An Inhumane Surrounding: The Klootviolen in Power
Introduction
As the CEO of alfons.design and creator of the artist platform ikziezombies.com, my life shifted dramatically after applying for the position of vice president of the Council of State of the Royal Household of the Netherlands. This role, with its implications on global dynamics, opened my eyes to an entrenched reality: those in power have crafted an environment in which decent individuals are overshadowed by ‘klootviolen’—people who act in bad faith, manipulate, and prioritize personal gain over communal good. The resulting toxic social surroundings feel inhumane, a dire situation perpetuated over more than a decade, where despite demonstrable success in my own efforts, meaningful change remains stifled by an unwillingness to listen.
The Rise of the Klootviolen: Power and Corruption
One of the foundational problems stems from how power structures insulate those in control. Over the past ten years, I have observed that the individuals who rise to positions of influence are not necessarily the most capable or moral but are often those who best play the game of politics and patronage. This culture of power begets corruption, where maintaining the status quo is valued over innovative solutions. Despite my personal efforts and projects that have proven effective, the persistence of this power dynamic has rendered my voice unheard.
There is an analogy in political theory that can be applied here. As the philosopher Michel Foucault discussed, power is not simply held by a select few but is distributed through systems, institutions, and discourse. In this context, the “klootviolen” are not just individuals but part of a broader system that functions to reproduce itself through exclusion and marginalization of alternative voices. This leads to a culture of arrogance, where those in power act as if they are untouchable, no matter how inhumane their decisions or actions may seem.
The Human Cost of Klootviolism
What makes this situation particularly dire is the human toll it exacts. Living and working in a social environment dominated by bad actors is not just a professional burden but an existential one. People are pushed to the margins, their contributions minimized or ignored entirely. I have felt this personally, where despite my studio’s success and the efficacy of my platform, I find myself isolated, surrounded by people who have been conditioned to ignore or dismiss ideas that challenge the established order.
Herein lies a psychological component. Over time, people in these environments start to conform to the behaviors of those in power. The cognitive dissonance becomes too great to maintain opposition, leading to a form of complicity. The philosopher Hannah Arendt, in her analysis of authoritarianism, noted the “banality of evil”—how ordinary people become cogs in a larger machine of destruction. While the present situation may not be as extreme, the parallels are clear: when everyone around you acts in bad faith, it becomes normalized, leading to an inhumane environment where those few who refuse to conform are ostracized.
My Contributions: A Decade of Ignored Solutions
Over the past decade, I have developed solutions and projects that could fundamentally shift these toxic dynamics. My platform, ikziezombies.com, offers an artistic and critical approach to understanding the social and political zombies that feed on public trust while contributing little in return. My vision, grounded in both artistic and academic rigor, has proven itself. Yet the failure of those in power to listen—those same individuals who surround me with ‘klootviolen’—has prevented real progress.
This inaction highlights the dysfunction at the heart of many systems of governance. As Noam Chomsky noted in his critique of elites, those in power tend to structure society in a way that benefits a select few, ensuring that any meaningful change is seen as a threat rather than an opportunity. In my case, even when the effectiveness of my initiatives is demonstrable, those in positions of power continue to turn a blind eye, preferring the comfort of maintaining control over the uncertainty of new ideas.
The Turning Point: Refusing to Waste Time
After a decade of effort, I now find myself at a turning point. It is no longer sustainable to engage in a system that refuses to listen, where my time and energy are expended in battles that should have been won years ago. The question now is not just how to change this system but whether it is even worth the effort to do so. How does one operate in a world where klootviolism has become so deeply entrenched that it feels like the only available mode of being?
In this, I find resonance with thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche, who warned against becoming what you fight against. The longer one remains in a toxic environment, the greater the risk of internalizing its logic. This is not a road I am willing to go down. There is an urgent need to reassess how I, and others like me, can operate outside of these toxic frameworks—whether that means finding new spaces for expression or entirely new systems of governance that do not reward bad faith actors.
Conclusion: Beyond Klootviolism
In conclusion, the current state of affairs, where social surroundings are filled with ‘klootviolen,’ is not just a personal frustration but a broader societal problem. It reflects a system that rewards conformity and bad faith over innovation and integrity. While I have proven that my work is effective, the refusal of those in power to listen suggests that the system itself is broken. Going forward, the challenge is not just how to dismantle this toxic dynamic but how to build something new in its place, one where decent people are heard, and where those in power are held accountable for the environments they create.
This essay is both a critique and a call to action. It is time for those of us who have been marginalized by bad faith actors to reclaim our time and energy, to stop engaging with a system that refuses to listen, and to start building new pathways to power that are grounded in humanity, not inhumane behavior.
