Ricardo Villarreal

Think, Therefore Think Again

How plutocracy and religion are killing American democracy

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Statue of LibertyIt’s happening. The guy at the very top position of power is threatening the foundations of liberal democracy in our country by paving the way for plutocracy and religion to perpetrate in the functions of the government.

We need to continuously remind people who is this enabler: a self-called billionaire who lacks all the important skills to be president, a revengeful leader, ignorant of the country’s constitution, who continuously lies to the public, who has shown no respect for minorities, who doesn’t take any criticism, and who has even singled out the media as the enemy of this country.

Sure, democracy has room for improvement. Nevertheless, it is still the best form of government and we need to protect it now more than ever.

The current administration shines not for having the smartest individuals at the top jobs, but for their wealth. Their biggest merit is certainly not a qualification at all.

It is, however, the fuel that feeds plutocracy. The ultra-wealthy people in this nation help elect those in government, and in return gain the power to secure cabinet roles and to influence political decisions that would protect their interests and businesses, rather than the interests of the general population.

Not only that, but they think money and power give them the right to impose their beliefs on others. And this is how plutocratic forces amplify the dangers of religion and the risks it represents to our freedom and democracy.

For example, the presence of religion in politics has influenced legislation that has negatively impacted the rights of women and minorities on issues like abortion and gay marriage.

In education, politicians of faith in many states have tried to impose religious subjects in public schools as alternative to science. This is a clear reflection of the fear they have that scientific knowledge presents indisputable evidence and objective truths that undermine the validity of their religion.

There is no question religion thrives in an environment of ignorance, fear, and oppression. But suppressing science, reason, and truth is not an option.

Where does religion belong? In the privacy of individuals, not commandeering the functions of government, and certainly not becoming an obstacle in the exercise of freedom in an open society.

Only in a secular government can diversity, freedom of religion, equality, and a fair rule of law can coexist, while protecting democracy from any abuse, discrimination, and corruption that would favor one religion over the rest.

Rather than imposing beliefs, it is better for a country to have a society of free-thinkers, where ideas can be exchanged freely with an open mind.

The founders of the American Constitution believed in the idea that dialogue, not force, should triumph over the decisions pertaining the prosperity of the nation.

But the current leader of this country does not believe in dialogue. On the contrary, he has prevented arguments against him, demands his opinions to be unquestionable, and has even fired those who challenge him.

The moment you impose censorship upon the opinions of others (especially minorities), you open the doors to intolerance and the creation of fanatical bigots. And unfortunately, that is exactly what we are seeing happen today.

This is not a matter of political ideology. It is a matter of preventing the rise of a dictator-like figure threatening to destroy the democratic foundations of our nation.

It is not an exaggeration, and we cannot wait to act until it’s too late.

 

Una Subasta de Vida

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La Mejor Oferta - Giuseppe TornatoreTodos tenemos secretos que guardamos en los misterios de la vida y del amor.

El principal misterio de “La Mejor Oferta” de Giuseppe Tornatore, se encuentra en la existencia del libro mismo.

Y es que el autor italiano, conocido internacionalmente como el gran cineasta que nos conquistó con “Cinema Paraíso”, “Malena”, y “La Leyenda de 1900”, nunca pensó en publicar este thriller detectivesco que homólogamente llevó también a la pantalla grande.

Con toda honestidad, Tornatore nos advierte en el prólogo que nunca pretendió darle autonomía literaria a éste texto, que presenta como un esbozo narrativo, un híbrido de cuento y guión, sin llegar a ser ninguno de los dos.

“La Mejor Oferta” (Editorial Anagrama) es un relato de pocos pero complejos personajes, con una trama de amor y misterio, y, si han seguido la obra de Tornatore, sabrán que hay garantía de un final impactante e impredecible.

Virgil Oldman es un subastador profesional experto en arte. De sesenta y tantos años, es un hombre muy culto, solitario, y con una obsesión por utilizar guantes.

Su vida cambia cuando recibe la llamada de Claire Ibbetson, una joven que lo busca para ayudarle a subastar los muebles y las obras de arte de la villa de su familia, donde ahora vive sola.

Pero Claire padece de agorafobia severa y no puede salir ni de su cuarto, mucho menos ver a Virgil.

Aún así, Virgil acude con gran interés a cada cita en la Villa Ibbetson, conversando con Claire del otro lado de la puerta de su habitación, y empeñado a que un día ella saldrá de su casa para poder verla.

