Chapter I
Consensus
"Common Goal"
"Utopia" is simply a word used to define what can generally
be described as the consummate dream of the best level of Human existence.
Every person has thought, at least once in their life, that it would be
nice if there were no disease, no crime, no poverty, and/or for some other
improvement in the Human condition. Since everyone has dreamed of a better
world, it is fair to say that Humanity has a common dream. However,
instead of recognizing our commonality, we have created artificial
differences among ourselves through concepts such as nationality and
religion. While no two humans are exactly the same, we are all of one
race, the human race, and we all share the experience of life in an
essentially identical carbon based life form structure. We all work for
continuing survival while in this structure, and hope for a happy, safe,
and good life for ourselves and loved ones. Therefore, everyone has a
common desire for the best life attainable. Since Utopia offers the best
life, we should jointly try to achieve Utopia.
Additionally, it should be noted that without a goal,
happenstance determines a traveler's destination. Instead of leaving its
fate up to chance, Humanity should select its own destination for its
journey through time. If one has to choose a goal, it might as well be the
best. Since Utopia is the best life attainable, it is the best goal for
Humanity.
The first step in reaching a
common goal is to identify and agree upon the same. Humanity already has a
consensus for a better world, and simply should recognize this fact. The
next step, after a consensus is reached, is to take action toward the
same. Therefore, Humanity should focus its efforts on reaching its dream
of Utopia.
Chapter II
Best Use
"Resource Realignment"
Knowledge should be the focus of Humanity's efforts,
because knowledge is the key to Utopia. With the right knowledge, we can
cure all illness. With the right knowledge, we can feed the hungry. With
the right knowledge, we can stop pollution. With robots, machines,
computers, and new technologies beyond our current knowledge such as
molecular rearranging mechanisms, we can have unlimited production
capabilities. With the right knowledge, we can solve any problem, and
achieve any desired result. In sum, Humanity can achieve Utopia by simply
accumulating sufficient knowledge.
History has shown that anytime humanity wants to learn how to do
something, such as land a man on the moon, the answers can be found if
money and resources are devoted to the cause. One desired technology is
cheap and clean energy. Sunlight provides more energy than humanity could
ever use, we just need to find how to harness the same. Plus, solar energy
is environmentally clean. A massive research effort could find the answers
to this cheap and clean source of energy within a relatively short time.
If we had started such an effort during the gas shortage 25 years ago, we
would probably have this technology now. Once the savings and benefits of
abundant clean solar energy are achieved, those freed resources can be
rolled back into other beneficial research, and any freed resources from
the results of that new research can be rolled back into other beneficial
research, etc. until we have Utopia.
Knowledge is like a snowball rolled from the top of a snow covered
mountain. It starts small, but exponentially increases. In the last 30
years more information was processed than in the previous 5,000 years. If
humanity recognized this reality, and devoted more resources toward
acquisition, dissemination, and use of knowledge, we could accelerate the
pace at which we reach a better world.
It should be noted that knowledge and technology are not synonymous.
Technology is simply a tool that can be used when the benefit to society
exceeds the benefit of other methods. If natural methods provide the best
results, then clearly they should be used over manmade methods. Knowledge
is cognition of truth, insight of justice, awareness of the best way, and
wisdom in behavior.
The rest of this
book proposes some ideas for resource realignment toward the goal of
Utopia. Resource realignment simply involves finding current ways that
effort and material are being used wastefully, and then diverting these
efforts and materials toward the most productive use. Since the ultimate
goal is Utopia, and knowledge is the key to the goal, then as many
resources as possible should be diverted toward knowledge. The following
resource realignment ideas are not exclusive, so please feel free to
develop other ideas, and disseminate that knowledge for the benefit of all
mankind.
Chapter
III
Wisdom
"Use from Awareness"
The three basic ways of
interacting with knowledge, are:
1.) acquisition of new knowledge from
research, through experience, or from other avenues of discovery;
2.)
dissemination from accessing stored information, through teaching, or from
other methods of communication; and
3.) use through actions based on
awareness of knowledge.
The remainder
of this chapter will discuss dissemination and use of knowledge. The next
chapter will discuss acquisition of knowledge.
Humanity has achieved proficient methods for dissemination
of information, and thereby means for easy access to use current
knowledge. Computers offer an efficient and economical way to store
information, and the Internet provides a method for fast and easy access
to information. However, the full potential of the Internet is not being
utilized. The solution could be a master web site for each area of man's
accumulated knowledge, a virtual library of all accumulated knowledge. For
example, in the field of medicine, the American Medical Association, in
cooperation with universities that teach in the field of medicine, could
create and maintain a web site which contains all knowledge about
medicine, so that anyone could access the information. Government should
initiate a consortium effort in conjunction with organizations,
institutions, and/or industry to create a master web site for each area of
knowledge, or encourage the creation of such master web sites through
financial incentives and/or financial support. Such a system has minuscule
costs in comparison to the benefits that could be derived therefrom. The
full power of current knowledge could be unleashed by such a universal
system providing fast and easy access to Humanity's accumulated
knowledge.
Dissemination of knowledge
includes education. Everyone benefits from education, both the individual
taught and society. Yet universities continually increase the costs to
obtain higher education, even though means exist for providing education
in a more efficient, accessible, and economical manner. Most degree
programs simply consist of courses comprised of the reading of a text
book, discussion of the same in a classroom, and the taking of tests to
show knowledge of the subject. It would be a savings of both time and
expense for one to attend college over the Internet, via a virtual school
system where one learns from computer programs developed by the best
educators. Such a system allows each person to learn at their own pace,
from the comfort and safety of their home. The time and expense of
commuting to and from school, or residing at school, would be eliminated.
The expense of school land and buildings could be eliminated. In fact, all
expenses could be eliminated, except for the cost of the computer
programs, the cost of online experts to provide student assistance as
needed, and the cost of administrative staff to oversee the system.
Reducing economic and other barriers to education, and the better life it
generally offers, should be the goal of every public school system. An
education revolution is easily available through current technologies that
provide the means for people to learn more, at less expense, and with
greater ease. Any teachers displaced because of implementation of an
Internet school system should be offered research jobs, where they could
continue using their expertise by seeking new and better knowledge for the
advancement of Humanity. The expense of these new research jobs can easily
be funded from the savings resulting from a virtual school system.
Technology has opened the door for
cheap and easy access to knowledge, which includes education. The public
has a right to the accumulated knowledge base of mankind, and that right
includes access to the same without having to hurdle prohibitive economic
barriers. The Internet is technologically accessible anywhere in the
world, and transcends political, national, and other boundaries. Those who
cannot afford their own home computer, can find access to the same at
public libraries, and should have their own system if needed through
methods such as education loans, charitable programs, recycling of
discarded machines, etc.. Any and all means to provide access to knowledge
so that people can increase their wisdom, and thereby increase their
ability to have positive instead of negative impacts with their actions,
should be pursued. Knowledge is power, power to the people.
Chapter IV
Discovery
"Knowledge Exploration"
The ability to have Utopia simply requires acquiring
the right new knowledge. Subsequently, a comprehensive global effort to
discover new information in all fields of knowledge is highly desirable.
Other than discovery by luck, most discovery of new knowledge results from
"research and development" (R&D). Therefore, Humanity's knowledge can
be increased by simply increasing funding for R&D. While knowledge
infrastructure, such as easy access to information and an increased
education level, will facilitate research for new information, money is
needed for scientists, physicists, engineers, etc., and the equipment they
need, in order to find new knowledge. Less than 2% of current global
productivity is being devoted to R&D. Clearly Humanity could and
should be investing more in its future.
Top priority should be devoted toward discovering methods that may
allow humanity to leapfrog knowledge acquisition capabilities. Some such
methods are discovering how people can use more than the 10% average of
brain power, or how to make computers that think. If all people could
think at genius level, the capabilities of invention and creation would
exponentially increase. Computers with thinking ability could develop new
knowledge from large volumes of data. Thinking computers would provide the
ability to build robots that can perform labor tasks, which would free
more resources for R&D.
