Secrets and Hope in Our Mad World

Early in 2017 I read George Marshall’s book ‘Don’t Even Think About It: Why We are Wired Not to Think About Climate Change’ and I decided I would think about it. And I would read about it. Then I would write about it.

I write as a 'non-expert' and I'm hoping that your comments will help me to see whether the insights I've

gained make sense, whether the conclusions stack up and whether it's realistic for me to start feeling

hopeful about the future .

Where do we go from here?

After much reading and thinking,  I've now feel I've got some idea of how we got into this mess:
We have an economic system, backed up by our political and social institutions, which is based on the idea that a free market without state regulation is the best way to bring the 'good life' -  based on material consumption way above our material needs - to an increasing number of the world's population.  Left to their own devices, entrepreneurs will create wealth which will trickle down to all of us. That, I've come to understand, is the essence of NEOLIBERALISM which is the latest phase in the development of capitalism.
From birth we are 'socialised' into believing that material consumption is the be all and end all of human existence. We are told how to look, how our children and our homes should look, where to go on holiday and the rest.  The messages are so powerful that they go unquestioned and neoliberalism is so powerful because it is invisible. The elephant in the room.  
Fundamentals of neoliberal capitalism are that it needs a constant supply of investment opportunities and will always aim to reduce costs and maximise profit. Migrant workers provide cheap labour and fashion is introduced so we will continually be changing how we look, how our houses look and the rest ...
As neoliberalism has gone global the flaws been exposed:
I guess the basic problem is that Planet Earth is just not able to provide an 'American Dream' lifestyle for its 7billion + people.  
Inequality is growing: The top 62 billionaires have the same wealth as the poorest half of the world
Corporate power has overtaken democracy and international finance has run amok
The impact of climate change and environmental destruction caused by the lifestyle of the wealthy is being suffered by the poor ....
The list goes on.  The main point is that research has shown that even those who have it all are not necessarily happy and that  Gross Domestic Produce, the measure of economic success, measures neither human well-being nor environmental and species destruction.
That seems like flaws enough to make me want to think we need a different way forward.  So, how's that going to happen?  What's being suggested or tried?  HELP!!

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