The Real World.
January 1, 2018, the UN Secretary-General issued a red alert for
the world calling for unity in a world of growing conflict and inequality. He said, “Narrow the gaps. Bridge the
divides. Rebuild trust by bringing people together around common goals.” If we fail his advice we should arrange burial
plans for millions of people, the US Constitution, and the UN Charter. Without transforming these two governance
systems and structures we can expect increasing chaos. Things change but we don’t. We collectively keep ignoring the “Self-evident”
“Truths” inherent in the “Laws of Nature and Natures God”(LN&NG). These fundamental principles (FPs) are essential
for sustainably governing our lives, our nations, and the world. They are principles from which other basic
truths, laws, or assumptions are made for making workable things. America’s founding fathers acknowledged their
importance in the lead paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. FPs should not be confused with the
alternative principles (APs) that humans craft to forward other agendas. APs might work temporarily, but inevitably
they fail. Every reliable system and
structure in the world that we depend on to sustain life is based on FPs. Humanities persistent failure to distinguish
between FPs and APs is the difference between life and billions of deaths. It is the difference between prevention and
unsustainable economic and environmental costs. Anyone concerned about reversing the world’s
accelerating chaos should adhere to FPs for solutions to sustain freedom and
security for all.
Listed below are key
factors influencing our minds perceptions of the world. Some meld our hearts and minds. Others distract
our thinking from what is required for managing a more workable world. They have been gleaned from dozens of sources
over three decades of observing the growing abyss between the horrific things humans
do in the world and how wonderful the world could be if we actually adopted the
LN&NG that have been understood for decades, some for millenniums.
As a biologist I find
it fascinating that the Bible, written nearly 2000 years ago, predicted global chaos
if responsible choices were shunned. It
must have been obvious, even back then, that advances in weaponry and the
resistance of the human mind to change were unsustainable.
Three lines of change: Change is a FP. Life’s prime directive is survival. Thus, a biological FP dictates that if a
living thing fails to adapt to the changing world around it, it will parish. Humans are adventurous but they also value
stability/security. The natural world
has many threats so for millennium humans have invented principles intended to protect
themselves and those they spawn and depend on.
If those principles adhered to the LN&NG they increased their chance
of survival. If those principles were incompatible with the LN & NG the people
and cultures that adopted them usually perished. Principles incompatible with the LN&NG are
APs (alternative principles). They may
have been useful once but ultimately they fail.
Given the two FPs above
(constant change and the need to adapt) it should be easy to predict the real
world consequences of these three current-era non-intersecting lines. The first line arches upward representing the
exponential growth in the power and global availability of technologies. The second line rises shallow but relatively
straight. It represents linear human thinking. The last line represents government change.
It runs flat across time with a blip up on Sept 11, 2001, but is now declining
in any prospect for significant change in either the US Constitution or UN
governing systems.
Our Pleistocene linear
thinking shouldn’t need Artificial Intelligence (AI) to forecast the inevitable
consequences of relying on a 260 year old AP (American federalism) working
within a 400 year old global governing AP (national sovereignty). The current hyper technological change in an
irreversibly interconnected world spells chaos.
The technologies
changing the fastest are bio, cyber, and robotics -- each are increasingly
profound and challenging to contemplate global consequences. Bioengineers can now make new viruses faster
than our capacity to make, test, and manufacture vaccines to protect against
them. Computer engineers are developing
AI to think and learn infinitely faster than humans-- spawning weapon systems that
pose an existential threat acknowledged by the smartest minds in the technology
world. Russian President Vladimir Putin
recently said that whoever masters AI will become ‘ruler of the world’. Last year China’s government, which can change
quickly, announced its plans to be the “premier global AI innovation center” by
2030. China already invests heavily in
AI and the former Executive Chair of Google’s parent Alphabet, said China is
expected to overtake the US within a decade.
The vital question should not be which nation develops AI first but can
any nation control it.
The economic cost of investing
precious time and limited tax dollars into weapons systems for protecting ‘national
security’ in a never ending arms race and endless war on terrorism… is unsustainable.
Yet nations keep doing it. Meanwhile, poverty
and its related hunger and infectious diseases combined with the rise of wealth
related chronic diseases continue to destabilize nation states via social
unrest and economic debt respectively.
