Table of Contents

Utopian Government

Liberty for ALL

We take it as self-evident that all individuals have the right to complete access to whatever is necessary for the conduct of a healthy and happy life.

But "all" does not apply to everything individuals do. There are many exercises of personal right which impinge on the rights of others. These exercises would be limited to personal areas where they would not impinge on the rights of others.

At the same time individuals inevitably form groups. Daily life is a pull and tug between individuals and groups, and among groups.

Utopians would understand that, "what goes around comes around." History has shown time and again that any attempt on the part of one system or group of systems to control or eliminate another system or systems usually results in everyone else doing the same.

The Sovereign Individual

Many can immediately begin considering themselves citizens of the universe, if they so choose.

The individual living system is the pinnacle of evolution. Utopian governments exist only at the consent of their constituent individuals. Many individuals would declare themselves citizens of the Universe just to be sure that no government places itself above them.

Rook of Rights

A Book of Rights would be a compilation of the many declarations of rights that hive been made throughout history and around the world. It would be considered nationally-protected and would be required reading for high school students.

As citizens of the universe,  abide by internal government choice, or none at all. Rights are worthy of reverence.

Alignment With Nature

When it comes to human behavior there are no simple all-encompassing laws. There is an exception to every rule, including the one just stated. Therefore there will always be a need to judge the application of laws according to individual cases and details.

That does not mean that the highest courts must limit themselves to individual cases, however. Class-action suits are necessary but in America the House of Representatives is vested with the highest power--even over the highest court.

[Seatbelts Required By Law. After a voter uprising against mandatory seatbelt use, signs on the Massachusetts Turnpike now read, "Seatbelts are Suggested."]

Orarchy

Most Utopian government systems would, as a general rule, seek orarchy, i.e., limited government.

Among other things, the orarchy principle requires that all government services be shown to be best provided by government. If not, then the services should be provided by corporations in competition. Utopian governments could follow this principle of self-limitation.

The Long Long Term

The Seventh Generation Rule from various sources of native tribal wisdom could be adopted as an important Utopian principle. All governmental decisions would take the well being of the next seven generations into account.

Government Responsibilities

It may safely be said that government exists to insure the basic necessities for human development for ALL of its willing individual participants (citizens). Basic hierarchies of necessities for human development have been suggested by social scientists such as Abraham Mazlow.

Other government duties include maintenance of reserve supplies against natural disasters, mutual defense, defensive monitoring of all other nations, and to guarantee fairness in every aspect of Utopian life.

Government Structures

Governments proliferate because of the synergetic tendency of living things to form groups.

Present-day macro-to-micro governments could, over time and by slow operations, be replaced by the more natural micro-to-macro structures. Nature builds complex structures on simple ones Utopians think globally, act locally.

Some governing bodies could be outgrowths of ancient tribal structures. A presidency, for example, could be a rotating position for the purposes of efficiency and have no power in and of itself. This is the present structure of the United Nations Security Council

Government: Profitable Public Utility

Utopian governments would provide those services which function better as government monopolies than in a competitive private-sector environment Evolving out of the present public utility concept--monopolies owned by everyone--such services as national defense, national parks, disaster-relief organizations, etc,, would be provided by the government. But it must be shown that the government can provide such services better than a nongovemment corporation or entrepreneur could.

As a rule of thumb, Utopian governments seek to build up a surplus of funds, i.e., be profitable.

Social services could also be provided by competitive private companies except where experience and experimentation show that government will do it best.

Government might also sell those goods and services that might be provided at lower cost by temporarily unprofitable technologies; however, those that eventually become profitable would be converted to competitive private corporations.

As a monitoring device, government competes with randomly selected private corporations to keep them sharp.

Technology Assists Politics

The electorate, not their representatives, would vote on most issues in electronic town meetings Elected representatives would discuss and debate questions for the benefit of the electorate.

On special major issues, more than simple majority would be required. At the start of each season, the electorate would determine which decisions are special and which could be left to the representatives. Any decisions made by the representatives would require unanimous consent, as in present-day jury decisions. Any special decisions made by the electronic electorate at large would require a 2/3 majority.

Candidates: Lottery Selection Then Election

In general, Utopians would prefer to keep personality out of politics—with some exceptions. One way would be to assign positions of power in an unbiased way.

Aristotle was probably the first to suggest that government leaders and representatives be selected by lottery. Oddly, random selection may be the best way to find the best candidates in the long run.

Governments already have used lotteries for military draft, mortgage and property distribution, and as sources of considerable revenue.

Candidates for jury duty are randomly selected. Twelve are selected from among them.

Scientific studies and experiments very often consist of random samples to insure reliability.

In 1621, the Pilgrims were unable to decide on the fairest way to assign each of their number a homestead. Wampanoag sachem Ousemequin (Yellow Feather) suggested the Englishmen draw lots, i.e., use lottery selection to assign property rights. The idea worked well. The modern unit of real estate is the lot.

One Utopian model would have voters consider randomly selected candidates and then decide who will fill each lob. A job can be left unfilled if a majority of the voters feel none was qualified. There would be no "winners" and "losers.

Candidates would be expected to complete their contribution of their talent and time to society.

Election campaigns against incumbents could be federally funded so as to give the challenger a fair shot. At the same time, the challenger must clearly unseat the incumbent by getting, fly, 4/7 of the vote.

Yet, Utopians would likely avoid overemphasis on middle-of-the-road government. Average is average. Those compulsively average are dysfunctional. To them, many truths seem too radical.

Election campaigns could be financed by small contributions of 100 unis or less. This might prevent voting with money. that is, making campaign contributions so big they influence votes.

Government Structures Temporary

When their service is no longer needed, Utopian government structures change enough of their structure and operations to perform a new service. Thus, government declines in size over the long-long term.

Social Use of Military Systems

Military structures are the most transformable. They can be used for wiping out hunger, growing new forests, environmental cleanup, flood prevention construction.

Convert come military cervices to self-supporting public-service corporations. 

Encourage Utopian Experiments

Encourage the buildup of utopian communities and not oppose them as in the past. From Zeno to the Amish, disempowerment has too often been directed at religious communities who wanted to be self-sufficient and live by their own utopian principles.

Utopians would encourage privately supported experimental communities such as Biosphere, Soleri's Arcosanti, et al. News media should supportively criticize.

These would include, but not be limited to, political, religious, scientific, social-research, therapeutic, artistic, hobbyist-enthusiasts groups, etc.

In general, Utopian principles support the formation of self-supporting private groups and clubs as long as no public funds are involved.

Utopians would prefer open social systems quite different from those which confine communities within a logic that defines individual expression.

End "Make-Wrong" Politics

The adversarial 'model has been overused and overextended. America has become compulsively adversarial. Utopian principles would preclude disempowering an incumbent. He or she should be assisted, not made wrong. After they select candidates, they get out of the candidates' way and let them do their jobs.

Participants in political debates could be required to argue in favor of their opponents' view for a period of time. They could be judged on how well they understand their opponent's positions. There is nothing new about this idea.

TV and radio news-talk shows could do this as well. The press people are the umpires and should not inject their words and views between quotation marks.

Nature is globally fair by being locally unfair. Nature usually provides one people with surplus and another with deficiency. This may have been the origin of government.

© 2000 danmahony.com