Quizás para Claire, Virgil pudiera ser esa escapatoria que necesita para finalmente enfrentar la vida. Y para Virgil, quizás Claire sea su última oportunidad para encontrar el amor.

Así como en las obras de arte, las vidas de los personajes tienen sus propios misterios y secretos, similares al de una pintura cuyo trasfondo es más interesante que la pintura misma.

Gracias a sus años liderando subastas, Virgil ha acumulado una colección de arte que consiste en cientos de retratos de mujeres que guarda en secreto en un sótano blindado en su casa. Los límites de su amor no han podido traspasar al que les tiene a éstas musas que lo observan y arropan en silencio.

Claire, por su parte, se rehúsa a hablar sobre su pasado. Su misterio e introversión la hacen más atractiva para Virgil e irremediablemente aparece la chispa del amor.

Pero, ¿qué nos revela Virgil al hablar de su experiencia cuando desde niño estudió los oficios del arte aprendiendo a distinguir en las obras las falsificaciones de los originales?

Como el admirado experto de arte que es, nos señala, “el arte del falsificador es un arte como cualquier otro, porque toda falsificación esconde algo auténtico… en la copia que hace de la obra ajena, el falsificador siempre cae en la tentación de poner algo propio.”

Ante la última subasta que significará su retiro del mundo de las artes, Virgil buscará con Claire asegurar esa felicidad que nunca tuvo y ganar la subasta de su vida.

¿Será su amor por ella la mejor oferta?

 

Is a Jobless Future Inevitable?

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Rise of the Robots MatrixOne of the biggest threats humanity faces today is the high probability of a jobless future, where robots and automation systems will take over all our jobs.

Think about it. Contrary to humans, robots never get tired, they do not need to take lunch or bathroom breaks, they don’t take vacation or sick days off, they don’t complain about working extra hours, they do not need health insurance & benefits, and, among other things, they do not make… well, human errors.

This apocalyptic scenario (for humans) is a real challenge, currently in progress, and brilliantly covered in the book “Rise of the Robots” by Martin Ford.

And if you think the main victims of automation will be low-skilled workers, be prepared. Machines are in a clear path to take over the good paying jobs as well.

College-educated workers will soon realize their jobs are also at risk as the advancement of Artificial Intelligence is producing cutting-edge machines that can think, create, and train other machines to solve complex problems.

What is the scariest thing about all this? That you could be doing everything right as far as pursuing higher education and skills to obtain a job, and you will still fail. There are too many people and not enough job vacancies for everyone.

How did we get here and how will industries be impacted?

It is true that manufacturing jobs were the first ones to be impacted by automation. As the author reveals in his book, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a dramatic fall in the number of American workers employed in manufacturing since the 1950’s.

We hear today many politicians blaming trade for the loss of manufacturing jobs, but clearly this trend originated decades before NAFTA or the rise of China. And as technology keeps advancing and producing more tangible goods with less workers, jobs in the manufacturing sector will continue to be eliminated.

Another big impact from automation will happen in retail. Per the National Retail Federation, retail trade (including food services) employs about 30 million people in the United States.

We have already seen big companies going through major layoffs or totally shutting down because of online retailers like Amazon, who have disrupted this industry completely.

But even if we shop offline at a physical store, many retailers now offer self-service checkout aisles, information kiosks, and devices to scan products. You can go in, shop, and leave the store without ever being in contact with a person.

Information technology is by far the biggest disrupter. Our lives have become highly dependent on IT, and we have integrated computers and mobile devices everywhere.

And as computers get better and make our lives easier, our dependency on them increases. But this also means computers are becoming smarter and can very likely outperform humans in specialized areas.

Take, for instance, IBM Watson cognitive computer system. Watson first rose to fame after winning a live game of Jeopardy! against two of the best game participants. This was a big shock that completely changed the way we thought of computers and their capabilities.

To be clear, IBM Watson was not a project created to win Jeopardy! but to use advanced technology to solve complex problems that are of benefit to humanity.

Some areas where a cognitive system like IBM Watson could be useful are medicine, customer service, technical support, and the financial industry, where it can be very attractive to wealth managers seeking better financial advice and stock market information.

Even in the world of arts, where feelings and emotions inspire creative works, cognitive computer systems are also breaking grounds. Martin Ford mentions a few examples in his book, including one where the London Symphony Orchestra played music composed entirely by a computer!

On the other hand, the author talks about how education and healthcare remain as the two major industries that have not been greatly impacted (yet) from accelerating digital technology. However, they are already witnessing disruptive effects.

