Tag: #Choice

I started watching Season 2 of the Squid Games on the eve of New Year’s Eve. This season takes more time to develop the complexities and motivations of each main character and the parts they will be playing in the up coming games. But, don’t worry… it takes viewers to the games almost as quickly as Season 1. And now you know the motivations and conflicts of several key players in more depth that adds greater stakes and suspense to the games!

Spoiler Alert

Spoiler Alert, if you have not watched Season 2 yet, the games introduce even more democracy into the games. In season 1, players got to vote after the massacre of Red Light, Green Light game. In season 2, players get to vote after every game is played. The only catch is that they have to divide the money accumulated after the deaths of previous players with all the surviving players.

So, this pits desperate players who are willing to risk their lives to pay off their huge debts with equally desperate players who would rather live than risk dying playing one more game just so they can have a little bit more money. This is exactly where Americans (and also South Koreans) find themselves today due to huge failures of their modern day democracies…finely tuned to only make money for the super wealthy.

Don’t worry, the other side of communist countries are doing the exact same thing but under the guise of sharing for the good of all! In reality, both modern day systems are simply the oldest collective governance in the world: Totalitarian societies.

Both kinds of modern human civilization have been absolutely corrupted by money. And in our modern day, lots of money comes with unconstrained power and control that hollows out the human soul.

Sapience Could Help… If People Wanted Help

If you want to find out how we, the little guys and gals, who are all trapped inside these repressive, brutal systems carefully designed to entertain the super rich with our suffering and deaths, read my book: Sapience: The Moment Is Now.

Sapience: The Moment Is Now

Sapience: The Moment Is Now

My book currently is languishing on one of our modern day oligarch’s web system of commerce, Amazon, where is sits mostly unnoticed and unread, unable to find its readers.

This is because I self-published and I don’t have thousands and thousands of dollars to feed Jeff Bezos by buy ineffective ads on his website. Also, since I published through Amazon and I was stupid enough to use their ISBN, I am trapped inside Amazon vast ocean of commerce that does not play fair with bookstores or libraries.

This is because Amazon charges full retail price and does not take back books that don’t sell (like Publishing Companies do). Thus, bookstores and libraries cannot buy my book for a fair price that allows them to make some money (or at least not lose money). Therefore, they don’t. Because of this, I cannot get my book to places where readers are looking for something new to read. And believe me, readers coming to Amazon to find something new to read only see book whose authors (or authors via publishers) can afford to pay the most for advertising!

If you feel rebellious after reading this blog, please help me beat an oligarch and read or buy my book on Amazon. Also, please leave a rating… and better yet, leave a review! I would be so deeply grateful to you.

Squid Games — A Provocative Modern Metaphor

You are probably pondering, if you have made it this far in the blog: How Are the Squid Games and Modern Democracies the Same?

Here are seven parallels between modern democracies and the Squid Game Season 2.

#1. Economic Desperation

• Be it bored rich people who are watching people die for entertainment or modern day democracies or communistic societies, both the fictional game and modern systems of governance exploit financial vulnerability. In Squid Game, players are willing to risk death for a chance to escape crushing debt. Similarly, in America, many people take dangerous jobs, endure exploitative working conditions, or gamble on high-risk investments to achieve financial security.

Deeper Dive into Economic Desperation

Here is how wealth inequality and the lack of safety nets trap people in cycles of desperation:

Wealth inequality and the lack of safety nets create self-perpetuating cycles of desperation by forcing individuals to make increasingly precarious choices just to survive. Here’s how these factors interact to trap people:

A. Unequal Distribution of Resources

• Limited Access to Basics: Wealth inequality means fewer resources for the majority, making essentials like housing, education, and healthcare harder to afford. This forces people to prioritize immediate survival over long-term stability, such as skipping preventive healthcare or higher education.
• Concentrated Wealth Power: Wealth is hoarded by a small elite, giving them disproportionate control over policies and opportunities. This exacerbates inequality, as the system prioritizes their interests over those of the majority.

B. Debt as a Trap

• Predatory Lending: High-interest loans, payday lenders, and credit card debt target those who lack savings, creating a cycle of borrowing and repayment that often spirals out of control.
• Student Debt: The cost of education locks people into decades of debt, with no guarantee of upward mobility. This limits financial freedom and delays wealth-building, such as homeownership.

C. Insecure and Low-Paying Jobs

• Lack of Living Wages: Many jobs, particularly in service sectors, don’t pay enough to cover basic needs. Even full-time workers can require multiple jobs or government assistance to make ends meet.
• Gig Economy: The rise of gig and contract work removes job security and benefits, leaving workers vulnerable to fluctuations in demand.