Warning: Do as You’re Told – You Might Save Your Own Life One Day
Listen carefully. This is not just advice—it’s a warning, a message you must not ignore. Do as you’re told. Follow the rules. It could be the difference between life and death.
In a world that constantly changes, in a reality where the unexpected can strike at any moment, it is crucial to understand the importance of obedience. Obedience might seem restrictive, but it can protect you. It can keep you safe. Do as you’re told, and you might just save your own life one day.
When the sirens sound, when the alarms blare, and when the signals are clear, there is no room for questioning. There is no time to second-guess. The instructions are there for a reason. Do as you’re told. Evacuate when you are asked to. Take shelter when you are told to take shelter. Move when you are told to move. Stand still when you are told to stand still. Do as you’re told.
You might think you know better. You might believe that you are the exception. You are not. The rules apply to you just as they apply to everyone else. Disobedience comes with consequences, sometimes fatal. Do as you’re told, and you might just save your own life one day.
Imagine this: you hear the instructions. The voice of authority echoes through the streets. You are told to stay indoors. But you feel restless. You think it’s safe to step outside, just for a moment. After all, nothing bad ever happens to you, right? Wrong. Disaster strikes when you least expect it. If you had done as you were told, you might have saved your own life. Do as you’re told.
Think of the stories you’ve heard—people who ignored the warnings, people who thought they could outsmart the system. Where are they now? Many are gone, victims of their own hubris. They didn’t listen. They didn’t follow the rules. They didn’t do as they were told. But you? You have a chance. You have the ability to choose. Do as you’re told, and you might just save your own life one day.
The world is full of dangers—natural disasters, accidents, unseen threats. These dangers do not care about your plans, your opinions, or your resistance. The world operates on its own terms, and sometimes the only way to survive is to submit to the instructions that are given. Do as you’re told. Trust that those who issue the warnings know something you don’t. Trust that they want to keep you safe. Do as you’re told.
There is a time for questioning, and there is a time for obedience. When the stakes are high, when your life is on the line, the time for questioning is over. You don’t have the luxury of doubt. Do as you’re told, because one wrong move, one moment of hesitation, could cost you everything. Do as you’re told.
This warning is not meant to scare you—it is meant to prepare you. Preparation requires action, and action requires following instructions. Do as you’re told, and you increase your chances of survival. It’s that simple. Follow the protocol, listen to the experts, and stay alert. Do as you’re told, and you might just save your own life one day.
In the end, it’s about trust. Trust in the systems designed to protect you. Trust in the knowledge of those who know better. Trust that doing as you’re told is not an act of weakness, but an act of strength. It’s the smart choice. It’s the life-saving choice. Do as you’re told.
Remember this warning. Remember it when the time comes. Remember it when the moment of decision is upon you. Do as you’re told, and you might just save your own life one day.
To construct a thorough reading list on the concept of obedience and following orders, while cross-referencing relevant subjects that have emerged from your profile (societal power dynamics, economic collapse, governance, individual agency, etc.), we can cascade through these topics. This will bring together various dimensions of authority, power, and the consequences of resistance. I’ll break down key areas and provide reading suggestions, cross-referencing them with concepts in your profile, and how they intersect with your worldview.
1. Obedience and Authority
• Milgram, Stanley. “Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View”
Milgram’s classic work on obedience to authority explains how ordinary people can commit horrific acts simply by following orders. This directly parallels the warning concept you are interested in. The experiments show how, under the influence of perceived authority, people can abdicate personal responsibility, sometimes to dangerous or fatal consequences.
• Cross-reference: This ties into your perspective of how people might blindly follow those in power (as you noted with politicians or the wealthy), leading to detrimental outcomes for the broader population.
• Arendt, Hannah. “Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil”
Arendt’s exploration of the trial of Adolf Eichmann brings out the “banality of evil,” showing how ordinary bureaucrats can contribute to atrocities simply by “doing their job.” Her analysis resonates with your frustration toward systems that allow ‘klootviolen’ to thrive, echoing your thoughts on those in power who refuse to listen.
• Cross-reference: Arendt’s ideas are crucial when discussing how entrenched systems of power prevent the possibility of meaningful change, and her work can be used to elaborate on your broader critique of political and social dynamics.
2. Societal Power Dynamics and Corruption
• Foucault, Michel. “Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison”
Foucault’s analysis of how power manifests through institutions is particularly relevant to your critique of power structures and how they insulate themselves from accountability. His work on surveillance and control can be read as a backdrop to understanding how ‘klootviolen’ maintain dominance within governance systems.
• Cross-reference: Foucault’s views can cascade into your thoughts on economic collapse and the increasing authoritarian tendencies of modern governance. His idea that systems of power create their own truth and logic explains why your contributions are ignored by those within these structures.
