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Note:
This summary chapter was developed as a paper for presentation at the 2015 Vancouver 2015 CANSSEE:
conference and has been published in the Pelican Journal at http://www.pelicanweb.org/solisustv11n09page5.html
The power of envisioning can free our mind of the destitution of
today’s warring nations with expansionist economic systems and a human
ecological footprint far beyond the carrying capacity of our small blue
planet. Envisioning enables us to design a
governance system using existing first-class management procedures based on
a deep understanding of science and of human nature that is guided by
energy and environmental realities.
Just how humanity could reach a sustainability-drive form of
government is unpredictable. But we can speculate that it will likely be
somewhat chaotic.
Today there are thousands of change initiatives at work, such as
separatist and regionalization movements, regional currency advocates and
environmental protection organizations. If leaders of these grass roots
initiatives had a common shared vision of what good global governance could
be like, it would be useful for them today in forging cross-disciplinary
bonds in order to gain the benefits of synergy as integral parts of a more
complex system begins to blend together with a common long term goal of Blue Planet Governance.
This preliminary envisioning chapter provides
reasons for developing the outline blueprint for Blue Planet Governance in the form presented. Also it gives a glimpse of the social,
economic and political conditions illustrating what life would/could be
like 50 years after our collective transit to Blue Planet Governance. The remaining chapters of Section 4
will provide greater technical detail on the proposed dynamic interactivity
within levels of government and how an understanding of human-nature is a
key element in the design of Blue
Planet Governance.
Envisioning in Dynamic System Design:
Whether
designing a better model aircraft or modification to a civilization at the
threshold of disaster, three preliminary steps are:
1.
Assess key weaknesses
of the existing model;
2.
Explore new and proven
concepts to supplant the weaknesses;
3.
Envision the
functioning whole including dynamic interactions to ensure the result will
meet design specifications – the goal.
Step 1: Assess
key weaknesses of the existing model
Within the complex dynamic system of human
civilization there are three core category of
issues that are intertwined and interactive. There is a growing diversity of political
initiatives, papers and conferences regarding the vitally needed transition
toward a changed heading of our collective human civilization. However, not found among the proposed
solutions are proposals that deal with all three of the central core
issues. This is like following a map with some key coordinates
missing. When solutions are proposed
that do not encompass all of the interactive central issues, these
proposed solutions face the difficulties that define a typical wicked problem. This dilemma causes the paradigm
paralysis that inhibits the world’s highest levels of governments or
the largest NGOs from effectively altering our tragic trajectory into the
future.
Core
issue ‘M’ is the debt-based Money-creation systems
of the world where nations have been forced to follow the leads of USA
after WWII. USA dollars became the
world’s reserve currency. The
problem is that the structure of this economic system is such that it will
collapse if economic growth does not continue in perpetuity. This one-way trajectory was orchestrated
by rich bankers in a surprise bill late December 1913, and the US Federal Reserve suddenly came into
being. The Federal Reserve is a chaordic organization operated by and for the dominant commercial banks with limited
oversight from the Federal government.
To ensure that physical commodity limits did not impede Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) growth, in 1971 President Nixon caused the money
creation system to abandon the physical commodity of gold, and thereafter,
money became fiat – created out nothing – let it be! Every time a bank loan is made, the
amount of the loan enters the money system.
For more detail see the Money/Corporations/Politics
chapter.
Core issue ‘A’
represents Activity, the collective resources that we humans use,
animal, vegetable and mineral, along with our resultant pollutants. Human-Activity
creates the imprint of our ecological
footprint, now deficit-spending Earth’s life-sustaining resource base
at an alarming and accelerating rate.
Core issue ‘P’
represents gross human Population, having grown from 1 billion in
the preindustrial-age to over 7 billion
today. Common wisdom and measured
reality tells us this fossil fuel-enabled population level is significantly
more than planet Earth could sustain.
Core
issues of today’s M & A & P (MAP) in summary:
There is
no apparent significant government or NGO effort underway that deals with
the three interactive MAP elements.
Therefore without an inclusive MAP approach none can succeed at
finding a pathway to a sustainable civilization.
Today’s
physical realities appear to verify the ‘Club Of Rome’s Limits to
Growth projections, from 1972, are on target and that
human Population will be reduced in our not too distant future, one
way or another. Likewise, our gross Activity
will also be reduced. It would be
prudent to enable population to be reduced by civilized attrition: Changed
lifestyles and goals could vastly reduce our gross Activity while likely
improving overall human happiness.
Today’s
human created system of Money was designed out of human need along
with greed and a flat-earth mentality.