D. Lack of Safety Nets

• Insufficient Healthcare: Without affordable or universal healthcare, medical emergencies can lead to catastrophic debt. Chronic conditions become untreated, reducing productivity and creating a cycle of poor health and poverty.
• Weak Social Welfare: Limited unemployment benefits, housing assistance, and food programs leave people with few options when crises arise. In many cases, these programs are also stigmatized, discouraging people from seeking help.

E. Generational Impact

• Intergenerational Poverty: Families without wealth cannot pass down financial resources, leaving each generation to start over. Meanwhile, wealthy families leverage inherited assets to grow their wealth further.
• Educational Inequities: Underfunded schools in poorer areas result in lower educational outcomes, reducing opportunities for future generations.

F. Psychological Toll and Reduced Agency

• Scarcity Mindset: Constantly scrambling for resources affects decision-making, often leading to short-term thinking that perpetuates the cycle.
• Stress and Burnout: Chronic financial strain undermines mental and physical health, reducing productivity and further entrenching desperation.

G. Structural Barriers to Escape

• Expensive Mobility: Moving to areas with better opportunities often requires upfront costs (relocation, housing deposits, etc.) that are out of reach for those trapped in poverty.
• Systemic Racism and Discrimination: Marginalized groups face additional barriers, such as wage gaps, hiring biases, and redlining, further limiting opportunities.

The Self-Reinforcing Cycle

These factors interact to create a feedback loop: lack of resources leads to poor outcomes, which further reduces access to opportunities and resources. Without systemic change—such as stronger safety nets, equitable policies, and wealth redistribution—the cycle continues, trapping individuals and communities in perpetual desperation.

#2. Democratic Facade

• In both the games and modern systems of governance, there is the illusion of choice. While Squid Game allows players to vote, their choices are framed by desperation. In America, the idea of “freedom” can sometimes mask systemic coercion, such as choosing between healthcare or bankruptcy, or enduring unsafe working conditions due to a lack of alternatives.

Deeper Dive into Democratic Facade

Here is how the illusion of choice mirrors democratic processes where choices are constrained by systemic power imbalances:

The illusion of choice occurs when people believe they have agency and freedom to make decisions, but their options are actually constrained by systemic power imbalances. This dynamic is evident in both Squid Game and real-world democratic processes, especially in systems shaped by wealth inequality, political polarization, and entrenched power structures. Here’s how:

A. Limited Options That Favor the System

In Squid Game, players can vote to leave the game, but the alternative—returning to crushing debt and hardship—is equally dire. This creates a “choice” between two harmful outcomes, ensuring the system remains in control regardless of the decision.

In democratic systems:

• Economic Constraints: Low-income voters often face barriers such as unpaid time off to vote, long wait times, or inaccessible polling locations, making “free choice” contingent on financial stability.
• Political Homogeneity: A two-party system can limit choices to candidates who often prioritize corporate or elite interests, sidelining policies that directly benefit marginalized groups.

The system effectively restricts meaningful options while maintaining the facade of democratic participation.

B. Manipulation Through Fear and Incentives

The players in Squid Game are manipulated by their desperation and the promise of wealth, leading them to make irrational or harmful choices that perpetuate the game’s cycle. Similarly, democratic systems often use fear and incentives to guide decisions in ways that maintain the status quo:

• Fearmongering: Politicians and media outlets exploit fears of instability, crime, or economic collapse to sway voters toward particular candidates or policies, often against their own long-term interests.
• False Promises: Campaign promises of systemic reform are often diluted or abandoned once candidates are elected, leaving the underlying issues unresolved while maintaining voter engagement.

C. Divide and Conquer Tactics

In Squid Game, players are pitted against each other, making collaboration and rebellion nearly impossible. Votes that should empower them instead deepen divisions.

In democracy:

• Partisan Polarization: Political parties and media amplify divisions between voters (e.g., urban vs. rural, young vs. old), preventing collective action to address systemic inequalities.
• Identity Politics: While representation is important, the focus on symbolic victories (e.g., electing diverse candidates without systemic reform) can obscure larger structural issues, dividing people along superficial lines.

These tactics ensure that systemic power imbalances remain unchallenged, as voters are too divided to demand meaningful change.

D. The Role of Money in Decision-Making

In Squid Game, the wealthy spectators manipulate the game for their entertainment and profit, ensuring they remain insulated from its dangers. Similarly, in democratic systems:

• Campaign Financing: Wealthy donors and corporations wield disproportionate influence, shaping policy agendas and candidate viability. [Think Elon Musk… or Mush is a much better name for the maniac oligarch. Spoiler Alert: I think Mr. Elon is player 001 in Season 2 of the Squid Game.]
• Economic Gatekeeping: The cost of running for office excludes many grassroots candidates, leaving political power concentrated among the elite.

