The Thing About "Power to the People"

This is pretty much a common blurb these days especially in the cryptospace. I mean who doesn't want power over their own wealth or power over their own lives? Or when the power to make decisions is not only up to one person entrusting everything to the collective.

Don't mind me today, I sometimes talk as if I know things. And that's just me. All that I know so far are just a result of "lived experiences", and admittedly, my own biases. I've always thought that my beliefs are bound to change as I see through people, as I see through things and as I live on. But one thing's for sure, as I go on chasing success or whatever this is I am trying to make in this life, I try my best to keep a bit of humanity in me. Yup a bit at least because my default is diabolic, ha! But damn, to be honest, I really find this hard. To be a good human being I mean (lol).

I remember when I was just starting my travel agency business here on this island. Some of my followers here probably knew all that I had been through trying to set up a business on my own. I didn't have startup funds and there was no way I could do things alone. I don't have an aunt with a treasure chest or bros in the banks whatever. But I thank some of my followers here who helped fund my startup. Oh yes, I didn't start with 0 and having helpful people in this community is also a privilege.

I realized quickly how the locals hate outsiders who set up their own businesses here. The reality is that most successful travel agencies, scuba dive shops, and hotel and resort owners are not really from this region. So you can imagine the bitterness the locals feel. But don't get me wrong, I do feel for them. I sympathize with them. And they can, if they choose, to be successful too. But then lately I realize what is clearly happening here. The truth is, most of them don't have a proper mindset (financially and long-term thinking) to advance or progress. On the other hand, there are ruthless corporations taking over my beach life but that is just another topic.

I remember when I was trying to get a business permit but I couldn't. Some locals were just making it hard for me because I am not from this town (understandable but then there's also corruption factor in here). It was painful enough that nobody was helping and that some supposedly local friends ditched me just because. But then for people to go out of their way to pull someone down or to hinder that person from progressing from her own hard work? That is just way too much for me to take. It kind of red-pilled me in some way. I understand how it is to be a worker and I understand how it is to run a business. One's perspective can change during this radical shift.

Someone from this travel agency association sent a screenshot of my business card to their group chat and there they tried to torch the witch. They just pretty much condemn online booking because it goes against their traditional way of doing business (walk-ins) and plus the obvious fact that it makes a lot of money. Yes, hello modern internet world. People want equality and fair chance to profit, and it does not matter if you can do things better (website, digital markerting, etc). Equal pay in this industry is impossible. Some people are bound to get ahead. Some people will get by and some people will get rich. That is just the reality. I'm speaking for those who have become successful and have started their businesses earlier. I'm still pretty new and then yeah, pandemic came so. I'm still "getting there".

I heard all kinds of doubts from these local friends "your online booking thing is not going to work at all" or "that will fail". Deep down they really pray for me to fail. But then it didn't, so. That moment I had my first email enquiry, first sale/booking, first group of guests, first tip, first trip advisor review just proved them all wrong.

What I experienced is an example of when I don't want to give power to the people especially if they are solely operating on preserving their pre-existing beliefs and not lose group identity. There's no room for ingenuity here. Most of them still act in ancient ways and that means being completely reliant on their tribe for protection and safety. I can say that their minds are not highly evolved yet and I wouldn't trust any more power bestowed upon them because Gawd knows what, they might have killed me if they wanted to. Should someone in that travel association group followed my pattern, then that person will become an outcast too. People are worried about anyone who become disloyal to their ways because that is perceived as danger to the group identity. They are right and you are wrong.

I guess I am in this space because I can identify with the communities here who advocate for wealth and empowerment (and take note, without oppressing people because this is a psychopathic thing to do). Balance, balance yes? Being wealthy with a bit of humanity (in my case because I'm diabolic). And who does not want to have a say in how things are and openly talk about it a.k.a. free speech - and yes this is our power too.

So who should we give the power to? If we are a collective of highly evolved minds, capable, and can operate on higher reasoning, then yes, we can aim for that people power. Because then we can make decisions collectively without resorting to eating and killing each other. It should be win-win for everyone (either we benefit tangibly or intangibly) while letting a few others freely progress especially if things are "deserved" or "earned". Or simply because they are better than us, surprise! There are actually people out there better than us. Now can we just empower and inspire each other to become better human beings?

But geez, too bad we are human beings. We underestimate our ability to go back to our primal instincts when things go tough. As human beings with sky high egos, we compete, attack, or protect our own tribes/identity. And those who lost tend to revolt. Then someone more powerful, a ruler, will intervene and regulate things. Someone more capable than a group of people. That is if we don't want to completely degenerate into complete and utter chaos (critical thinking of each individual sunk). I do think there's a reason why total control is not totally up to people yet. And there's a reason why we choose someone we look up to to lead. There will be times when we can't even trust ourselves and what we are capable of as a group. Yes, that freedom is hard too.

There's only cat power.