Song of the Week:

Hater Anthem by: Infinity Song


Meet me in the Middle

In todayā€™s political climate, there seems to be only two sides: Republicans and Democrats, elephants versus donkeys, red versus blue, Trump versus Biden. Unfortunately, this division goes against George Washingtonā€™s wishes for unity. At least thatā€™s what the news wants us to believe. Because if youā€™re a regular human being, you know that most people are somewhere in the middle, just trying to choose the lesser of two evils.

The bigger issue, I think, lies in self-governing. Self-governing is essentially your moral compass-how you act without being forced or punished. Personally, I think America has lost its way. We seem to lack any guiding principles for society. A great way to experiment this idea is through an old Reddit post back in 2020.

Societal Test

Back in 2020, an anonymous writer known as 4chan posted thoughts about society and shopping carts. If you want to read the full post, Iā€™ve linked it here. To paraphrase, he explains that the simple act of putting your shopping cart away indicates your ability to uphold justice, equality and or freedom. It is a litmus test.  

I used to think that everyone puts their shopping cart away until I discovered the Shopping Cart Police on TikTok. This account gained tons and tons of views by recording interactions with people who would not return their shopping cart after grocery shopping. Most of these people were defensive, some even violent, and on the rare occasion some would simply comply It bewildered me that such an easy task- requiring just a few steps to return a cart to a designated area- was so difficult for some. I was baffled.

This theory piqued my interest. The more I read, the more convinced I became that itā€™s a valid test. He goes on to say that those who would put their shopping cart away have a high ability to self-governance. They donā€™t need force or a punishment to do the good deed. They understand the personal responsibility of using the cart and the empathize with the workers. In his eyes, these people are the good members of society.

Conversely, people who donā€™t return their shopping carts away are straight up heathens that only think about themselves. Since itā€™s not against the law nor punishable to leave your cart anywhere, these individuals take advantage or are just lazy. He deems them unfit for society. Harsh, but I agree.

The shopping cart is a symbolic, obviously. It represents someoneā€™s will to achieve prosperity in society out the kindness of their heart. Doing what is right is based on your own moral compass, how you see the people around you, and what your value. Everyone has a different set of values. Call me a utilitarian, but in some instances, I believe we should act for the greater good rather than for the minority which is why we struggle with our systems.

Are you a good citizen?

When I think of societal problems like LGBTQ+ rights, womenā€™s rights, homelessness it all boils down to self-governing. Self-governing is a form of discipline that highlights what you value, how you value it, and why you do things. If you value good deeds and behavior, your actions will reflect that. Itā€™s like the old saying, ā€œActions speak louder than words.ā€ If you value only yourself, that will also show through your actions.

We can clearly see this clearly in our government. They claim to care about us, but what actions have they taken to show it? We ask for free healthcare- denied. We asked for Roe versus Wade- denied. We ask for student loan forgiveness- denied. If they canā€™t show us who is to say we can show each other? These denials stem from the systems we have put in place.

 Last week, we asked whether capitalism and democracy can coexist. If you missed out on the fun there, hereā€™s the link to catch up. I concluded that to secure the right we deserve, the only thing we can doā€¦ is vote. Not direct voting. Voting for a representative who votes for us at the higher level and then voting for a different person with higher status, who votes about laws. Finally, we ā€˜voteā€™ for a president but really, the electoral college vote for us. Do you see the problem?

The system- ā€œdemocracyā€- makes it nearly impossible for the citizens of the country to address unfairness, inequality, and injustice. Plus, the ideals of capitalism ruin any chances of the government to step in fully to aid us. Aid us in ways that can showcase they care of itsā€™ people wellbeing. Budget is tight, the money disappears, more taxes. But the politicianā€™s paychecks donā€™t seem to halt when these are the excuses given to the American people.

On top of that, we have different values. How can we be on the same page? America is a melting pot of backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, beliefs. This diversity can be positive or negative, depending on your perspective. I guess thatā€™s the point, right? Society does not always see eye to eye on politics. Us being trapped in a continuous cycle. We need some change.

Be the Change

In the many, many ways to protest politics we have tried everything. EVERYTHING. Enough is enough. How do we get people to care about returning their carts in the designated area? Just once, care about each other enough to cause change. We need change. America let me tell you somethingā€¦

I am your biggest hater,

I hate the way we have 70-year-olds in office

I hate the way we prioritize profit over people

I hate the way we practice democracy. But that is just me, I guess.

They always say, ā€œThere is a fine line between love and hate.ā€ One day I want to love this country and be proud of it. And until that day comes this song is one, I dedicate to America and all the people who donā€™t return their shopping carts: Hater Anthem by Infinity Song. I will be proud to hate you until you get your act together for society.  


Thank you for joining me on this journey at The Unfinished Times. Don’t forget to follow me for more insightful content, give a shout-out to spread the word, and consider signing up for our Co-Collective to be part of our vibrant community. And if you missed any posts from previous weeks, take a moment to catch up! Let’s continue exploring, sharing, and growing together! See you in the next post~XOXO


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