COVID-19 and shifting to Stage Green

[soos_mite_ah]

From my observations, studies, and my basic understanding of spiral dynamics, I believe that COVID-19, can be instrumental in shifting the world (but mainly the U.S.) to stage green. I am mainly speaking for the US since I live there and feel that I have more information regarding my surroundings so I apologize if this is very US centric. 

In the individual level, in this situation we are quarantined and bored out of our minds. So we have no choice but to confront our thoughts and go inward, quite literally. While a lot of people can drown in their thoughts during this time, this can be also be great time for rejuvenation and healing if we make it.  The amount of time people have for introspection can prompt many people to shift to stage green or any above their regular functioning. 

In a societal level, at least in the US, COVID 19 can be the great push to implement social infrastructure regarding those who are most vulnerable in the economy. I'm talking socialized health care, better policies regarding unemployment etc. Congress is already looking into the UBI, where all citizens get 1000 a month to stimulate the economy and help those who most needed. It is capitalism that doesnt start at zero (so imo kind of like a transition to stage green from orange).

Here's the big thing. This wasnt even conceivable given how conservative the US government is and now people FROM BOTH PARTIES are arguing for it because of the corona virus. While this may be a temporary thing to deal with the current situation, it can yield to further conversations. 

Also, part of the reason why Europe is more green and liberal in their policirs regarding the betterment of society is because of the wreckage it faced because of the World Wars
The wreckage created a situation where a large amount of people were impacted with no fault of their own so then the government stepped in and actually helped people.
The US on the other hand always had a stick up their ass with a libertarian, "pull yourself up by your boot straps" mentality because there werent any major large sweeping crisis since the Civil War and before that the Revolutionary War, both of which have been far from peoples immediate memory outside of textbooks.

The closest we got was the great depression which is nowhere near what europe faced after two world wars. As a result, it is difficult for many americans to recognize larger, societal forces because they weren't as blatant (causing them to stay more in stage orange rather than dealing with an ego backlash that could push them towards green).

The corona virus just may be the crisis that calls America's poor health care system and overall socioeconomic infrastructure into attention (especially in regards to health care because of how we are handling things vs how countries with better systems like South Korea are handling things). Many young people already are valuing alternatives to capitalism such as socialism due to the ways capitalism has harmed millenials and gen z after the 2008 recession to the point where it is predicted that these two generations wont have as high of a quality of life as their parents. 

Also for world wide stuff, our ability to make a dent in climate change will also be highlighted during this outbreak. The skies are being cleared from the smog in china, the water in venice is cleaner and the fish have returned, and natural wild life is making more of a combat since people are not as out and about. While I dont think its healthy for the economy to be at a standstill, this situation with the quartine can show people just how much is possible when it comes to reversing climate change which then in turn can yield to more action due to decreased feelings of helplessness.

If there is anything I'm actually worried about, it isnt the virus. It's people freaking out because of the virus. The biggest issue being the incoming recession, but that doesnt mean we need to go back to work right away it means we need to take strict restrictions so that this doesnt have to last longer than it needs to. 

During the recession /COVID 19 outbreak and immediately afterwards there will be progressive policies yes. But then there will be a large ego back lash that can come from a war. Why a war? Because of the U.S. relationship with the military in industrial complex. Basically, whenever something goes wrong economically politicians try to start a war so that they can stimulate the economy and stay in power due to an increase in patriotism.

And let's just say we have Trump in the office right now who likes to pick fights and I wouldn't be surprised if we are probably going to have him for another 4 years because Biden has the nomination due to democrats voting out of fear and therefore making the same mistakes they made in 2016. From a marketing perspective, diluting your product (or in this case policies to have a moderate stance) to appeal to a large amount of people, you're going to lose a lot of people as opposed to appealing to a niche since most of your sales (or in this case votes), comes from a smaller group of people. 

Now if we do have a war, where. Truth is idk because the U.S. likes to stick its nose where it doesnt belong and it could be anywhere. My money is on China.

China and the US have been on weird relations as china began growing as an economic power. Basically, when there is a one hegemonic power (in this case the US) and another rising power, there is a high chance for war because the standing power starts to feel threatened. It is a pattern that dates back to the days of the Greek empire. You can find more about this by reading Destined for War (I had to read it for an international relations class).
That economic tension with China was already there before COVID 19. While war is not guranteed as there are a handful of times in history where this hasnt occured, one needs to be incredibly strategic in dealing with this or else we risk falling into the trap of war. But then again, we have Trump in office. With the stress and the recession brought by COVID 19, people are going to be angry and they are going to look for someone to blame.
Given Americas history with racism, it isn't likely we're going to look at the Italians. Hell, even now Chinese Americans are already facing hate crimes because of the corona virus. It could push the US over the edge and into war with China.