Individuals, industry, governments, universities, and nonprofit
organizations are the different types of entities engaged in funding
R&D. All of these entities can find ways to increase the amount of
resources devoted to R&D. Individuals could make and/or increase their
donations to organizations funding research to find beneficial knowledge,
such as medical cures. Individuals can undertake their own invention
efforts, or increase such efforts already undertaken. Individuals can
become expert in a field of knowledge and find a research job in that
field, or start an organization for the same. Industry is by far the
largest spender on R&D. Therefore, financial incentive to encourage
both industry and individuals to pursue R&D must be continued through
venture capital systems, patent systems, and other viable systems that
encourage these privately funded R&D efforts. Industry could utilize
research consortiums to increase the effectiveness of their R&D
investments. Governments could increase their funding of R&D by
eliminating wasteful government spending and reinvesting those savings in
R&D, without any additional sacrifice to the public, and with a huge
potential benefit from the same. Universities could consolidate, and/or
move toward a virtual teaching system, and refocus any savings therefrom
on finding new knowledge. Nonprofit organizations engaged in R&D could
consolidate and/or find other means to create efficiencies in operations
so that a higher percentage of their funds reach the intended target of
research.
Efficiency of funds spent on
R&D could be increased through a global research consortium that
monitors all such activity to help coordinate and guide all R&D
efforts. Such a system could eliminate wasteful duplication of effort, and
provide a mechanism for sharing of available research knowledge with and
between the different R&D undertakings. The consortium could fund a
committee of experts to track promising technologies and provide guidance
in spending allocations. In sum, all viable means and methods to increase
the finding of new knowledge should be utilized. The wise use of what we
have now can lead to a lean, mean, knowledge finding machine.
Chapter V
Fix the System
"Real Change"
Those who have money can make campaign donations to
influence laws for their benefit. This is legal bribery, which constitutes
a system design flaw. Politicians spend allot of time raising campaign
funds in order to get elected or reelected, and subsequently they make
promises in exchange for donations. We then have government
representatives stuck in a system where they must spend time raising money
by making promises and selling influence to the money givers, instead of
spending time making a better world for the people. This flaw has resulted
in tax credits and deductions for specific groups totaling $535 billion a
year. The non-profit organization Americans For Fair Taxation, at
http://www.fairtax.org or 1-800-FAIRTAX, has developed a consumption based
tax plan (fair tax) for America that will eliminate all tax loopholes.
This fair tax plan will raise the same amount of taxes as the current
federal income tax method, but in a simpler, more equitable way that will
stimulate economic growth by encouraging investment and savings, while
eliminating most compliance costs of the tax system. The current estimated
yearly cost to society for tracking, calculating, documenting and filing
taxes is $225 billion. The fair tax system could reduce these compliance
costs by as much as 95%. These potential savings in wasted resources (over
$200 billion), could be reinvested in research for a better way of life.
Multiply these savings by the global potential, and add savings from other
wasted resource realignments, and a concerted effort toward reaching
Utopia could be funded without any real sacrifice.
While there is no researched estimate of the additional
costs of this legal bribery through wasted taxpayer spending on moneyed
special interests (such as farm price supports), costs in terms of damages
because of necessary laws not passed (such as pollution bans), and costs
to consumers because of unnecessary laws passed to protect special
interest groups (such as tariffs), it would be fair to estimate such costs
as immense. The simple solution is to eliminate all the problems of a
representative democratic system, by converting to a true democratic
system. All Americans have to do is pass a constitutional amendment to
reflect the changing technological capabilities available for fulfilling
the self-government principles America was founded upon. We can cut out
the middleman, the politicians, and use available communication mechanisms
to allow each citizen of legal age to vote on which laws to pass. A true
democratic evolution, provided for by the information revolution. We no
longer have to rely on others to vote in our best interests, but instead
can vote for ourselves. This principle should be carried up to the global
level, and down to the local level. Such involvement and direct control
over our destiny should revitalize each person's sense of value and
self-worth.
The outline of such a
system is simple. Keep the three branches of government system. The
judicial system could stay the same except that the highest court in each
state and the supreme court would be replaced by a system providing for
decisions by majority vote. An elected committee could decide which cases
to accept on appeal, public debate could ensue along with drafts of
opposing opinions, and the people then vote as to how they believe the law
should apply. The executive branch could be remodeled to fit the corporate
method. The voters would act like shareholders and elect a board of
directors, who then pick the management team (president, department heads,
etc.). After each annual report on the state of affairs from an
independent audit team, board members would be elected by the public from
the available candidates. Congress would continue to function as oversight
of the legislative branch, but their law making authority would be limited
to expert proposers of laws only. Any laws proposed by congress or from a
public proposal system, would be voted on by the people, after the
proposals are publicly debated as to their cost, benefit, etc.. All the
wasted taxpayer spending on moneyed interests, and costs of laws passed or
not passed to protect these moneyed interests, can be reinvested in
knowledge acquisition to further improve the Human condition. Americans
have a constitutional guaranty to a government of the people, by the
people, and for the people. We deserve this government of true democracy,
and not the current system of government for the people who donate money
to the politicians. In sum, vote for yourself, instead of voting for a
politician who votes for his best interests.
