As we navigate a world that feels increasingly unsteady, it’s crucial to consider how we can respond to potential shifts in the status quo.
Over the past three years, my research has reshaped my perspective on the likelihood of a social revolution in the United States. Once skeptical, I now see it as inevitable. I’ve detailed my findings and reasoning in three books, collectively known as The Revolution Trilogy:
- The Mythology of Progress
- Ultra-Processed Life
- Investing In Revolution (currently the #1 New Release in Social Philosophy)
At the heart of our current narrative is the belief in technology-driven Progress, often viewed as an unstoppable force for good. This perspective is so entrenched that questioning it can provoke outrage; many insist it’s a scientific fact rather than a belief. However, the idea that technology is always beneficial and that Progress is guaranteed is not grounded in science but rather in a historical view of the last two centuries.
This mythology insists that Progress and science are synonymous, leading to a misunderstanding of their relationship.
A central theme in my work explores how Progress has shifted from tangible public benefits—such as clean water and infrastructure—to a consumer-driven model where owning the latest gadgets defines success. Once consumers had access to these products, a challenge arose: how to sustain profits in a market where everyone already owns the latest tech? Population growth provided some relief, but soon, fashion and trends became the new drivers of consumption, overshadowing genuine need.
As wages stagnated in the 1970s, consumer credit emerged as a stopgap for declining purchasing power. In recent years, neither trends nor credit have been enough to sustain profit growth. Consequently, Progress has morphed into what I term Anti-Progress: companies have begun intentionally degrading product quality to push consumers towards more profitable options, a phenomenon aptly described by Cory Doctorow as “insh*tification.”
This Anti-Progress has become normalized: we face declining product durability, rising costs, and deteriorating quality of life. Many of us are experiencing increased stress and insecurity, as the economy now relies heavily on credit-asset bubbles that falsely create a “wealth effect” for the top 10%.
Take AI, for instance—marketed as a groundbreaking advancement. While it may enrich a select few, its impact on the broader population is uncertain:
- AI chatbots have significant security flaws.
- They can undermine genuine education and learning.
- The proliferation of low-quality AI-generated content is overwhelming.
- Fraudulent AI tools are on the rise.
- The potential for AI-driven scams is vast—fakes of songs, deepfakes, and more.
- AI addiction can harm mental health.
- AI services often degrade existing offerings.
- AI data centers waste vast resources, including water and electricity.
To sum up, true Progress is reflected in making life easier, safer, and more secure. Unfortunately, for most people today, life feels increasingly challenging and less secure—this is Anti-Progress.
The wealthiest 10% who benefit from credit-asset bubbles and globalization dominate media narratives, both traditional and alternative. Their experience distorts the reality for the majority, who are left behind. They tout advances that supposedly benefit everyone—a new medical breakthrough or promises of cheap energy—without addressing whether these solutions are practical or equitable.
The mythology of Progress suggests it should benefit all, not just the elite. Yet today, it has become a privilege of the top 10%, creating a stark divide between their world and that of the bottom 90%, particularly the 200 million Americans struggling to make ends meet.
Moreover, the myth implies that technology will automatically resolve the issues it creates. This is clearly untrue when considering the state of our environment. The current “Waste Is Growth” economy is unsustainable, and no amount of technology can save it from its own excess.
As the Mythology of Progress fails to align with our lived experiences, we must seek a new narrative—one that recognizes the social dimensions of technology and progress.
In Ultra-Processed Life, I address the pervasive sense of inauthenticity that defines our current reality. The works of Guy Debord and Daniel Boorstin from the 1960s highlighted this trend, but in today’s digital age, artificial experiences have taken over, leaving many unaware of what has been lost.
This dynamic shows that as the authentic becomes harder to achieve, those in power replace it with controlled simulations. The consumerist economy has effectively traded a genuine sense of identity for one based on consumption.
Ultra-processed foods serve as a metaphor for this broader phenomenon: designed to be appealing yet lacking in real nourishment. Once we become accustomed to these substitutes, we lose touch with what is truly fulfilling.
Investing In Revolution delves into how this normalization of extremes dulls our awareness of the precarious nature of everyday life and how inequality is pushing society to a breaking point. While the timing and nature of this societal shift are unpredictable, the current distortions are unsustainable, and a spark could ignite widespread change.
The normalization of extremes doesn’t eliminate their consequences; it merely conceals them. Just as individuals can reach their limits and burn out, societies can break down under pressure.
Based on the extreme distortions and visible fractures beneath the surface, I believe we cannot reach beyond 2032-33 without experiencing a significant societal upheaval.
The question we face is how to invest our time, skills, and resources to steer this potential upheaval towards a positive transformation—one that fosters a sustainable system that benefits the many, rather than prioritizing the gains of a privileged few.
