Idealism And Social Rank

one of the most vile concepts that exist in our society, that a lot of people believe, and that creates a lot of misery, is the following:
'some people are rich, some people are poor. some are powerful, some are powerless. but in the end, everyone is the master of his own destiny. with effort and wit, they could escape their situation and rise up in society's hierarchy. if people are facing pressure and perish, this is the result of their own action. with the right decisions and strength, they could be a winner. the only one who could change their situation in the end is themselves'.
it is vile, and i guess a lot of people believe it, because there is some truth to it: in a sense, although it's very dangerous to say this without knowing the consequences, everyone *is* the master of his or her destiny.
the problem in this line of thinking is something that is not even said loudly in this concept; that is just hinted at, implied, but even more strongly in this way. and this is, that if you are the master of your destiny, can change the situation you live in, can change your life to the fullest, is that you should choose to be rich, to be powerful - or to live an easy life without much problems - or to rise in societies ranks.
this is some vile materialism right there - as if life would be about money or power or a social rank!
life should be about idealism. if you are the master of your life path and your destiny, you should choose idealism.
and following idealism almost always means that you diminish your own social standing, your money, your power - by choice.
think about it. the most obvious, most simple things to do when you want to do something idealistic would to donate a large part of your money to the poor, or to engage in civil disobedience against corporations and the state.
both things would lower your material standing, you might end up in jail, end up in trouble - but that's the part of idealism!
almost everything you can do that is idealist will be detrimental to your material life and material possession.
just think of all the great idealists that walked the earth - they wound up in jail, in lunatic asylums, were beaten to death, executed, became poor and forgotten and so on.
of course they never had to weep about this or desired to change their path, because the richness of ideals, compassion, a powerful mind, is incredibly more important and pleasurable than any amount of money or material power you could have.
so, if you're a master of your destiny - you would better chose to be part of the powerless and oppressed, change your life in such a way that you walk their path, then to choose to become a part of the elite and ruling classes.
there is a saying, that a rich man or a man of power, no matter how he got there, must've done 'something right' to find himself in the position he is in.
the opposite is true. if you're a low man, a drunkard, a junkie, a death row inmate - you must have done something right in your life, to be so despised by the world.
the lesser you are in the social world, the higher you can be in idealism.
now i don't think people have to suffer. it is indeed possible to have a good material life *and* be an idealist. but it is tricky. it would be a topic of its own. basically, once you start rising up in the social order, it's near impossible to retain your idealism - but it is possible.
i suggest that idealists care about 'survival and some extra'. have a job or an occupation that pays your rent and internet and some money for leisure activities. you shouldn't suffer, and you have energy to engage in idealism.
but, of course, if you're idealist, this is not necessary. you *could* give all your money to the poor and become a wandering homeless man who talks about revolution to the populace, and still live a happy life. you don't have to, but basically it's your decision in the end.
if you are a master of your destiny - join the idealists, visionaries and dreamers, and you won't regret it. reject the riches the social world has to offer to you.
to end this text, if you look at the wise man, philosophers, prophets that are admired today or in the past - a lot of them lived, simple, poor lives, by choice or by chance, some even met horrible fates. yet even a lot of people who admire them for some reason still think it would be wise to yearn for money and power.
do not blame the poor for being poor - they're more clever than you.