Four Layers of Reality

Lee Camp wrote an article a month ago about the 4 layers of reality, political and cultural reality basically, and what they are and mean.

The first layer is one we all see and participate in, I think, and one the media discusses constantly. It's the surface layer: who's running, who's going to win and so on. It's an important layer, but it is just a start.

These layers look good to me! Image from 600 acres.

The second layer is the one at which most of the media stops. This is the 'slightly deeper understanding that American oligarchs win each election no matter what.' They do this in many ways, such as making sure no one from any 'fringe' such as a 'commie' or a socialist can win, and also, by pumping in tons of money, and owning all the politicians, the governing bodies and so on. As Lee says -

What we, the American people, want to happen has no influence on American policy. The politicians tell you it does. They act like they care. But nothing you and I want ever gets done.

Layer three is capitalism and environmental collapse. Soon, the most powerful will own everything, and capitalism, as Americans understand it, will be gone. As the powerful take control, even more control, the environment will be destroyed. Lee uses Monsanto's Roundup as an example. It causes cancer, but it's still being sold. It kills all kinds of insects, and yet it's still being sold. Why? Because Bayer, the company that owns it, owns everything: the market, the politicians, the officials, the regulators and even the scientists. Gah!

The fourth layer is a true analysis of our reality. And yet, no one really talks about it. As Camp writes - layer four is

getting somewhat deep into the philosophical realm. So why don’t our media think the most basic questions of our existence are important at all? They don’t think it makes sense to occasionally talk about layer four, about the basis of our existence? I’m not saying make it the beginning of every newscast — “Hello nation, it’s 6pm and remember you’re a victim of wage slavery, forced to live in a seclusion box as your spirit is sucked dry.” I’m not saying that. But can’t the deepest echelons of our reality ever come up in the mainstream narrative? Or do we have to get this information by purchasing some hidden book in the basement of a bookstore run by a guy with food stuck in his mustache and one glass eye? Is that the only place we can learn about our reality?

Who controls our reality and why aren't we ever encouraged to learn about that by the media?

I thought Lee's take on reality was pretty good. What do you think? And, here's the open thread - remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving!