Fifty Degrees Below - Kim Stanley Robinson [117]
3. and 4. combined would tend to promote the greatest good for the greatest number, by distributing the wealth more equitably among those who have created it.
5. Reduction of military spending
Match U.S. military expenditures to the average of other nations; this would halve the military budget, freeing over two hundred billion dollars a year.
More generally, all national militaries should be integrated in an international agreement upholding nonviolent conflict resolution. (Using black helicopters of course.)
Disproportionate size of U.S. military and arms industry a waste of resources. Doubling since September 11, 2001 resembles panic response or attempt at global hegemony. Results undermine goals outlined in the foundational axioms.
6. Population stabilization
Human population stabilized at some level to be determined by carrying capacity studies and foundational axioms. Best results here so far have resulted from increase in women’s rights and education, also a goal in itself, thus a powerful positive feedback loop with chance for results within a single generation.
Context/ultimate goal: Permaculture
A scientifically informed government should lead the way in the invention of a culture which is sustainable perpetually. This is the only normative bequest to the generations to come. It is not adaptive to heavily damage the biosphere when our own offspring and all the generations to follow will need it, like we do, in order to survive. If reproductive success is defined as life’s goal, as it is in evolutionary theory, then stealing from descendants is maladaptive.
Protection of the environment, therefore, along with restoration of landscapes and biodiversity, should become one of the principal goals of the economy. Government must lead the way in investigating potential climate-altering strategies to mitigate current problems and eventually establish a balance that can be maintained in perpetuity.
Process Notes: how to enact platform.
Broader outreach. Public discussion. Performance evaluation methodologies. Scientific organizations and universities as information transmitters. Individuals in these organizations as catalysts in information cascade; also, candidates for elections and appointments. Advocacy.
Study governing methods in other countries to suggest possible reforms to our system where currently function (democracy) is impaired. Some candidates for study:
Swiss presidential model (executive council)
Australian ballot (preferential voting)
transparency in government (freedom of information, watchdog groups)
revolution (scientific)
Diane and the Vanderwal committee sat around the table in the meeting room next to Diane’s office. Some shook their heads as they read Edgardo’s draft; others just gave up, held their heads in their hands.
“Okay,” said Diane. “Anyone want to add anything else?”
THE FIRST BIG WINDSTORM TORE THE last leaves off the trees in a rush. It was an amazing thing, and when Frank got out of his van the wind cut into him and he reached back for a windbreaker. The wind was loud in the branches, hooting and keening and whooshing like the roar of distant jets. He ran to the park and stopped on the overlook. Leaves tumbled down into the gorge, the stream was running with them; it looked like a million yellow paper boats had been launched and were now bouncing down the rapids together, covering the water entirely. Frank hooted loudly, “Oooooooop!” into the blanketing roar of the wind. Nothing would hear him. It was colder than it had yet been this year.
At his tree he called down Miss Piggy. He had to catch her on an inswing, and the climb was tough, up into piercing cold wind, swinging a little; then over the lip and onto the plywood, in his treehouse.
Only now it was like a crow’s nest, swaying back and forth on the top of the mast. “Wow!” He sat down, belayed himself to the railing. Was