Given the inevitable threat of pandemics or the likelihood of
bioengineered weapons destabilizing nations and global economic systems with
little warning, the fact that existing governments rely on reactionary responses
instead of preventive actions -- is sheer stupidity. Knowing this is the Modus operandi of many
humans is not encouraging.
War tactics and strategies will continue to evolve. The
permanent war against terrorism (with privacy being sacrificed for security)
and rising threats between nations accelerate the evolution of weapon
technologies which are mostly dependent on private R&D tech advances. The nature of corporations is global sales
and distribution of its technology. Given that all technology is dual-use, even Fitbits
(the personal wristband health monitors) can be weaponized if terrorists hack
them to find and target soldiers or military bases where they live and train.
Another factor is that ‘offensive’ uses of technology usually
have an advantage over their defensive uses.
Given the natural vulnerabilities to the S&S within our bodies and complex
unfortified technological S&S we rely on to protect them, protecting life
is at a disadvantage. Castles, rivers
and oceans once helped to protect us.
Not now. A more troubling factor
is that traditional weapons used to be used up when used. Bio and Cyber weapons
replicate themselves freely when used and are increasingly less noticeable and more
anonymous.
Worldwide engineers adhering to FPs are creating
unprecedentedly powerful, affordable, and ubiquitous technologies -- all with
multiple uses. Only the motivation of
the user decides how. And human users
are prone to error and anticipating unintended consequences. Technologies can be directed to achieve miracles
or disasters. Meanwhile
our mind’s linear thinking (particularly among peace activists) struggles to
understand the real world implications of these factors. These and others make disarmament ultimately
impossible and deterrence increasingly irrelevant making the progressive ‘peace
through disarmament’ AP and the conservative “peace through strength” AP
equally foolish.
Ultimately technology cannot be controlled. But preventing or remediating natural or
intentional disasters require it. Transforming
our global governance S&S to incorporate the LN&NG can significantly
reduce motivation to misuse technology.
America’s founding fathers
failed to do this when engineering our nation’s original federal system. And within 100 years our civil war lasting
only four years killed more Americans than all the wars since then
combined. Astonishingly, we still haven’t codified these
‘self-evident’ FPs into our dealings with people in other nations. The lethal blowback from unjust foreign
policy and military actions will only accelerate. Old dogmatic political APs like ‘national
sovereignty’ are simply unworkable in a rapidly changing and irreversibly
interdependent world.
Universal elements (Systems,
Structures, and Fundamental Principles):
All life forms are delicate systems and structures that depend on
natural S&S that are all based on the LN&NG. Being part of all of this we must remember
that over 99.9% of all species that have ever existed are now extinct. And, nothing but the best use of human
ingenuity and technological can ensure the survival of current species
including ourselves.
Our focus thus far has been on
making mostly unnecessary things-- systems and structures that make our lives
easier and more comfortable while ignoring the lives of others who cannot
afford them. We only recently started
thinking seriously about environmental sustainability. But
these ‘green’ investments pale in comparison to our investments in military
might, looking good, and immediate comforts.
Human’s primary structural
survival advantages (walking on two legs, thumbs for tool making, and shoulders
capable of accurate projectile throwing) evolved with our mind’s creative
capacity for solving problems we encounter in nature. Again,
our creative mind (once a strength) has now become our primary problem. We recognize and then ignore FPs and defend
to the death maintaining APs accelerating our demise. Engineers and
scientists rely on FPs and use repeatable tests to ensure they work. Politicians
use APs then use elections and wars for testing. No wonder “We the people” lost trust
in government. Trust requires truth and APs
are basically unreliable. Engineering a
more workable world will require FPs inherent in the LN&NG.
An FP that politicians often
mention but rarely codify is justice.
Every major religion promotes the “Golden Rule”. Wise men assert that Nature’s God settles
for nothing less. Americans pledge
“justice for all” but rarely demand it in governments S&S. The Declaration of Independence offered us
another FP of Nature’s God -- our “unalienable right” to “Life, Liberty and the
Pursuit of Happiness”. Only a partisan politician
trapped in an ideological bubble of APs can miss this theme. Why?