This creates a system where voters may “choose” from options that have already been pre-selected by those with money and power.

E. Psychological Impact of the Illusion

Believing they have agency while facing constrained choices leads to frustration, apathy, and disengagement:

• In Squid Game: Players become disillusioned with their fellow competitors and themselves, yet they continue to play because they feel there is no other way out.
• In Democracy: Voter turnout often declines as people perceive elections as futile, perpetuating the cycle of systemic control. The illusion of choice traps them in a paradox where opting out feels as ineffective as participating.

Key Consequences

1. Entrenchment of Power: The system remains stable, ensuring those in power stay in power.
2. Frustrated Populations: People become disillusioned, blaming themselves or their neighbors instead of the systemic structures that constrain their choices.
3. Cyclical Inequality: With no structural changes, disparities grow, further eroding the possibility of meaningful choices.

This is important so lets expand into specific examples of how voter suppression laws, campaign financing practices, and a two-party system trap modern day humans living in “democratic” societies in an endless Game of Kill the Squid.

How These Examples Mirror Squid Game

Suppression as Forced Participation

• Just as some Squid Game players are coerced into staying by systemic traps, voter suppression ensures certain groups face disproportionate barriers, effectively silencing their voices.

Financing as Rigged Odds

• The wealthy spectators in Squid Game rig the game for their amusement, much like billionaires and corporations dictate political outcomes through campaign financing and lobbying.

Two-Party Entrapment as Limited Choice

• Players in Squid Game believe their only choices are to play or die. Similarly, the two-party system forces voters to choose between constrained options, perpetuating systemic inequality.

#3. Winners & Losers in a Zero-Sum System

• The “winner-takes-all” nature of both systems is what provides the captivating energy that traps both super rich and super poor in a perpetual, brutal game. In Squid Game, only one person can claim the prize (except Season 2 is allowing players to split the money and leave with their lives if enough players vote to do this… aka, modern day democracies pretty much around the world). The same can be said of capitalism in its most ruthless form—which is what we seem to have collectively molded into existence everywhere—where success for a few comes at the expense of many.

Deeper Dive into Winners & Losers in a Zero-Sum System

Here is how a Zero-Sum mindset fosters competition rather than collaboration in so called modern “democratic” societies, thus leading to societal fragmentation:

The winner-take-all nature of modern democracies fosters competition at every level of governance, reinforcing societal fragmentation by prioritizing individual or partisan success over collective well-being. This dynamic is evident in electoral systems, policymaking, and public discourse, creating a cycle where collaboration is undervalued and division is amplified. Here’s how:

A. Electoral Systems That Reward Competition Over Collaboration

In winner-take-all systems, such as those in the U.S. and the U.K., the candidate or party with the most votes wins outright, leaving all others without representation. This system has several divisive consequences:

1a. Marginalization of Minority Voices

• Impact: Third parties and minority groups are often excluded from meaningful participation. Their interests are ignored, fostering disenfranchisement and alienation.
• Example: In the U.S., third-party candidates like Ralph Nader in 2000 or Jill Stein in 2016 were labeled “spoilers,” discouraging voters from supporting alternatives to the two dominant parties.

2b. Zero-Sum Game

• Impact: The all-or-nothing approach creates incentives for candidates and parties to focus on winning at all costs, rather than building consensus or addressing systemic issues collaboratively.
• Example: Gerrymandering—manipulating district boundaries to ensure electoral dominance—prioritizes partisan victories over fair representation.

B. Partisan Policymaking and Gridlock

The winner-take-all mentality extends to policymaking, where parties prioritize short-term victories over long-term collaboration:

1a. Polarization and Tribalism

• Impact: Partisan leaders are incentivized to portray the opposing party as enemies, making bipartisan efforts politically costly.
• Example: In 2009, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) passed without a single Republican vote, despite addressing a national healthcare crisis. This deepened partisan divides and stigmatized collaboration as weakness.

2b. Legislative Stalemates

• Impact: In divided governments, the focus on “beating” the other party results in gridlock, leaving critical issues—like climate change, wealth inequality, or infrastructure—unaddressed.
• Example: The frequent U.S. government shutdowns, such as the 35-day shutdown in 2018–2019 over border wall funding, illustrate how competition paralyzes governance.

