How it's set up.

How to Save the World:

"* The distinction and struggle between progressives and conservatives is a dangerous distraction. The real struggle for the hearts and minds of the people of our planet is between those in the centre, who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo (which I believe will lead to our annihilation), and those at the edge, who see what we have forgotten and see, at least faintly, the way home. The 1% elite, supported by the 9% in the complicit second inner circle, are constantly trying to hold in (and keep in line) the 50% of humanity that is addicted to the cycle of consumption and debt and the 30% of humanity that is conflicted, idealistic and disempowered. The corporatists have the 'gravity' of the status quo (humans do not change until they have to) and a huge amount of money to spend to keep the majority addicted to consumption, debt, and growth....

* The corporatists, despite their wealth and power, are utterly dependent on the 9% lackeys defending them -- they are their 'security force'. Without the advisors and lawyers, ad and PR agencies, lobbyists, pro-growth religions, junk scientists, corporate media and neocon and neo-liberal policymakers and corporatism and globalization apologists, there would be insufficient 'gravity' to hold this thing together, to keep the 80% in the third and fourth layers in their place. However, this 9% believes religiously in the perpetual growth illusion. Debating them is a waste of time.

* The largest and most volatile group is the middle layer, the 50% of our society who are in debt to and/or employed by corporatists, and addicted to the corporatists' products. They live in a 'vacuum of meaning and purpose' and hence value themselves and everyone else by what they own. But the hold that corporatist civilization has on them is tenuous because it is a pusher/addict love/hate relationship -- show (not tell) them a better way to live and watch the stampede.

* The most troublesome group (for those of us at the outer edge) is the fourth layer, the 30% of our society that is politically and socially engaged but conflicted and disempowered by our society. Unlike the agnostic and anomie-plagued third layer, those in the fourth layer have strong values and opinions, and are often ideologically at each other's throats. This is just fine with the corporatists, because it keeps them focused on each other instead of on them, and their idealism causes them to vote and otherwise participate marginally in the political and economic decision-making processes, giving these processes unwarranted legitimacy. This group includes technophiles who really want to believe science and technology will solve, rather than exacerbate, the problems facing our civilization. It also includes the co-opted counter-culture, the well-meaning and rebellious who fail to realize "you can't jam the culture", and the libertarians who believe in the wonderful ideal of a free market without the need for government but haven't yet realized that it has not ever existed and cannot ever exist. Those of us on the edge need to realize we cannot draw this 30% out to the edge until they're ready. They will be ready, before any of the inner levels, to make that move, but we need to pay attention and listen, and be ready to welcome them."