You think capitalism us efficient? You think capitalism is what we can go back to?

Think again

Pictured above is various furniture in the dumpster of a furniture store that was, get this, Purposely. Destroyed. Pillows, couches, tables, chairs, it was all there. And un-salvageable. It would have cost me more than any of these one couches is worth to re-upholster one, and that was if it wasn’t already ruined by rain.

Unfortunately for society as a whole, this is a common find. Retail stores regularly purposely destroy discarded products for the sake of protecting profits. So homeless people won’t be seen wearing on-brand clothing. Because they can’t have lower class people buying discounted makeup. And forget about giving away all the leftover rotisserie chicken from Sa.m’s Clu.b to a homeless shelter! It’s more profitable to throw them in the trash compactor.

You see, this world is driven by profit. Whatever makes the most money for the shareholders rules. If it means paying retail workers a starvation wage? Making every product so cheaply they don’t last? Breaking human rights to cut down on production costs? Shipping products all over the world? So be it. The most inhumane, inefficient, unsustainable way is the most profitable way, and so this is how our world works.

But there is hope! You can join the fight to expose this system’s cruel wastefulness. Go dumpster diving, share what you don’t need, create or expand gift economies, rinse and repeat. There are likely autonomous groups already in your area that you can donate to. Search your area/city and “free store”, “food not bombs”, or “buy nothing project”.