C. Fragmentation in Public Discourse

1a. Media Amplification of Divisions

• Impact: News outlets, driven by profit and political agendas, often sensationalize partisan conflicts, reinforcing tribal identities and fragmenting public understanding of issues.
• Example: Networks like Fox News and MSNBC cater to ideologically polarized audiences, creating echo chambers where opposing viewpoints are vilified rather than understood.

2b. Social Media and Algorithmic Bias

• Impact: Social media platforms, optimized for engagement, promote content that stokes outrage and division, further polarizing societies.
• Example: The rise of “us vs. them” rhetoric online exacerbates divisions, turning political discourse into a battleground of personal attacks rather than constructive dialogue.

D. Societal Fragmentation as an Outcome

1a. Erosion of Trust

• Impact: Constant competition erodes public trust in institutions and leaders. People perceive governments as working for partisan or elite interests rather than the common good.
• Example: Trust in U.S. government institutions is near historic lows, with Pew Research reporting only 20% of Americans trust the government to do what is right “most of the time.”

2b. Inequitable Policy Outcomes

• Impact: Policies often serve the interests of the winning party or their donors, ignoring marginalized groups and exacerbating inequalities.
• Example: Tax cuts favoring the wealthy under Republican administrations or corporate bailouts during crises highlight the prioritization of elite interests over broader societal needs.

3c. Alienation and Disengagement

• Impact: As people feel their voices are ignored, they become disengaged from the democratic process, leading to lower voter turnout and weakening the system’s legitimacy.
• Example: Voter turnout in the U.S. hovers around 60% in presidential elections and is much lower in midterms, reflecting widespread disillusionment.

How Collaboration Is Undermined

1. Short-Term Thinking: Winner-take-all systems encourage policies aimed at immediate partisan gains rather than sustainable, long-term solutions.
2. Lack of Inclusive Governance: Minority voices are excluded, stifling innovation and diverse perspectives that could lead to more effective solutions.
3. Normalization of Hostility: The framing of politics as a zero-sum game legitimizes antagonistic behavior, undermining trust and cooperation across political divides.

Paths Forward: Moving Beyond Winner-Take-All

To counteract these dynamics and foster collaboration, systemic reforms could include:

• Proportional Representation: Electoral systems that allocate seats based on vote share encourage coalition-building and fairer representation.
• Ranked-Choice Voting: Allowing voters to rank candidates by preference reduces polarization and empowers third-party and independent candidates.
• Campaign Finance Reform: Reducing the influence of money in politics can level the playing field and encourage more collaborative policymaking.
• Deliberative Democracy: Citizen assemblies and participatory governance models can bridge divides and emphasize collective decision-making.

#4. Moral Compromise & Dehumanization

• Both systems (the fictional games and modern day governments) force participants (or citizens) to compromise their ethics. In Squid Game, alliances crumble, and morality is often sacrificed for survival. Similarly, in America, systemic pressures can push individuals or corporations to exploit others for financial gain.
• The psychological toll of moral and dehumanization compromises in Squid Game mirrors the experiences of individuals navigating systems of modern democracies, where systemic inequalities force people into decisions that erode their humanity and sense of self. Below, we delve into how these compromises manifest, the toll they take, and their broader implications.

Deeper Dive into Moral Compromise & Dehumanization

A. The Moral Cost of Compromises

1a. In Squid Game

Players are repeatedly forced to make life-and-death decisions, often pitting personal survival against their moral values. Examples include:

• Betrayal of Alliances: The marble game forces participants to exploit or betray their closest allies to survive.
• Impact: This leads to profound guilt and self-loathing, as participants struggle to reconcile their survival instincts with the harm they’ve caused.

2b. In Democracies

Citizens and policymakers often face decisions that prioritize self-interest or short-term gains over ethical considerations due to systemic pressures. Examples include:

• Workers in Low-Wage Jobs: Forced to work under exploitative conditions, such as in sweatshops or unsafe environments, to feed their families.
• Voters’ Lesser Evil Dilemma: Choosing between two flawed candidates in elections, leading to feelings of complicity in perpetuating harmful systems.
• Impact: Such compromises can result in disillusionment, cynicism, and feelings of helplessness, as people feel trapped in a system where every choice carries moral consequences.

B. The Toll of Dehumanization

1a. In Squid Game

Dehumanization is central to the game’s structure.

• Players Reduced to Numbers: Participants are stripped of their names and identities, referred to only by numbers.
• Deaths as Spectacle: Their suffering becomes a form of entertainment for wealthy spectators, who view them as disposable.
• Impact: The loss of identity and constant objectification lead to a sense of worthlessness and alienation, with many players internalizing their dehumanized status.

