Possible Solutions

UPDATE (1/20/2012):

Here’s the bottom line – at the end of the day there is only one system that is going to work and that’s one where all ‘taxes’ are voluntary and targeted. The citizens of a ‘country’, ‘community’, call what you will, donate money to the causes that they wish to support, be it national defense, infrastructure, whatever. We underestimate the power and willingness of individuals to get things done for the greater good. As long as we have a system where wealth is extorted from the population by the threat of force we will have unending problems of compliance, enforcement and reliance. Furthermore we have entered a new age that will be dominated by the free flow of information. Transparency is mighty force in it’s own right. When we combine transparency with the threat of ostracism I believe we will be amazed at just how willing people and organizations will be to step forward to contribute to, and sacrifice for, a common cause.

How do we get from here to there? I have no idea. I guess we’re going to have to spend 40 years in a desert. I don’t think we can plot a course. It’s going to happen regardless, and it’s going to happen in it’s own way. The best we can hope to do is be prepared as possible for the inevitable turbulence.

All the so called solutions outlined below are piecemeal halfway measures that will also ultimately fail, but I leave them in for shits and giggles.

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Ok, so the world is a mess. Now I am basically a libertarian (with definite anarchist tendencies!), but assuming we don’t want to destroy the current system completely, how could we reform it in such a way that our society stands a chance in hell of coming out the current mess in one piece? Here are some suggestions.

1. Nationalize the government (aka the big banks). No kidding. Our institutions of government are controlled by the obscenely wealthy and morally bankrupt. We managed to kick the church out. Now it’s time to kick the big money addiction. This must be our top priority. Unless we can do this, all other suggestions on this list are doomed to fail.

2. Tax income, not profits. It makes no sense to have one set of rules for businesses and another for individuals. Corporations get to deduct all their expenses. We get to deduct virtually none. Why don’t corporations have to pay for services provided by the government unless they make a profit? Why should corporations be given all the rights of citizenship if they don’t share the costs? Those of us that actually work for a living (those at the bottom of the food chain) have to pay taxes on all income, regardless of how much we have left over after paying expenses. I can’t do my job unless I have a home to sleep in at night. A corporation can’t do it’s job unless it has a place for people to work at during the day. Honestly what’s the difference? We have two completely different systems of taxation operating side by side. Place a flat tax on all income – the tax rate will be miniscule in comparison to today’s rates. Eliminate all other taxes and tax breaks. We’d get rid of most tax loopholes overnight, institute immediate tax simplification, save the country billions of dollars in enforcement and administration, and more importantly, individuals wouldn’t be left picking up the tab.

3. Eliminate the civil justice system.  Go back to old school. Agreements are based on trust. Reputation is everything, let the buyer beware. A system of justice that runs on money makes a mockery of our so called free society.

4. Eliminate intellectual property.  The evils associated with it far outweigh any benefits. The overall advantages to society would lift all boats. Paranoid concern for enforcing a stupid, unenforceable idea is choking the lifeblood of creativity and innovation, not protecting it. We have to start trusting the natural order and doing what’s best for mankind.

5. Nationalize all essential services and convert them into non-profits. Banking, water, sewer, power, communications, insurance, and health. These are all basic utilities better provided by single supplier, non-profit, service orientated organizations. It’s time we got rid of the corrupt corporations that pay outrageous executive salaries, buy votes on capital hill, and spend millions desperately trying to convince us how wonderful they are, and how badly we need them. We don’t need fluff. We don’t need convincing. We don’t need choice. We don’t need bullshit. Crap is crap no matter how many choices there are. We need basic services that work. We need providers that are owned by us and that serve us. Not shareholders, not wall street bankers, not quarterly bottom lines, and not the club of fat cats that run things.

6. Say goodbye to privacy. The access to information that technology provides is a force that can shape the behavior of everything from individuals to nations. Loss of privacy is a done deal, it’s going to happen anyway, but the upside is those that abuse their rights will be exposed for all see. It’s a necessary trade off. If we are to do away with the civil justice system, complete transparency will be essential.

7. Lighten up. Accept the fact that we do not live in a perfect world.  Bad things do happen.  Mistakes are made.  We cannot expect compensation every time something bad happens. The overall cost to society of zero tolerance is overwhelmingly negative.

8. Stop obeying and start behaving. We must get back in touch with our spiritual heritage. There are too many people. We need help. We need an epiphany.

9. Stop breeding. The world’s population has doubled in the last 50 years. Mankind has been around for the blink of an eye in geologic time, yet we have managed to infect and sicken our host overnight. Despite being old news, overpopulation is at the root of all our problems.

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