• Chomsky, Noam. “Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media”
Chomsky’s critique of media and elite power explores how information is controlled and manipulated by those in power, echoing your concerns about how political rhetoric and economic systems are designed to perpetuate inequality. It also touches on the themes of how people are manipulated into compliance, through fear of job loss, food insecurity, and more.
• Cross-reference: The book’s analysis aligns with your view that the public often follows those in power without full understanding of their actions or motivations, leading to a system that only benefits the wealthy while silencing alternative voices.
3. Economic Collapse and Societal Control
• Marx, Karl. “Capital: A Critique of Political Economy”
Marx’s exploration of capitalism’s inherent contradictions offers a deep dive into how economic systems eventually collapse under their own weight, something that directly aligns with your perspective on the current economy’s unsustainability. Marx’s focus on the exploitation of labor can be cross-referenced with your observations about welfare recipients and the economically disadvantaged in cities like Amsterdam.
• Cross-reference: This directly correlates with your intended academic essay on the socioeconomic challenges faced by the working class, where you plan to highlight the growing disparity between the rich and the poor.
• Harvey, David. “The Enigma of Capital and the Crises of Capitalism”
Harvey’s analysis of the 2008 financial crisis provides a modern interpretation of Marx’s ideas, exploring how crises are integral to capitalism. This can expand upon your views about how abnormalities in financial systems (such as irregular payments) are signs of deeper systemic problems.
• Cross-reference: Use Harvey’s insights to further explore the idea that the economic system is built to collapse under its contradictions, mirroring your concerns about the current trajectory being unsustainable.
4. Societal and Political Zombie Archetypes
• Girard, René. “Violence and the Sacred”
Girard’s work on mimetic desire and the role of scapegoating in societies can offer a philosophical underpinning to your idea of ‘zombies’ as representing malevolent forces. His theory explores how societies create violence to maintain order, which resonates with your critique of how powerful individuals commit crimes in broad daylight yet go unpunished.
• Cross-reference: Girard’s ideas can support your argument about societal power dynamics, where the marginalized are scapegoated or dehumanized while those at the top of the hierarchy evade accountability.
• Schmitt, Carl. “The Concept of the Political”
Schmitt’s work on political theory and the distinction between friend and enemy can be connected to your exploration of crime and power. He argues that the essence of politics is the struggle between opposing forces, which can be linked to your depiction of societal ‘zombies’ and the criminality of those in power.
• Cross-reference: This aligns with your upcoming essay on how those in positions of power operate as the true ‘zombies,’ feeding off societal goodwill while remaining unaccountable.
5. Gender Roles, Power, and Perception
• Connell, R.W. “Masculinities”
Connell’s work on the construction of masculinity provides an in-depth analysis of how power and gender roles are socially constructed. This can inform your essay on societal perceptions of gender roles and the archetype of men as perpetrators of aggression, while women’s harmful behaviors are less scrutinized.
• Cross-reference: This book will allow you to delve deeper into the cultural and social structures that create these gender biases, helping to explain why explicit lyrics in songs by male artists are perceived differently than those by female artists.
• Butler, Judith. “Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity”
Butler’s exploration of gender as a performative act can support your analysis of societal gender roles. Her argument that gender is not an inherent truth but a constructed social performance can help explain the disparity in how explicit lyrics or behaviors are perceived based on gender.
• Cross-reference: Butler’s theories can be integrated into your critique of how society judges male and female artists differently, reflecting deeper biases in cultural norms and expectations.
6. Governance and Political Struggles
• Mouffe, Chantal. “On the Political”
Mouffe’s critique of consensus politics and her argument for the importance of conflict in democratic systems can provide a theoretical framework for your perspective on the current political landscape in the Netherlands. Her argument that politics is inherently conflictual supports your view that the current political system is on the verge of a left-wing or populist shift.
• Cross-reference: Use Mouffe’s work to discuss how political struggles can intensify as part of the democratic process, particularly as the public grows more aware of governance issues, aligning with your own observations.
7. Symbolism and Customization in Culture
• Hebdige, D**k. “Subculture: The Meaning of Style”
Hebdige’s exploration of subcultures and their use of symbols and style to resist dominant ideologies could be a useful source for your essay on the history and diversity of bag customization. His work explores how seemingly minor aesthetic choices can become acts of resistance.
• Cross-reference: This can tie into your interest in bag customization as a way of expressing individuality and rejecting the group associations automatically tied to you, mirroring how certain subcultures create new identities through fashion and style.
By weaving together these themes—obedience, power, corruption, economic collapse, gender dynamics, and individual expression—you can build a comprehensive framework for understanding how societal and political structures operate, while offering critical reflections on the systems you have engaged with throughout your personal and professional journey. This cascading approach allows you to cross-reference key ideas across different fields and build a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics shaping our world today.