2b. In Democracies

Dehumanization occurs subtly but pervasively in systems where human value is tied to economic productivity or political utility.

• Economic Systems: People in poverty are often blamed for their circumstances and portrayed as “lazy” or “undeserving,” ignoring systemic barriers like wage stagnation or lack of opportunities.
• Partisan Divide: Political opponents are frequently demonized, reducing individuals to caricatures and denying their humanity.
• Impact: This dehumanization fosters divisions and erodes empathy, making systemic oppression seem inevitable and even justified.

C. The Psychological Toll

1a. Cognitive Dissonance

• Definition: The mental discomfort of holding contradictory beliefs or values.
• In Squid Game: Players struggle to rationalize their actions—killing or betraying others—to survive in a system they know is unjust.
• In Democracies: Citizens often experience dissonance when participating in systems they recognize as flawed, such as paying taxes that fund unethical policies or working for corporations that exploit workers or the environment.

Impact: Over time, this dissonance can lead to emotional numbness, burnout, or a sense of resignation.

2b. Moral Injury

• Definition: The psychological distress resulting from actions—or inactions—that violate deeply held moral beliefs.
• In Squid Game: Participants like Gi-hun and Sang-woo endure profound moral injury after betraying their values to survive.
• In Democracies:
• Policymakers may feel moral injury from enacting harmful policies under pressure.
• Low-wage workers or soldiers may grapple with the ethical compromises required by their roles.

Impact: Moral injury often leads to PTSD, depression, and a loss of self-esteem.

Consider the real life recent New Year’s Eve events in the United States. Both bombers were US citizens who had served in the military. Both were decorated servicemen. Both re-entered civilizan society with significant psychological wounds. While the New Orleans bomber found salvation in ISIS, the Las Vegas bomber favored both Elon and Trump and yet blew up a Telsa truck in front of a Trump hotel.

3c. Loss of Agency

• In Squid Game: The illusion of choice exacerbates the psychological toll, as players feel forced to act against their will.
• In Democracies: Citizens often feel similarly powerless, perceiving their votes or actions as insignificant in systems dominated by corporate interests and elite power.

Impact: A sense of powerlessness can lead to apathy and disengagement from civic life, further entrenching systemic problems.

D. Broader Implications of These Compromises

1a. Fractured Social Bonds

• In Squid Game: The competitive structure destroys trust and solidarity, leaving participants isolated and unable to form meaningful connections.
• In Democracies: Economic inequality and political polarization erode community cohesion, as people are pitted against each other along class, racial, or ideological lines.

2b. Normalization of Exploitation

• In Squid Game: The game normalizes the exploitation of desperate people for entertainment and profit.
• In Democracies: Systems like capitalism and the gig economy normalize the exploitation of workers, perpetuating cycles of inequality.

3c. Perpetuation of Oppression

• In Squid Game: The system is designed to maintain the power and privilege of the wealthy spectators.
• In Democracies: Systemic barriers ensure the continued dominance of the elite, with wealth inequality and voter suppression maintaining the status quo.

Can These Cycles Be Broken?

1. Empowering Individuals: Strengthening education, unions, and community networks to help individuals resist exploitation and reclaim their agency.

2. Systemic Reforms: Implementing policies that prioritize collective well-being over profit, such as universal healthcare or living wages. And, enacting electoral reforms to ensure fair representation and reduce the influence of money in politics.

3. Fostering Solidarity: Building movements that emphasize shared humanity and collective action, countering divisive narratives that dehumanize or isolate.

#5. Spectacle & Entertainment

There are parallels between the spectators in Squid Game and those who benefit from America’s socioeconomic systems, the 1% who sit at the very top of the social pyramid. The wealthy in Squid Game treat suffering as entertainment, much like some aspects of consumer culture profit from and sensationalize hardship in most modern day democracies today.

Deeper Dive into the Spectacle of Entertainment

The spectators in Squid Game represent the detached elite, watching life-or-death struggles as entertainment. Their indifference underscores how spectacle dehumanizes suffering, reducing players to pawns in a game for profit and pleasure.

In America, this dynamic plays out in various ways such as:

Media and Distraction: Reality TV, social media, and partisan news serve as modern-day bread and circuses. They keep people entertained and distracted, preventing deeper engagement with systemic problems.

Profiting from Struggle: From coverage of protests to depictions of poverty and crime, the suffering of marginalized communities is often commodified for ratings, clicks, and profit.

Normalization of Inequality: The glamorization of extreme wealth—juxtaposed with shows like Undercover Boss or Shark Tank—frames inequality as both aspirational and inevitable, distracting from systemic critiques.