Nevertheless, the short term wellbeing of you and me and our friends
and neighbours depends on sustaining the current M while our politicians
pursue the false hope that economic growth can last forever. At the moment, TINA, There Is No
Alternate. Our longer term wellbeing is always
trumped by our short-term interests.
This aspect of our human-nature is well understood buy the banker
cartel.
“The few
who understand the system will either be so interested from its profits or
so dependent on its favors, that there will be no opposition from that
class."
~Rothschild Brothers of London,
1863
The
people of Quebec turned down their desire to be a separate state likely
because of the short-term uncertainty of their monetary future if they
separated. The same scenario
unfolded recently in Scotland where they are now thinking of an alternate currency. And more recently Greece capitulated to
the demands of ‘M’.
The selfishness of humans is a central assumption
of orthodox economics, where it is thought to lead to benefits for the
economy as a whole. This effect is
what the 18th-century economist Adam Smith described as the “invisible
hand”.
We are
collectively moving into a period of increasing chaos of both a debt crisis
and an income disparity crisis.
~~~~~
We recognize that human nature is not going to
change. To grave danger our
reptilian brain normally chooses fight or flight. We live on a small blue
planet, which leaves ‘fight’! Fight
- to gather the threads of thousands of appropriate social-change
initiatives and weave them into a coherent structure of governance that is
capable of guiding gross human-activity toward a level that is again
compatible within the Gain systems of life – Blue Planet Governance.
individual and local self-interest will likely continue to be will be the root
drivers of widespread acceptance of the new system of M with the associated
change to the ways we do some things.
This general acceptance of the lifeboat proposals will indicate a
general acceptance of a new MAP relationship toward a viable future. This could represent the needed catalyst
for change that psychologist Robert Orenstein proposed as, conscious-evolution.
>
However, if we can decide on a viable alternative
with a ‘7th generational approach, perhaps some of us can begin building pathways toward
it. We need a lifeboat system with a
common MAP to provide a level of stability When the existing economic/Money
system finally fails
- even if amid
significant, but hopefully manageable, chaos.
>
In dynamic
systems terms, each of the three core issues of MAP, are largely human controllable variables. With a
viable governance system for our small blue planet, humans could redesign
the system of Money and implement
civilized regulation of Activity
& Population. The money system is an abstract reality
just like any game we play and intimately know. In a civilized country human procreation
and population levels are influenced by decisions we make and one’s
apparent wealth. Regarding the A of
activity, there is little doubt that the resource throughput of rich countries
could be significantly less without reducing overall human happiness - and
likely increasing it. Our common goal would be to maintain
civil order in order to become a sustainable civilization over time.
Besides
the MAP issues there are all of the other real issues to consider such as,
energy demand and diminishing availability, a multitude of ecological
impacts, along with various aspects of human nature to
consider. These issues break down
into dozens of named interactive follow-on issues. We must create a new abstract reality, a
new human designed game, in which M & A & P are dealt with quite
differently. And when we deal with M
& A & P together as one common integrated issue, the wickedness of
the overall problem is greatly reduced.
Stafford Beer, a socio/politically motivated
systems designer, says in his book, Designing Freedom,
I am
proposing simply that society should use its tools to redesign its institutions, and to operate those institutions
quite differently. You can
imagine all the problems. But the first and gravest problem is in the mind,
screwed down by all those cultural constraints. You will not need a lot of
learning to understand what I am saying: what you will need is intellectual
freedom. It is a free gift for all who have the courage to accept it.
Remember: our culture teaches us not intellectual courage, but intellectual
conformity.
Step 2:
Explore new and proven concepts to supplant the weaknesses
The best source of such ideas can be found in today’s
centers of power, corporations and banks.
-They have central headquarters that monitor critical parameters in all
branches:
-They utilize a deep understanding of human nature
in their processes;
-They have central goals and administrative
systems to ensure the goals are met;
-They are modular with largely autonomous
branches, often doing quite different things under different circumstances
within different cultures;
-Competitive corporations sometimes form chaordic
organizations to act in their common interest.
A multinational manufacturing corporation works
with hundreds of semi-autonomous departments and branches, often in
different nations. The common goal is to produce a quality
product that will bring profits. A
quality assurance system (QA) is used to govern the processes that ensure
the system is functioning at optimum performance. A corporate QA system can be seen as a
well-documented governance system that establishes goals, measures all
steps along the way of the manufacturing process. Any measured deviation from written
standards is corrected through positive or negative feedback. The system is regularly audited by a
third party to ensure integrity.
