gave me a relieved grin. 

“However, we just took another diversion.” I paused and rubbed my chin thoughtfully, a technique I learned from the woman who trained me to be an economic hit man. “Our obsessive distractions today are whether the elections were stolen, people should have the right to carry automatic and semi-automatic killing machines, have abortions, and get vaccinated. Those distractions do threaten us.”

He jerked back in his chair. “They do?”

“While all those are important discussions to have, they pale beside the single most important issue of our times – a degenerative Death Economy that is causing severe climate change, species extinctions, environmental destruction, and social unrest.”

He just stared at me. If this were fiction, I’d write that “his jaw dropped open.” But it isn’t and it didn’t. He simply stared into his camera. 

“Transforming the Death Economy to a Life Economy,” I marched on, “is the real game, the reason you invited me onto this show. The other issues are half-time activities.” 

That same relieved grin. “I like that,” he chortled. “Half-time is my favorite part of football. The bands. The music. The cheerleaders. . .” His eyes drifted above the camera. He had a dreamy look.  

“Yes, half-time is more. . . entertaining perhaps, but the game is the reason you were watching to begin with.”

He snapped back. “Of course.” His expression turned serious. “I want my team to win.”  He glared at me. “I feel the same about the elections.”

“Of course, you do. We all do. But, as the saying goes, ‘there are no winners on a dead planet.’ ” 

“Ah,” He rocked back in his chair. “Then you don’t believe Biden won?”