(formal paper 2)-Revised draft

Brian Laufer

Soquel, Ca. 95073

12 May 2013

     dear, Stacy Knapp

I find my inspiration today from all the people who trust the corporations that rule their lives, and for those who do not know how to live happily, not feeling fulfilled with their accomplishments, not content with the situation they find themselves in and lacking in their love of life. As impossible as it seems in our modern world, it is possible to live in such a way that one is surrounded by beauty in the physical and able to recognize it. As a country that portrays its people as happy and healthy, we are really suffering from our choices. It is my dream to enlighten people to the real power that they have with the choices they make every day, all day. This world is crazy, and it’s very easy to get lost in the hustle.

       The good news: We can all live healthy, vibrant lives, despite, the fact that our capitalist system robs you of your health and divinity. The human potential amazes me, always proving my assumptions to be wrong, ever ready for the new and always seeking ease and convenience. We could have for ourselves a stupendously beautiful society, free of war and all dis-ease. Flourishing with abundance we could be. We are addicted to the system that feeds, clothes, and entertains us. We don’t know that we have the choice to follow it or not. We are kept blind to the important moves being made, and constantly distracted. The only analogy I can think of is that of a slave. In order for corporate business to keep their consumers, (the true source of power for these titans of international enterprise), they must keep people uninformed of their true intentions. There isn’t just a lack of beneficial information They must keep people believing that they need corporate products. The corporations supply these “conveniences” in seemingly endless forms, following trends and doing anything it takes to make a dollar. Dreaming up devices we never thought we needed, oh but you’ve just got to have it, right?

     This artificial life is not worth living. It is not consistently satisfying, it provides momentary pleasures, but ultimately causes too much pain and suffering to say it was a good idea. We have come to understand that our technology allows us to live longer, richer lives and it certainly has that potential, but this is not our situation being observed on a broad human scale. We have the preconceived notion that corporations are doing us a favor by making our lives “easier”. I would say we are being taken advantage of, that is; our basic nature is being hacked. Our instincts tell us to eat sugary, salty, and fatty things because they are rare in nature, our body loves them because it assumes it will not see those substances in abundance for a long duration. We are more inclined to purchase these types of foods, fast food being the extreme. Large companies will typically only sell products high in (the pleasing three): sugar, fat, and salt because these will sell the most. It always comes back to money. “…advertisements have typically promoted foods high in fat, sugar, and salt and ignored fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates sources.” Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (p. 27). It is the quick and easy momentary pleasures that are advertised, not the long-term investments for your health. This must change if we are to thrive.

       When I have lots of money, then life will be easy right? Thing is, it could take a lifetime of slave-like labor to set your self up with significant savings. Labor that many of us do not enjoy doing.  This pursuit of wealth often becomes the subject of all of one’s attention, neglecting your health you ride a downward spiral of despair, degradation and dis-integration. The less dependency you have on money, the better off you will be. Self-reliance is key. When you depend on somebody else for everything you need to survive; you are a slave. If you can’t depend on yourself then your life is in their hands. We live in an amazing time full of opportunities to greatly change ourselves. The amount of information at any one’s disposal is astronomical compared with the information available just 50 years ago. It’s incredible that most Americans have at there disposal an infinite internet in which they could find countless secrets for truly enhancing their life condition, yet we are brainwashed by the endless weapons of mass distractions. As long as you happy, right? Even if we do have great wealth and power that alone will not bring you happiness. The people around this person expect him to be happy. He puts on a fake smile. Not knowing what life is all about. Here is the secret: Acquiring wealth for your self will bring you no health. Giving to others, in love you’ll be smothered. Living to make others lives easier will bring you lasting happiness. That is what we all want. Love (with many definitions) means more to us all then anything else. 90% of songs are inspired by love. When you love every thing, life will always be graced with ease.

    One of the best things I understand we can all do to alleviate our dependency on the system is growing your own food. I am passionate about this subject because it has the potential to drastically transform anybody’s life for the better. If every person grew their own food it would produce so much income that our economic debt would be gone in a matter of years. Food is one of the major ways to control a populace. This kind of control in the hands of a selfish few is very dangerous. It means you can control their health and with chemicals change the way they think, (their mental integrity)

    The majority of Americans have come to see themselves as something separate from nature. I say! We must go back to our roots if we are to be happy. We could learn a lesson or two from our forbearers. There is so much traditional knowledge that has been lost, though this wisdom of the past is coming back.

Works cited

Bell, Robert A., Charles R. Berger, Diana Cassady, and Marilyn S. Townsend. "Portrayals of Food Practices and Exercise Behavior in Popular American Films." Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 37.1 (2005): 27-32. EBSCOhost. Web. 5 May 2013.