"I do not believe making money in order to consume goods is mankind's sole purpose on this planet. If you're wondering what I believe our purpose on this planet is, I'll give you a hint... it has to do with Creating and Sharing." Bill Hicks

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[–]fred_red_beans 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

This hinges on the premise that there needs to be an authority that enforces and punishes, which I disagree with.

When someone abuses the trust given to them, then that trust/power could be modified or removed by the individuals who gave them their trust in the first place. Punishment in of itself does not ensure further trust, quite the contrary as exhibited by the US "corrections" system which actually corrects nothing. I do believe it's important to have a police force and a way to take responsibility for common needs, but instead of that responsibility being taken by a few who are elected or are on boards or are appointed to positions, I think we would be better off if everyone were to take a more active role in serving those needs. This certainly would take much more time, effort, communication, and trust and would be highly inefficient by a monetary cost means, but I think the rewards would be much higher as the people themselves would be enriched by taking the responsibility for themselves rather than looking to governments, judges, or corporations to do it for them. Perhaps I'm painting an utopian anarchistic picture, but I don't think this scenario is impossible.

It could be argued that it's human nature to shit on each other, but I don't think so. I think the majority of people actually care about one another. The military has boot camps in order to train people and get them used to the idea of killing another human being. People more often than not come together in times of need. It is the caring aspect of people that is used to manipulate them and evoke emotional responses.

I see humanity as currently in a conundrum in which it's education, activities, and world view, which are guided by the economic system, actually contrast with their core base values. The worldview is maintained by the media, education system, and economic system - everything they are taught to care about. Most are just not able to look in the mirror and challenge their own belief system, which would also be necessary in order to do what I am describing.

Not probable anytime in the near future - but I think possible.

[–]muellermeierschulz 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

It could be argued that it's human nature to shit on each other, but I don't think so. I think the majority of people actually care about one another. I agree with that. But, if one or two in hundred don't care - can be enough to let everything go to waste.

[–]fred_red_beans 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I agree with that. But, if one or two in hundred don't care - can be enough to let everything go to waste.

Right, and we shouldn't lend those one or two in one hundred our trust and have them in positions of power. I think the only way to really check that power is by spreading it out over as many individuals as possible. But, again those individuals would have to invest themselves and take responsibility instead of abdicating it to those few in power.