 

So those are my thoughts regarding how COVID-19 can push the US towards more green in society and politics. I will admit that a lot of this is speculation and can be a bit of a tinfoil hat theory. I am simply trying to connect things that I have been learning in college and tying them to current events and spiral dynamics. Because I don't have people in my life who are really aware of the spiral, I thought it would he beneficial to post it on this forum to see what kind of feedback I could receive and so that I can have this conversation with someone. 

[Carl-Richard]

Idk my dude

[WonderSeeker]

@soos_mite_ah Interesting hypothesis! Only time will tell. I've got many anecdotes from small interactions to suggest we are going more Green, but they are just that: fuzzy, anecdotal, and short-lived interactions. Your idea goes much broader to a national level. I'm curious to see what happens in the next decade and a half. I think that if there is a shift to the Green, HumanBond MEME, it will still take many years to integrate. What timetable would you put the shift on?

[ivory]

@soos_mite_ah Did you see the Zizek video that Leo posted last week? If not you should check it out. In any case, this is a really interesting time. I'm really curious to see how things turn out.

[Carl-Richard]

@ivory I feel all this hope about green is just the human impulse of trying to see the positives in a dire situation.

[ivory]

@Carl-Richard I don't believe that everyone is in a dire situation so I would have to disagree. I also think that if you're doing this right, you're fairly content with the way things are. Your life is established and your mental health is good. Your heart is open and there's the recognition that there is indeed a better life for self and others.

[Carl-Richard]

@ivory I don't know if you misunderstood my point or not, but either way, my point was that you don't have to be personally negatively impacted by covid19 to think it's having a negative impact overall. People perceive this to be a negative thing, so they try to find the positive sides with it. It's just optimism, nothing wrong with that. It's just a suspicion of mine that you could just as easily make a just as extensive list of points for why this crisis will NOT lead to a green revolution and rather a stagnation. I think it's helpful to look at the pessimistic side aswell as the optimistic side and integrate the two perspectives.

[soos_mite_ah]

@Carl-Richard @ivory I agree. While I am not getting the full blown negative impact of COVID-19, it is easier for me to see this ending positively. Tons of people, though not everyone, is in a dire situation whether they are paranoid for their mental and physical health, dealing with financial issues and unemployment, or tackling the virus itself.  I could go on and on about the negatives of the current situation which is why  I also agree that this is having a negative impact overall. I will admit that part of my optimism is a coping mechanism albeit a relatively healthier one but still a coping mechanism nontheless so that can definitely impact my thoughts on how this will turn out. It is still too early to tell and much of this is a tin foil hat thing that I thought might be interesting to share with others. I don't think this will lead to a full on green revolution, that is a long shot given that many people in the U.S. is still very blue and orange. I also think that moving to a stage, integrating to it, and then finally reaching to a place where many people can recognize the limitations of that stage takes decades if not centuries.  The events that come with COVID-19 can be a large step forward, but there are still many, many steps ahead that society needs to take. But I will say that people and society is not going to come out the same after COVID-19 and people are rethinking things whether it is on the macro or the micro. I also agree with needing pessimism to create a more well integrated perspective and I would love to hear your thoughts on how things can turn out (especially given my personal blind spots with optimism and limited study on the subject). This whole thing feels like a big event and I personally find it exciting thinking of the ways it can impact the future and apart from my general optimism I'm very curious on how things will turn out. 

 

@WonderSeeker Also, may be this is me and my experiences, but I don't think that green is a fuzzy conception at this time in society especially with Millennials and Gen Z when you look at their views on social issues and how they favor alternatives to capitalism because of the potential limitations. Sure, we are still far from fully integrating green, but we also come pretty far within a couple of generations in the last 60 years. As far as a time table goes, that is very, very fuzzy. Again this is my own tin foil hat theory about moving towards green. From what I understand about spiral dynamics is that humanity in general is moving up the spiral. We don't go back unless there is something we have really failed to integrate (also please correct me if I am mistaken). Knowing we are heading towards this direction does give me hope and optimism for humanity as a whole in a large scale. But even though we are headed towards this one destination or pit stop to stage green if you will, I don't know how long it will take or what events can build up and precipitate that. Nevertheless, I can see the situation with COVID-19 as one such event (big or small) given the notion that humanity goes up the spiral.  

Also @ivory I haven't seen the Zizek video that Leo posted last week. Where can I find it? 

[ivory]

@Carl-Richard Ah, ok. I did misunderstand you.

 

@soos_mite_ah Leo posted the zizek video here: 

 

[Leo Gura]

https://www.actualized.org/insights/covid-love

[The observer]

2 hours ago, Leo Gura said:

https://www.actualized.org/insights/covid-love

❤️