What Is Normal-ism?

Watching the documentary “Surplus” recently, I noticed how the sharing of Fidel Castro's ideology showcases the removal of the individual from the treadmill of consumerism.

What else is the motivation to get up and go to work if it isn't to feed oneself and buy stuff to pass the time? Isn't this what the world calls 'living' or 'normal'? However, to some this idea seems like a mouse chasing cheese in a mouse-wheel. The documentary clearing makes this point. Some acknowledge the world's history and choose not the way of consumerism to sustain themselves and local economies. Those cultures who choose not are sometimes viewed as 'backwards.' Those cultures argue they are much happier with growing their own food, raising animals and being close to family and friends... and not having a house and garage full of consumer products they don't use half the time.

I write this not to suggest the Cuban political/economic model is a solution, but simply showcasing the different mentality in the face of the business of managing both human beings and natural resources as commodities.

Extreme examples conceptualized as capitalism, communism, socialism or any ism, are not end-all and absolute solutions. Balance. Balance between greed and gifting, order and rights, pursuing freedom and defining what 'freedom' means to the individual. That balance, in my opinion, is best realized when the individual has their own plot of land, can grow their own food, can have time to produce something into the market (if they care to)... and become interdependent with his neighbor in contributing to the community. City life, being somewhat restrictive of food independence (demanding the individual to find a job in order to feed themselves) is quite fragile despite still working in some miraculous way.

Man is the only being which pays to exist.