Monday, January 7, 2013

A Vision for the New Year and Beyond, Part 4


So here are some thoughts on a new gestalt, a re-shuffling and re-arrangement of the relationships within and between our so-called ‘systems’ of politics, society and economics that are more consistent with the best ideals of humanity.

 

First, let’s look at the ‘hidden’ back end costs of how we’re doing things now. For example, the costs of air pollution in asthma, medical care, illness, stress, days lost from school and work, inability to learn and earn, crime, violence, abuse because children and adults couldn’t learn and earn, etc. Let’s factor these costs into our energy policy. With these costs factored in, what’s the real cost of burning polluting fuels? Such ‘hidden’ costs, costs that somehow must be paid either in higher prices, fees, insurance bills or taxes, abound in all our so-called ‘systems.’

 

Take universal health care. There’s an upfront cost associated with that, but one of the hidden costs of doing things as we are is that businesses—large and small, must pay for it and that makes our business less competitive with the businesses in countries that have universal health care. So looking at the ‘hidden’ back end costs and factoring them into our planning and budgeting will make a huge contribution to a sustainable world that works compassionately to bring out the full potential and best for everyone and everything in it. This will be difficult to do, but not beyond the range of our super computers.

 

Next, as mentioned earlier, consider the interrelationship, interdependence and interconnections within and between our so-called ‘systems’ primarily the political, social and economic. Stop viewing these in isolation each with its own set of rules, principles and outcomes, but as a whole, valuing them only if they contribute to a sustainable world that works compassionately to bring out the full potential and best for everyone and everything in it and tweaking and changing them if they don’t.

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