Chapter VI
Wise Spending
"Efficiency"
Government functions in a monopoly environment with no
competition to weed out waste. In fact, government accounting methods
encourage waste through yearend frivolous spending of excess budget funds
by government departments. Runaway government spending is also fueled by
unnecessary duplication of agencies. For example, six military branches,
Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, National Reserve, means six
administrative staffs, six payroll systems, etc.. Consolidate, and instant
savings. Government also wastes resources through under-utilization. For
example, military personnel could assist police departments, during times
of peace, by patrolling public places with the authority to make arrests
should they observe a crime. In sum, there is a massive amount of waste in
the way government spends tax dollars to provide services to the
public.
Government should utilize
methods of operation that provide the greatest efficiency in the least
costly way. Government can easily learn how to utilize operational
efficiencies from the business world's accumulated wisdom. One simple
solution to inefficient government operations is to hire a consulting firm
to study government operations and make recommendations of how to increase
efficiencies and cut waste. These consulting recommendations may include
necessary controls to stop fraud against government, efficient
centralization of information systems for easy coordination within and
between agencies, consolidation to create efficiencies and eliminate
redundant costs, etc. In fact, universities and nonprofit organizations
could also use consultants to increase efficiencies so that more of their
funds reach the intended target.
Any
savings in government spending could be used to find ways to stamp out
crime, disease, pollution, etc., in order to make a better world now,
without any additional sacrifice. Total annual state and federal
government spending in the U.S. is 2,350,000,000,000 (2,350 billion
dollars). Each 1% savings of this spending (23.5 billion dollars) could
constitute a large increase in R&D funding for knowledge acquisition.
Chapter
VII
Simplicity
"Common Sense"
Plain old common sense should be
used in making public decisions. There is an old adage, "give a man a fish
and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for
life". Most governmental and charitable efforts at problem solving take
the "give a fish" approach. Public problem solving efforts need to be
refocused toward correcting the problem causing the undesirable
circumstance, instead of treating the resulting symptoms. For example, the
expanding of the focus for helping the disadvantaged to gaining
self-sufficiency costs a little more in the short run, but pays off in the
long term. Each displaced person who achieves self-sufficiency, results in
multiple positive impacts on society, because there is a happy person no
longer using public funds, while producing through earning a living, and
contributing to the tax base.
Additionally, more effort should be devoted to avoid public problems.
Public policy is unnecessarily focused on management by putting out fires,
instead of making things fire proof. It is less costly in both Human and
economic terms to avoid a problem, than to fix a problem. For example, it
is easier to not pollute, than to clean up pollution. Public policies
should take a proactive approach, instead of a reactive approach, whenever
feasible. This is a simple matter of wise planning.
In sum, let's use wisdom to avoid problems, and to solve the
problems not avoided. As our knowledge increases, we will have expanded
capabilities for problem resolution and/or avoidance. For example,
Humanity may discover most if not all harmful antisocial behavior is the
result of mental disease, and may find a cure. Each such solution has a
multiplier effect, in that people are no longer subjected to the negative
effects of the problem solved, the quality of life is improved, and the
resources that had been consumed because of the problem can be used in
other ways to further improve the human condition.
Chapter
VIII
Roots
"Mother Nature"
The earth is one large
interconnected ecological system. People are part of this system and must
currently rely on it for survival, by breathing its oxygen, drinking its
water, etc. If this system can no longer provide these life sustaining
functions, Humanity will no longer exist. We should recognize our oneness
with our environment, and our unity with all life on earth. The globe is
the house humanity resides in, yet we are trashing the same like drunken
adolescents at a large party. This attitude of indifference is best
exemplified by the fact that Humanity waged two world wars just in this
century, not to mention numerous other wars. This lack of respect of a
life form for itself, would explain its lack of respect for other life
forms, which includes the living earth. As a human, I must admit I am
totally ashamed of this aspect of our species. On an individual level,
most people are very nice and caring. Collectively, we should be the same.
