Premise
On the occasion of Labor Day, let’s reflect on the concept of consumerism, globalization, work and social careerism. The figure of José Alberto Mujica Cordano publicly known as Pepe Mujica, represents a crazy atom, a symbol that invites us to reflect deeply on the fact that having obtained an important position, such as that of president of Uruguay, he has not changed the fundamental principles that define the essence of a special and out of the ordinary man.
José Mujica is a man who has always maintained coherence between his moral principles and his actions, this was a decisive test, because many men would not be able to resist the temptation of a more comfortable life full of honors and luxury once they reached a position of power.
Unfortunately in our country we have many negative examples in this sense.
Mujica has proven to be an authentic and honest person, using his presidential office to help those most in need. This makes us reflect on the fact that for much of the world it seems like a utopia to have a President who is an honest person and genuinely interested in the good of his people, rather than his own personal interests. Mujica’s consistency and authenticity represent a rare example of political leadership. After completing his presidential term, he decided not to run again, thus demonstrating his commitment to the principles in which he believes.
Today, he is the most respected voice of the Latin American left.
Quotes about work
My idea of life is sobriety. A very different concept from austerity, a term you have prostituted in Europe, cutting everything and leaving people without work. I consume what is necessary but I do not accept waste. Because when I buy something. I do not buy it with money, but with the time of my life that was used to earn it. And the time of life is a good towards which we must be stingy. We must save it for the things we like and that motivate us. This time for ourselves I call freedom. And if you want to be free you must be sober in your consumption. The alternative is to let yourself be enslaved by work to allow yourself conspicuous consumption, which however takes away your time to live 1.
The phase of capitalism we are living in has brought progress. It has probably increased life expectancy by 40 years. But, at the same time, it has ruined our lives, it has stolen our time. It has turned us all into commodities. We are all for sale. We have invented a consumer society with a constant need to grow. Because if the economy does not grow, it is a tragedy. We have invented a mountain of superfluous needs. We throw away, we buy, we throw away and… But it is our life that we are squandering. Because when I buy something, or you buy something, we do not buy it with money. We buy it with the time of our life that we spent to earn that money. With the only difference that the only thing that cannot be bought is life. Life runs out. And it is terrible to waste your life to lose your freedom. Life is too beautiful to give it so little importance. Maybe, we need to wait for discontent spreads to realize the value that have the simplest and most fundamental things in life2.