This is a
thumbnail description of a proposed dynamic governance system for our small
blue planet where regions of the world form a chaordic organization to
create the Blue Planet Governance
infrastructure where the common goal will be to eventually reach a point
where the collective human-activity of civilization is sustainable within
this blue planet’s Gaian systems of life and nature – our one and only
home.
Step 3: To envision the functioning whole including dynamic
interactions to ensure the result will meet design specifications – the
goal.
"To secure these [inalienable] rights [to
life, liberty, and the
pursuit of
happiness], governments are instituted among men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...
Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends,
it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to
institute new government, laying its foundation on such
principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them
shall seem most likely to effect
their safety and happiness."
--Thomas Jefferson: Declaration of Independence, 1776.
The brief
envisioned scenario below is described in significant detail in the next
three chapters of Paradigm Junction (PJ). Thoughts expressed in
parts 1 & 2 form the basis of ideas that went
into developing the envisioned scenario ideas, along with a several decades
of observation, study and exchange of ideas with many others. The scenario presented in PJ describes
the nature of the sociopolitical scene 050APC, or 50 years After
the chaotic Paradigm Change period, that we have
entered.
To replace barter in past there has been a wide
variety of means to exchange goods and services, usually it is called
money. It enabled regional
civilizations to grow and prosper to the point where complexity and size
outgrow the limits of governments’ ability to govern and the civilizations
collapses. We have reached this
point today, not because of increased complexity but because of our greed
based monetary system that leaves us dealing with symptoms rather root issues.
The Money system of a civilization is both the
glue and the lubricant that enables a civilization to exist. We notice that A (Activity) tends to be
proportional to monetary affluence.
But a higher level of affluence may increases or decrease P of
population, depending on other conditions, such as the level of education
and self-determination of
women. For these reasons, monetary
availability and flow rates will continue to be the master regulator of A
& P. The most significant change
in the year 050APC will be the nature of M – money, both the way it is
created and distributed and other functions that it serves.
The remainder of this section is rather like a Q
& A session to give a brief explanation of the content in the following
three PJ chapters that
gives details on the development of the envisioned life style that could be
available to us within BPC – Blue
Planet Governance.
Q 1: What is the United Regions (UR) of 050APC?
The UR (United Regions) is a chaordic organization
that exists for the benefit of the collective of regions of the world. The executive branch members of UR are
elected by the regions. The needed
scientists, actuaries, psychologists and other specialists are appointed by
the executive branch. The UR
operates like the corporate headquarters of a global company. Every regional government is a UR
stakeholder.
Core Purpose of
the United Regions: [ref]
To implement a planetary management system that will move humanity toward a more harmonious
relationship within Gaia.
Vision of the
UR
The era of global tragedy of the commons is ended. [Wiki]
The new paradigm began
when interdependent Regional Governments united.
Coordinated expertise
in Earth Science, Human-Nature and Economics,
Provides Regional
Guidance to Maximize Real Wealth:
Real wealth is a
measurement of a robust ecology and the
general health and
happiness of the people! – Riane Eilsler
Mission of the
UR
Scientific and psychological knowledge will underlie the dynamically
interactive social/political/economic system with a long-term goal of
reducing the human ecological footprint until there is a synergetic balance
within the ambient systems of life on our small blue planet.
Q 2: How
large is a region?
They are
as small as practical to have a regional government large enough to
administer the functional needs of bureaucracy within the BPG – Blue Planet
Governance. Envisioned regions vary
in size, ecological bioregions sometimes form the borders, some are the same as small countries before paradigm
change. Regions are small enough to
have the advantages of ‘localization’, as related to giving individuals a strong feeling they belong,
and can be an important part of local government. A region may be bonded by a specific
cultural background.
BPG (Blue
Planet Governance) is an expandable model that can begin from the agreement
of either small regions or provinces or states of large countries.
Q3: How
does the new money system work?
Global real
wealth is the sum of the wealth of all regions. “Real wealth is a measurement of a robust ecology and of the general
health and happiness of the people” … as penned
by Riane Eisler in The Real Wealth Of Nations. The Bank
of Gaia (BOG) administers the world’s money. Gaia$ are in digital form only. Gaia$ are a commodity based currency
based on a package of commodities called Wealth Factors that represent real wealth,
Gaia$ can be exchanged freely within a region, but
the Regional Bank of Gaia (RBoG) may limit
interregional trade, because the Regional government is responsible for
long-term issues including the Region’s Wealth Factor per capita. Gaia$ are coded to function with only
registered citizens of each specific Region. This prevents illegal immigrants from
participating in the local economy, giving the regional government needed
control over population issues.
