The medical definition of amnesia is a total and sudden form of memory loss, whereby patients completely forget their past. Solnit, however, writes about a cultural form of amnesia in which people tend to forget that much of what we take for granted about life today was different in the past. Cultural amnesia, which often results from political apathy (not caring about politics) or being absorbed in one’s individual life, can be dangerous, as it reinforces the illusion that the status quo is fixed, and that ordinary people can do nothing to change it—and facilitates the aims of governments who want to minimize opposition to their policies.

In contrast, remembering that the past was different and that the campaigns of multitudes of people across different generations achieved social change is immensely empowering. It gives activists a sense of perspective and encourages them to keep on campaigning, even when they’re uncertain of the outcome.

Free trade is a staple of unchecked capitalism as it constitutes the trade of resources for money without tariffs and quotas. While free trade typically widens the profit margins of wealthy countries and corporations, local producers in poorer countries often see their incomes and standard of living fall.