Economic theory is sometimes cloaked by a mysterious aura, because it represents an abstraction from physical reality. Yet, there is great potential for the application of economics to provide stable material welfare for all humanity. The problem is to identify the right policies and establish the organization necessary to fulfill the simple goal that all persons receive certain undeniable economic rights.
The national constitutions provide the elements for political rights and allow stable economic systems within their boundaries. But our governments cannot help but ignore the fundamental needs of humanity, because they lack the comprehensive sense of coordination necessary for human progress. Moreover the national organizations inhibit human development through perpetuation of human suffering. Although the expressed goals of some nations can be fulfilled, they fail to allow others to achieve the same objectives. The most blatant contradiction of this (inter)national system are the anarchistic forms of economic competition unchecked by any civilized order. It was a progressive Asian social philosopher who wisely explained, “War is the ultimate form of [this] competition.”
The progressive nature of national entities is undeniable; because of them we have been guaranteed our most basic political rights. The nations, however, have outlived their usefulness. Simply stated, they are shackled by those who look backward and react like kings or powerful royal anachronisms. The power of those rulers “divinely inspired by God” is now delegated by constitutional authority to representatives of the populace. Yet constitutional rights have largely been usurped. These rulers consider the globe a large chessboard with themselves the principal players. The rest of humanity and global resources are the pieces to be moved, manipulated, or destroyed, according to their grand and secret strategy.
There is no real fault to be pinned on the national system; rather, it must be seen that it does not allow any viable alternative to its own self-destructive ends. The national power lords will — if allowed to continue — destroy themselves with their own weapons in their belligerence and rivalry. The waste of global human and material resources is the final indictment of national government, which speaks of liberty but delivers oppression.
What then is the alternative? The answer lies in the hands of all those who will be affected, and this clearly means all of humanity. The goals of global peace, prosperity and freedom will only be achieved by the participation of all people.
Only through global cooperation can humanity achieve the infinite greatness to which it is destined. We must determine our futures ourselves, as humanity, for we risk imminent destruction of what we have achieved economically and politically. The answer to the international question, in an economic sense, is to establish a global organization which transcends the national entity and removes its tyranny. The question is how to organize global economic markets, for whose gain, and at what expense?
Once the burden of national contradictions is removed, the possibilities are truly universal (literally — as in the Milky Way Galaxy and beyond, for human colonization). The masses now languishing in poverty, disease, and constant fear of starvation, represent a generation of engineers, scientists and workers.
The establishment of such a global organization is based on the democratic political freedoms developed two centuries ago. With democratic decision-making as the foundation, economic cooperation, in the form of a common monetary system, and global economic planning for industrialization, growth, development and prosperity for all regions is introduced. There would be nine basic human economic rights: food, housing, clothing, education, health, transportation, recreation, mobility, and a clean environment. The laws would guarantee freedom from war, fear, economic exploitation, hunger, illiteracy, ignorance, disease, and pollution, as well as meet the individual needs of the individual members.
The global organization enhances efficiency and dramatically increases human wealth (defined as all value created by human hands or human minds). For the national power monger it represents the end of their historical era, which they will probably do anything to avoid (including perhaps attempt to destroy the entire globe). Because all humanity will become unified as one, and all peoples will live and work as free persons, without having to die for any nation, humanity will have achieved an age-old dream, the dawning of a new chapter of human history.
There is a parable which is applicable. An old man lived a modest life in a small town, and behind his house was a large mountain. One day he decided to remove the mountain. After many years of work the mountain was barely scratched. The old man redoubled his efforts. Although the townspeople considered him a complete fool, and took every opportunity to mock his efforts, he paid them no heed. During this time the Almighty looked down upon the old man and saw the unshakable faith which he held, and took pity on him. The Almighty sent an angel, which took the mountain upon its back and cast it into the sea. This story is much like the effort of humanity to do away with the adversities of human existence. While many scoff at the prospects for global cooperation and harmony it only takes the work of those few with faith, vision, and broad horizons to remove this seemingly insurmountable mountain of human suffering. Let’s think a hundred years gone.