Each region measures the Wealth Factors within its borders. Here are a few examples.
·
A region’s ability to
harvest flow-energy (renewable);
·
A region’s open spaces
of untouched nature;
·
A region’s capability
to produce manufactured goods;
·
A region’s capability
to produce food;
·
The level of happiness
of people in the region;
·
… and
many more (see 4e Dynamic Flows).
The use of fossil fuels is a negative wealth factor.
The Bank of Gaia at the UR enables the digital
money for each region based on the region’s wealth factor sum. For many regions loans will be necessary
in the beginning to sustain an adequate flow of goods and services until
feedback can lower the gross human-activity (HA) in the future in order to
reach a sustainable wealth per capital ratio.
Both global wealth and regional wealth are always
expressed as wealth per capita to
highlight the point that a smaller population increases wealth per
capita. The fact that the general
wealth of all individuals within your region, including family and
neighbours, is an important factor, especially where regional governments
need to consider measures such as, one child per female.
The Gaia$ system of money is transparent. All Gaia$ transactions and personal
accumulations are recorded by the Regional BoG,
including any individual’s total accumulation – which has a limit set by
the Regional government.
Q4: How can corporations function in this system?
There are a few other changes in human created
rules that reflect the thinking of Henry George and Thomas Payne. Some of those suggested are:
·
The regional
government has full stewardship of the land and commons within its
borders.
·
The idea of land
ownership by individuals or corporations ends, but leases from regional
government give access to the land.
·
Regional governments
are the shareholders of all multi-regional corporations.
·
Farmers, merchants and
cooperative enterprises operate much as they did before Paradigm Change.
Q5: What
about an individual’s income:
·
Everyone gets a basic
fixed income from their regional government.
·
Governments acquire
revenue from various sources such as by holding shares in profitable
multi-regional corporations and land leases.
·
The highest paid individual
can generally no more than 10 times the basic fixed income.
This is
the outline of how a truly science guided biophysical economic system could
govern the human inhabitants of our planet, that is just small blue dot as
seen from afar. We need to change
some of the coordinates on our dynamic MAP for navigation in our common
journey into our common unknown future!
The End
To Next chapter http://gaiapc.ca/PJ/4b-DynamicSociety050-APC.pdf
Reference links:
A New
Economic System, A New Society By
John Scales Avery http://www.countercurrents.org/avery220815.htm
>>
Basic
Income in Holland http://www.zmescience.com/ecology/world-problems/basic-income-dutch-utrecht-06082015/
>>
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/08/03/Perfect-Storm-Engulfs-Canadian-
Economy/?utm_source=mondayheadlines&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=030815
>>
http://www.resilience.org/stories/2015-08-04/socialism-for-the-rich-drawbacks-of-our-current-money-system
>> http://www.resilience.org/stories/2015-07-31/we-are-all-greece#
>>
Written by
http://www.resilience.org/author-detail/1152015-helena-norberg-hodge
>>
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-07-23/central-banks-have-shot-their-wad-why-casino-rude-awakening-part-i
>>
How
Goldman Sachs Profited from the Greek Debt
<http://robertreich.org/post/124342268010>
>>
NAFTA
& TPP
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/01/13/canada_being_sued_for_billions_under_nafta_investor_protections.html
>>
http://www.peakprosperity.com/blog/93588/all-hail-our-banking-overlords
>>
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2008/10/11/trillions-disappear-in-stock-market-but-where-did-money-go.html
>>
Greed Is
Driving Us Towards Disaster By John Scales Avery
http://www.countercurrents.org/avery170715.htm
>>
Interview
with Galbrath http://www.alternet.org/economy/james-galbraith-greek-revolt-threatens-entire-neoliberal-project?akid=13287.1136387.A8rCUX&rd=1&src=newsletter1039103&t=1
>>
http://www.resilience.org/stories/2015-06-22/the-commons-transition-plan-free-libre-and-open-knowledge-in-ecuador-and-what-s-next
>>
http://www.resilience.org/stories/2015-06-23/economics-vs-the-economy
>>
Herman
Daly http://www.greattransition.org/publication/economics-for-a-full-world
>>
http://blogs.reuters.com/breakingviews/2015/06/19/review-the-misbehaviour-of-behavioural-economics/
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-06-16/according-bank-america-biggest-risk-global-equities
>>
<<<<End
of section>>>
Back to Index http://gaiapc.ca/PJ/BPG/1a-Index.htm
Next Chapter: 4b-Dynamic Societies 050APC
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