Owned!

Capitalism is predicated on the idea of ownership; that something, indeed everything, can be owned. Ownership indicates the ability to control. This means that if you own something, you determine what is done with it. This applies to a tool, an animal (even another human animal), territory, and-in recent times-an idea or words. Without this control things are subject to discussion, we have to agree with others about what happens, and be able to trust others. This is seemingly intolerable to many people, possibly from fear one may not get everything one wants. Leaving aside how great an insecurity with the world this concept reveals, let's examine what it means for us in a more concrete manner.

First we have to accept that we are able to own/control things outside of our individual selves. We then set about making sure that everyone knows we control these things, that no one else controls them, and that we can get control of other things in exchange for those we already control. This is the essence of capitalism, the bare-bones explanation. With all that activity, it seems like we ought to have something to show for it; that at the end of titling, registering, trademarking, copyrighting, and suing over rights to something, we must have a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Look at those who do own, then those who own more, and then see how relaxed and fulfilled the majority of these people are. Ownership, in truth, leads to anxiety and insecurity; it means the constant worry about what is owned being taken from us. In the words of Chuck Palahniuk, "The things you own end up owning you."