Image courtesy Stuart Rankin
The Times They Are a-Changin' by Bob Dylan invokes a feeling of unease for a present reality. It invokes a vision of a better future. It timelessly captures that essence. Of course, Dylan meant it as an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's. Today, it still plays constantly in cafes around the world. It has become like a social change chameleon, blending into its social backdrop, speaking its message. Today, our world’s greatest need is aligning capitalism with social good - developing more sustainable systems.
It isn’t the 19th or 20th century, yet our systems look like those from yesteryear. Sure, the world's production boomed on commerce of the industrial age. Technology advanced in part due to perspectives like those of Milton Friedman. But, the longer we stick with those approaches, the more those systems’ strengths diminish and weaknesses burn bright. Vital resources like drinkable water are running dry. Workers, often times, kids, are being exploited. Protective O3 is disappearing. Dozens of species are going extinct EVERY DAY. We peaked out on the benefits of the previous systems years ago. Now, we’re digging a crater we’ll have to climb out of in the future (yes, including a hole of debt).
But, who pays the biggest price for this? The poorest of the world. Those who have the least voice. If you are reading this, your grandchildren's grandchildren will probably be fine. But will those of the poor be fine? Probably not. And, while resource and opportunity depletion most restricts the poorest, that very restriction has devastating effects on all.
Times are changing. They always are. "Then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone," Dylan says to those who see the danger. We continue to use 20th century systems and in so doing, we are entropy-izing. Leaders are not doing enough to keep society afloat the rising tide of change. On that note, Bob goes on, "Come senators, congressmen, Please heed the call, Don’t stand in the doorway, Don’t block up the hall."
Bob poignantly reminds, "There's a battle outside and it's ragin'." He was targeting the complacent legislators and his comfortable friends who were least affected by the racial struggle of the 60's. Today, the least affected are us, the one's of developed and most developing countries with access and opportunity. It's you and me. Not 'them'. It reminds us, living in relative comfort, not to forget the billions in discomfort that our actions most impact.
At the end of the song, Dylan reminds us that, "The first one now will later be last." His point is that we should take action. We should aspire to be like Dylan, himself. He used what he had - a harmonica, guitar, and passion for music - to drive change. Not change through force, but change through, dare I say love. Our systems are out of date. Every one of us touches many parts of the system. Every one of us holds many tools.
Action is not only the 'right' thing. It is the beneficial thing for you. It's both, as per usual, just as it was when Bob wrote the song. If you haven't noticed, the world's resources are continuing to quickly shift toward sustainable investments. May we realize what leaders like Larry Fink at Blackrock are incessant about. We're changing but we need to speed it up.