Exploitation of Hope: Much like the players in Squid Game, the masses are lured by narratives of success against the odds. These stories maintain the myth that anyone can “win,” even as the system ensures that most cannot.

This spectacle not only distracts but also desensitizes. Just as Squid Game viewers (and even the players themselves) cheer for their favorite players while ignoring the brutality, we become complicit in a system that thrives on inequality, so long as it entertains.

#6. Voting as a Weapon of Division

• Voting in both systems has been corrupted to the point of enslavement rather than liberation. In Squid Game, votes divide players, trapping the minority in a deadly system. In America, voting can similarly lead to polarized outcomes where a significant portion of the population feels trapped by decisions made by others whose conscious caculations and choices defy reality, reason, and facts, suggesting stupidity, insanity or criminality at play in their choices. This invites fear and widens scarcity of money and resources for all caught inside the system, and this perpetuates the disfunctional cycle.

Deeper Dive into Voting as a Weapon of Division

In Squid Game Season 2, voting is a deceptive tool. It gives players the illusion of control while dividing them into factions. After each game, just enough players vote to stay, forcing the rest to continue against their will. This creates tension, mistrust, and resentment, ensuring the group never unites against the true oppressors: the game’s creators.

In America, voting often functions in a similar way. While it’s framed as the cornerstone of democracy, systemic inequities undermine its fairness and effectiveness:

• Gerrymandering and Suppression: Redistricting, voter ID laws, and reduced access to polling stations skew outcomes, ensuring minority voices often don’t carry equal weight.
• Two-Party Entrapment: The binary nature of the system leaves many feeling forced to choose “the lesser of two evils,” which perpetuates disillusionment and apathy.
• Polarization: Political and media systems capitalize on division, pitting groups against one another rather than addressing systemic issues. As in Squid Game, these divisions prevent collective action.

This creates a system where voting, rather than empowering, becomes a tool to trap citizens in a cycle of frustration, disillusionment, and inaction.

#7. Narrative of Hope

• Investigate the way both systems dangle hope as a motivator. Squid Game players believe they can achieve a better life despite overwhelming odds. In America, the “American Dream” plays a similar role, motivating people to persevere despite systemic obstacles.

Deeper Dive Into the Narrative of Hope

Both Squid Game and modern democracies masterfully dangle hope as a motivator to keep people engaged in systems that exploit them, despite the overwhelming odds against meaningful success. This manipulation of hope creates a powerful psychological hook, ensuring participation while obscuring the deeper systemic issues at play. Let’s explore this in depth:

A. The Nature of Hope as a Motivator

1a. In Squid Game

• The Promise of Escape: The cash prize, displayed tantalizingly above the players, represents the ultimate escape from debt, poverty, and desperation.
• The Illusion of Agency: Players believe that if they “play smart” or “try harder,” they can achieve victory, even though the game’s design is rigged to ensure most fail.
• Impact: Hope becomes a trap, as players cling to the dream of success while ignoring the moral compromises and physical dangers they endure.

2b. In Democracies

• The Dream of Upward Mobility: Citizens are sold the idea of the “American Dream” (or similar narratives globally)—that hard work and determination can lead to success, regardless of starting circumstances.
• The Illusion of Political Power: Elections and voting are presented as tools for change, yet systemic barriers (e.g., gerrymandering, voter suppression, lobbying) dilute the impact of individual voices.
• Impact: Hope keeps people invested in systems that perpetuate inequality, with many blaming themselves rather than the system when success eludes them.

B. How Hope Is Dangled in Each System

1a. In Squid Game

Visualizing the Prize:

• The giant glass piggy bank fills with money after every death, making the reward tangible and ever-present.
• Psychological Impact: The constant reminder of the prize reinforces hope, even as the number of competitors—and odds of winning—dwindles.

False Choice to Leave:

• Players are given the option to leave after the first game, which creates the illusion of freedom. However, the crushing realities of their external lives (debts, poverty) compel most to return.
• Psychological Impact: This reinforces the belief that staying is their “best choice,” even though the system is inherently exploitative.

Individual Stories of Success:

• The backstories of participants highlight personal struggles, making the prize seem like the only viable path to redemption.
• Psychological Impact: Hope becomes deeply personal, tied to notions of worth and survival, which keeps players invested.

2b. In Democracies

Upward Mobility Narratives:

• Success stories of individuals who “made it” despite humble beginnings are frequently highlighted in media and political discourse.
• Psychological Impact: These stories perpetuate the belief that success is attainable for anyone, masking the systemic barriers that make such stories the exception, not the rule.