In education, more and more universities are offering online courses and degrees which are attracting big enrollments, and will continue to do so dramatically. As a result, many jobs will disappear as educators are not needed on many of these platforms and grading is automated.

In healthcare, artificial intelligence is showing very promising signs and will be a key factor in the successful diagnosis and treatment for patients. And as far as pharmacists in retail settings, their routine and repetitive jobs filling our prescriptions will be replaced by more efficient automated systems.

Going into the future, the author also talks about two accelerating technologies that will highly impact construction and transportation, two industries that generate millions of jobs.

For quite some time now, the construction of suburban homes in the United States has highly consisted of cookie-cutter neighborhoods and apartment homes where prefabricated materials and economies of scale have brought the costs down for developers.

Add the advancement of 3D printing technology to the equation, and you’ll clearly see how the repetitive construction model of tract housing could someday be the job of 3D construction printers. If so, millions of construction workers will be left unemployed.

As far as the auto industry goes, self-driving cars have already proven their incredible benefits and its future impact on the elimination of jobs is imminent. Those who drive for a living, like taxi and delivery drivers, will be the first to feel the effects.

But not only there, if less people own cars, and more people use self-driving cars in the future for their transportation needs, thousands of businesses that rely on maintenance, fueling, insurance, parking, and so on will evaporate, and so will many jobs. Robotic cars will be centralized, maintained, and operated from their company facility.

What about consumers?

With the massive elimination of jobs, there is one very big economic concern. If millions of people are out of jobs, who will consume all the goods produced by technology?

What good is it to make tons of products that no one will be able to buy? We can’t forget that workers are also consumers, while machines are not.

So how do we ensure the prosperity in a mass-market economy so that the workers who are being replaced by machines continue to consume and participate in the economy?

Certainly, stopping technological progress is not a realistic solution.

The author points out that the most effective solution to protect the economy from a jobless future, will be through the distribution of purchasing power among consumers in the form of a guaranteed basic income.

Embraced by cross-party economists and intellectuals, this guaranteed income (also referred to as a “citizen’s dividend”) will provide a safety net while allowing everyone to participate in the market. It will also help alleviate poverty and reduce income inequality.

But to secure an optimistic scenario from these economic challenges, lawmakers today should be negotiating mechanisms to guarantee such prosperity into the future.

In such divisive times, will this imperative subject be the one that finally gets politicians working together?

The reality is clear and alarming, there is a continuous declining labor participation. A reverse shift from this disruption is highly unlikely, and more jobs will be dissolved than those being created.

Those who are more entrepreneurial and innovative will have greater chances to thrive.

 

“Rise of the Robots” by Martin Ford is available on Amazon.

 

The Threat of the Unreaders

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fahrenheit-451-coverThe biggest fear for an authoritarian government is to have an educated and well informed society.

In Ray Bradbury’s apocalyptic classic “Fahrenheit 451” readers represent a threat to an authoritarian regime who wants to control the population by censoring books and keeping them ignorant.

The government force in this fictitious place is composed of firemen whose job is not to put out fires, but rather to burn books and arrest those individuals hiding these weapons of knowledge.

To this Establishment, readers turning into creative thinkers endanger the stability of society. And so, without books everyone in the society are equals. Equally ignorant.

Today, there are no real authoritarian threats preventing society from reading. However, and as revealed in the prophetic novel, many unreaders have fallen prey to the hypnotizing power of media to become part of the conforming entertainment society.

Despite the incredible access people have today to acquire knowledge through reading, many people choose not to. It is way easier for them to be entertained than to think.

At an individual level, it might not seem too problematic if someone chooses easy entertainment over intellectual stimulation.

But when society must collectively participate in the decisions that will determine the future of their country, as in a presidential election, those who have not developed critical thinking and who have been mostly influenced by entertainment will vote for someone with histrionic skills rather than someone based on their intelligence and capabilities.

When a society gives more importance to the appearance than the content, when campaign slogans and mediatic scandals are more valued than ideas and principles, and when entertainers are admired more than intellectuals, society becomes complacent with mediocrity.

We cannot become frivolous and succumb to ignorance.

And because of this, yes, we need to read more. But what books should we read in a world over-saturated with superficial bestsellers and light literature?

Read books that give you valuable knowledge and stimulate thinking, read those books which demand from you an intense intellectual concentration, read those that make you reflect and question your beliefs, and those that motivate you to act for the betterment of society.