Every individual can develop a respect for their life, learn how to
appreciate the beauty and sanctity of all life, and recognize the oneness
of being part of the same. We should then be able to find this individual
good in our collective actions.
There
are many current ways knowledge can help humanity live as one with the
world, such as energy conservation, recycling, etc. We need better
coordination of such efforts, and dissemination of this knowledge for use
now. Part of the solution is to decrease Humanity's demand on the
environment. An increase in global population of 78,000,000 (78 million)
per year indicates it is time to work on population control. Education,
economic disincentive, better birth control methods, and/or other ways
should be used to reduce growth in population and alleviate the increasing
strain on nature's systems. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce
oxygen, which is a reduction of gasses from the burning of fossil fuels
and an increase in clean air. Therefore, a simple partial solution is a
global tree planting campaign. We can use better development methods that
preserve more land in its natural state, etc.. Since we do not yet have
the benefit of future knowledge, we must simply do the best we can at
peaceful interfacing with nature now, while seeking better methods for the
future.
Let's wise up and obtain the
new knowledge to fulfill our needs while preserving the beauty and
sanctity of nature. We must find the ability to live as one with the
world. For example, agricultural pollution is the most prolific form of
pollution, yet knowledge will provide the solution to this pollution,
through genetic engineering of plants that may alleviate the need for
pesticides, and/or natural means to use as countermeasures to disrupt
breeding of insects, and/or through some other method or methods.
Manufacturing pollution may be eliminated through means to recycle this
pollution in some useful non-harmful manner, or by enzymes and bacteria
that break toxins and pollutants back down into basic non-harmful
elements. In sum, with increased individual awareness, proficient use of
current knowledge, and further research, the world will learn to live as
one.
Chapter IX
Try
"Sing the Song of Change"
The simple reality is that all systems made by
humans, can be changed by humans. Every person has some influence upon the
people with whom they have regular contact, and those people have
influence with others, and the others have influence on people they know,
who in turn have influence etc., which means each individual can influence
the world through their actions. The total of all Human actions determines
whether the world is like a heaven on earth, or a living hell. Everyone
makes a vote as to the type of world we have with their lifetime efforts.
One can influence these voting results by stuffing the ballot box with an
increase in the number and size of actions for change. The most important
decision one makes with their life, is the course of action they will take
with their life.
The very least an
individual can do for a better world is to be a good and productive
citizen. This simply involves focusing on the positive part within
oneself, and avoiding the negative side. Like a movie where you root for
the good guy over the bad guy, just root for yourself to be a good guy in
real life.
The next level of
involvement is to join in the dialogue for a better world. This is a
simple matter of communication.
The
highest level of involvement is to spend some time and/or money toward
making a positive difference. There are many simple actions that people
can engage in at this level with little sacrifice, but great reward. The
type and amount of one's involvement for a better world is purely a
personal choice. Donate some time and/or money to one or more of the many
noble organizations devoted to making the world a better place. Get
involved with one of these organizations, or start a new one. Write a
representative about a better world, or run for political office on a
better world platform. Get involved with your community, or start your own
Utopian community. Increase your knowledge and/or facilitate the education
of others. Discover wasteful spending that can be redirected toward
R&D. Donate to research, or become a researcher. There are many ways
to contribute. Simply choose your way, or ways, and do it.
One caveat is that the Utopian evolution is a
peaceful transformation, and any actions toward the same must only be
positive actions. Therefore, negative actions with the intent to get
positive results are inappropriate, unnecessary, and a violation of the
Utopian principle.
Like a chorus, the
more people who sing the song, the louder the sound waves resonate. Join
the chorus for change. Everyone has the chance to leave an everlasting
imprint on mankind. Make the most of this opportunity by being the best
you can be in your interactions throughout life. A noble direction in life
rewards the individual with a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment from
the act of giving a pure and true gift, while resulting in a better world
to increase the enjoyment of the noble life.
Chapter X
Summation
"Nurture the Seed"
At this point in time, Utopia is just the seed of an idea.
With the right nurturing, that seed will grow into something
beautiful.
A simple message of hope, that can be fulfilled by a
unified effort.
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