Electoral Promises:

• Politicians campaign on lofty ideals and promises of systemic reform, often failing to deliver due to institutional constraints or lack of political will.
• Psychological Impact: Citizens invest in hope every election cycle, believing “this time will be different,” only to face repeated disappointment.

Small Victories:

• Incremental progress, such as raising the minimum wage or expanding healthcare, is celebrated as evidence of systemic change.
• Psychological Impact: These victories, while meaningful, often obscure the broader structural inequalities that remain unaddressed.

C. The Double-Edged Sword of Hope

1a. Positive Motivator

Hope can inspire people to persevere and strive for change, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

• In Squid Game: Some players exhibit extraordinary ingenuity and resilience, fueled by hope for a better future.
• In Democracies: Grassroots movements and social justice campaigns often emerge from hope for systemic change.

2b. Tool of Control

However, hope can also be weaponized to maintain control and prevent rebellion.

• In Squid Game: The dangling prize keeps players focused on survival rather than questioning the fairness of the system.
• In Democracies: The belief that “change is possible” keeps citizens engaged in electoral systems, even when those systems fail to address root causes of inequality or injustice.

D. The Psychological Manipulation of Hope

1a. Hope as a Distraction

• In Squid Game: Players focus on winning the prize, diverting attention from the inhumanity of the games themselves.
• In Democracies: Citizens are encouraged to focus on individual success or incremental reforms, distracting from the need for systemic change.

2b. Fear of Losing Hope

• In Squid Game: Players fear returning to their desperate lives without even trying for the prize, making them cling to hope despite the risks.
• In Democracies: Citizens fear the loss of democratic institutions, even flawed ones, keeping them invested in systems that may not serve their best interests.

E. Breaking the Cycle: Reclaiming Authentic Hope

Recognizing the Illusions:

• Both systems rely on manufactured hope to maintain control. Awareness of this manipulation is the first step toward reclaiming agency.

Building Solidarity:

• Hope becomes transformative when shared collectively. Movements that emphasize community empowerment, such as mutual aid networks, create authentic hope rooted in collective action rather than individual competition.

Demanding Systemic Change:

• Rather than clinging to the crumbs offered by these systems, pushing for systemic reforms—such as universal basic income, proportional representation, or campaign finance reform—can turn hope into a tool for genuine liberation.

HOPE Is Also the Most Powerful Four Letter Word

Here are stories and movements where hope became a force for systemic change, showing how collective action and a shared vision can break cycles of despair and lead to meaningful transformation. These examples illuminate the power of authentic hope rooted in solidarity, persistence, and community action.

1. The Civil Rights Movement (United States)

• What Happened:
  During the mid-20th century, African Americans and allies fought against systemic racism, segregation, and voter suppression.
• Why It’s Hopeful:
  Despite violent resistance, the movement achieved landmark victories like the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965). Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. inspired hope by emphasizing justice and equality as attainable goals.
• Key Lesson:
  Hope is sustained through collective struggle and the belief that systemic change is possible when people unite for a shared cause.

2. The Fall of Apartheid (South Africa)

• What Happened:
  After decades of brutal racial segregation, the anti-apartheid movement, led by figures like Nelson Mandela, dismantled the apartheid regime through activism, international solidarity, and negotiations.
• Why It’s Hopeful:
  Mandela’s vision of reconciliation over revenge turned what could have been a destructive transition into a hopeful one. His message that “It always seems impossible until it is done” galvanized millions.
• Key Lesson:
  Hope can bridge divides, and even entrenched systems of oppression can fall when people refuse to accept the status quo.

3. The Women’s Suffrage Movement (Global)

• What Happened:
  Across the globe, women fought for the right to vote, facing ridicule, imprisonment, and violence. In the U.S., this culminated in the 19th Amendment (1920), granting women the right to vote.
• Why It’s Hopeful:
  This decades-long struggle, led by figures like Susan B. Anthony and Emmeline Pankhurst, showed how persistence and organizing could achieve systemic change.
• Key Lesson:
  Hope fuels long-term battles for justice, proving that systemic barriers can be overcome through intergenerational activism.

4. The Indian Independence Movement

• What Happened:
  India’s nonviolent struggle, led by Mahatma Gandhi, freed the nation from British colonial rule in 1947.
• Why It’s Hopeful:
  The movement showed the power of peaceful resistance, with hope as a central theme in Gandhi’s philosophy of satyagraha (truth-force).
• Key Lesson:
  Hope doesn’t require violence; it thrives on truth, resilience, and collective moral courage.