If our civilization wants to transcend life, we need to favor reason, we need to be advocates of knowledge, and we need to be more critical to demand and achieve a better world.

 

*Above image from the cover of “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury, 60th Anniversary Edition – Simon & Schuster Paperbacks.

Saramago y la Democracia

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Elecciones¿Puede la democracia ser la salvación del futuro de la humanidad y de garantizar un mundo socialmente justo?

Es posible que sí, pero implica que la democracia se discuta y se reinvente, nos dice el escritor y Nobel de Literatura José Saramago en la conferencia “El Nombre y la Cosa” (2006), que quedó plasmada en el libro del mismo nombre.

Entrando en materia sobre la democracia, Saramago nos traslada brevemente a su origen en Grecia (Siglo IV, a.e.c.) citando dos principios de Aristóteles:

Por un lado, “en la democracia los pobres son soberanos, porque son el mayor número y porque la voluntad de la mayoría es ley.”

En segunda instancia, con el objetivo de garantizar la igualdad y la libertad, Aristóteles nos dice: “la igualdad pide que los pobres no tengan más poder que los ricos, que no sean ellos los únicos soberanos, sino que lo sean todos en la proporción misma de su número.”

Así que muy pronto topamos con una discrepancia y ponemos en duda la legitimidad de la democracia, pues nunca en la historia de la humanidad los ricos han sido una población mayor a los pobres, y los ricos siempre han gobernado el mundo, al día de hoy.

Pero, ¿qué hay del poder del voto que inventaron los griegos? ¿No es el voto la expresión máxima que, siendo derecho de todos, valida el funcionamiento de la democracia?

Pues no. Resulta que dentro del mismísimo proceso de votación encontramos un verdadero conflicto democrático, ya que el voto es al mismo tiempo entrega y renuncia de nuestra voluntad política.

Saramago nos ilustra cómo en el preciso instante de ejercer nuestro derecho al voto e introducirlo en la urna, nuestro sufragio ya no nos pertenece como electores. Y a partir de ahí el político, diputado, o gobernante utilizará el poder según sus intereses, que en muchas instancias no es el del ciudadano que introdujo su voto en la urna.

Por eso es muy sencillo ver que no funciona este proceso democrático. Solo basta darse cuenta del tipo de gobernantes que tenemos; políticos que han abusado de este hueco que hay en el proceso democrático que no los obliga a ser dignos representantes del pueblo.

Porque confío que ninguna población sana, de raciocinio medianamente decente, y con un mínimo de respeto, elegiría a los corruptos que tenemos en el poder.

Dice Saramago, una democracia bien ejecutada debe ser como el Sol que a todos ilumina por igual.

Pero el poder no lo tiene la gente. Es más, el único poder que existe es el económico, el que todo lo mueve, el que controla las cuerdas del teatro llamado gobierno.

Y ese poder económico no es democrático porque no lo eligió el pueblo, ni tampoco contempla la participación ni el bienestar del pueblo.

Ese sistema de organización social que equivocadamente llamamos democracia, es realmente una plutocracia, un gobierno de los ricos para los ricos.

¿Qué hacer entonces? Pues debemos reformar la democracia. Y para ello tenemos que empezar por discutirla, por admitir que no funciona para el beneficio de la gente.

El autor nos advierte que de no hacer nada y de continuar con un concepto de democracia cada vez más putrefacto, no solo terminaremos por perder enteramente la democracia, sino que se perderá también la esperanza de ver un día dignamente respetados los derechos humanos para todos.

La dimensión política del pueblo debe ir mucho más allá del sufragio. Votar cada cierto número de años no es suficiente para mantener una democracia efectiva. Debe haber mayor participación ciudadana.

Si el verdadero poder es el económico, y el principal problema es que ese poder no es de la gente, pues la respuesta está en buscar la manera de que sea la ciudadanía la que penetre y tome el control de los organismos económicos y financieros de los que autoritariamente se les ha aislado.

Para acercarnos a un sistema democrático más justo, Saramago señala que una democracia política debe ir de la mano con una real democracia económica y estar aunada a una democracia cultural.

Pero esta fórmula estructural tampoco servirá de mucho en una democracia que no se autocritica, en una democracia que no se autoevalúa, y que no haga por vigilar la manera en que los gobernantes usan el voto que los puso en el lugar que ocupan.

Solamente a partir de la reflexión, del pensamiento crítico, y del deseo genuino de dialogar y tomar acciones constructivas podemos contribuir a reformar la democracia y a transformar nuestro mundo en uno más justo.