5. LGBTQ+ Rights & Marriage Equality

• What Happened:
  Over decades, activists worked to decriminalize homosexuality, fight discrimination, and achieve marriage equality in many countries. Landmark victories include the U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision (2015).
• Why It’s Hopeful:
  These achievements, driven by grassroots efforts and brave individuals, transformed societal attitudes and legal frameworks.
• Key Lesson:
  Hope empowers marginalized communities to push for systemic change, even against entrenched prejudice.

6. Climate Action Movements (Global)

• What Happened:
  Movements like Fridays for Future, led by Greta Thunberg, and Indigenous environmental activism have raised global awareness about the climate crisis and driven policy changes.
• Why It’s Hopeful:
  Grassroots activism has forced governments and corporations to confront their environmental impact. The recent surge in renewable energy and sustainability efforts shows progress is possible.
• Key Lesson:
  Hope motivates action, especially when urgency and community commitment converge.

7. Labor Movements & the Rise of Workers’ Rights

• What Happened:
  The labor movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries won rights like the 8-hour workday, workplace safety laws, and union protections.
• Why It’s Hopeful:
  These victories arose from ordinary people organizing strikes, protests, and boycotts, demonstrating the power of collective action.
• Key Lesson:
  Hope grows when individuals realize their collective strength can challenge even the most powerful systems.

8. Universal Healthcare Movements (Global)

• What Happened:
  Countries like Canada, the UK, and many in Europe adopted universal healthcare systems after years of advocacy.
• Why It’s Hopeful:
  These systems reduce inequality by ensuring that health is a right, not a privilege. Activists in the U.S. and other nations continue to push for similar reforms.
• Key Lesson:
  Hope is sustained by the belief that essential human needs can be met through equitable systems.

9. Mutual Aid Networks

• What Happened:
  In times of crisis—such as the COVID-19 pandemic or natural disasters—communities have organized mutual aid efforts, providing food, shelter, and care to those in need.
• Why It’s Hopeful:
  These grassroots initiatives bypass broken systems to meet immediate needs, showing the power of solidarity and shared humanity.
• Key Lesson:
  Hope thrives in local action, proving that communities can build resilience even when larger systems fail.

10. The Fight Against Authoritarianism

• What Happened:
  Movements like those in Poland (Solidarity), Chile (against Pinochet), and more recently in Ukraine and Iran demonstrate resistance to authoritarian regimes.
• Why It’s Hopeful:
  These struggles often succeed despite overwhelming odds, fueled by hope for freedom and self-determination.
• Key Lesson:
  Hope becomes unstoppable when people unite to resist oppression, even in the darkest times.

Common Threads of Hope

1. Shared Vision: Hope grows when people unite around a common purpose.
2. Persistence: Transformative change often takes years or decades, but hope sustains the fight.
3. Collective Action: Movements grounded in solidarity harness the power of the many to overcome systemic challenges.
4. Leadership and Inspiration: Charismatic leaders and powerful stories galvanize hope and action.

These stories remind us that even the most oppressive systems can be challenged and changed when hope is transformed into action.

Speaking about stories…. have you read my book?

Stories are essential for how our minds work and how we use our precious gift of consciousness. If you read my book, you will understand why.

If you absolutely refuse to read my book, then read Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Series. He is talking about the exact same thing as the Sapience Series. I did not realize this when I began my series back in 2012, but having just started Asimov’s Foundation Series about one year ago and just finished his series just before the New Year, I know what he wrote about and what I write about are the same. Most of Asimov’s books are about this… I, Robot; Naked Sun; The Stars, Like Dust (I’m reading this one now), Pebble in the Sky, The Caves of Steel, or The Robots of Dawn.

Or pick up H.G. Wells, The Time Machine; Arthur C. Clarke, Childhood’s End; Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game; Dan Simmons, Hyperion; Frank Herbert, Dune;  Larry Niven, Ringworld; Arthur C. Clarke, A Space Odyssey or Childhood’s End; James S. A. Corey, Leviathan Wakes; Robert A. Heinlein, Starship Troopers; Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; Iain Banks, Consider Phlebas.

The only way to get out of this Fucking Game that we are all being forced to play is to open our minds. This can only be done one person at a time…. and the very best way to do this is to learn… and the best way to learn is to read, travel, and talk to real people in real places and in real time, which is here and now!

Read… Read… Read!!

Also, please stop at Sapience’s shop: The Quip Collection. I am introducing compelling and chic Year of the Snake wearables as well as Zodiac and Valentines merch with much more to come. Without your time and attention, I will disappear.

Thank you for reading and visiting!