Domains of experience (senses,
feelings, and concepts): When
birthed we initially experience the real world through five senses. These lead to internal sensations we later in
life call ‘feelings’ or ‘emotions’. Our
use of words for conceptual learning is achieved with our mind’s unprecedented
capacity for language. Before relying
on science to understand S&S we used language to creatively describe and
explain things. We shared stories,
analogies and concepts. These could be
useful or irrelevant, even dangerous, if they distanced us from the
LN&NG.
Science and religions eventually
helped us identify FPs, explore them, and adopt them into our lives. Old stories and unexamined concepts however still
reinforce APs and S&S spread them. We freely do either. Tragically, our bodies, families, and nations
are never free of the dangers of relying on APs. Here is how concepts (APs) create and
exacerbate many of today’s problems while FPs will solve them. Applying concepts consistent with the
LN&NG can help us manage reality thus creating a more workable world.
Expectations (Freedom,
Security, and Independence): “Freedom is…a right that belongs
to us by the laws of God and nature.” John Webbe.
We are free to do as we
want. But we (and humanity) will never
be free of the consequences. Every
action has consequences -- perhaps thousands.
And, every action inevitably impacts the freedom and security of others. Then,
as much as people want freedom, they also want security. This creates an unavoidable freedom verses security
dilemma. In order to maximize both
freedom and security it is essential to understand we have unintentionally
created a trilemma (a condition in which we must choose two out of three
options). The third desire created in
our minds is an AP – ‘independence’. Which,
in reality, is an illusion.
In worshiping ‘independence’ we blind
ourselves to the consequences our actions have on other things (people, nations
and the environment). By recognizing this
and taking responsible actions regarding the LN&NG we can effectively
maximizes both our freedom and our security.
Believing ‘independent’ governments
can protect our freedom and security is recipe for sacrificing freedom and/or
security. One man’s freedom fighter is
another man’s terrorist.
Most factors that influence our
nation’s economy, environment, society, crime rates, health, and security are significantly
influenced by global forces-- forces that walls, weapons systems, and
independent governments (or agencies) cannot stop. One pathogen, one computer virus, or one high
altitude EMP event can ruin your whole day.
Our current government S&S do
great injustices when we try to hold nations accountable for the actions of
their leaders. This ‘national
sovereignty’ system is inherently flawed relying on diplomacy, covert actions,
war, threats of war, or sanctions (which can be more deadly than war) when
seeking accountability. This so-called
‘International Law’ is no better than international hopes and dreams. Each of these APs ignores the LN&NG. The grand illusion is assuming that
sovereignty belongs to governments.
According to the LN&NG sovereignty belongs to individuals to govern
their own destiny. Citizens may lend it
to governments to collectively defend their freedoms and security, but if their
government acts irresponsibly… there will be consequences to both. Borders, reactionary policies, limited
budgets, and hopeful wishes are worse than useless.
The trilemma applies to every sector. Consider health (biosecurity perhaps the most
immediate and inevitably threat to humanity).
The greatest human achievement is arguably the unprecedented global
eradication of Smallpox. Wars killed around
100 million people in the 20th century. Governments murdering their own citizens
(genocides) took 160 million more.
Smallpox alone killed over 300 million (more than war and genocide
combined) in just 70 years of that century.
Astonishingly, if just one nation, tribe, or family had rejected the
Smallpox vaccine, the mass killer would still be with us today. Instead, because of a onetime US government
investment of $32 million into the 10 year global campaign, US taxpayers have
saved over $1000 domestically for every dollar invested globally. It was the engineering (using FPs) of global
S&S at every government level which achieved it. Every issue (education, religion, cybersecurity,
trade, environment, crime, immigration, WMD proliferation, terrorism…) fits
this scenario. Maximizing freedom and
security, requires shedding the AP of independence.
Paths (Status quo, extinction,
transformation): The acceleration of
threatening news will continue without fundamental change in government S&S. By
doing nothing or just tweaking the S&S conditions will continue to worsen
indefinitely. Catastrophic collapse may be
inevitable given the evolution of weaponry.
Codifying the LN&NG into all government S&S will transform the
current ‘law of force’ into the ‘force of law’.
The global Rule of Law.
Essential factors (Democracy,
Justice, and Unalienable Human Rights):
Words mean specific things to engineers, scientists, doctors, and even
lawyers. To politicians words can mean
anything (think “health care”). Politicians often praise the phrase “rule of
law” but few have a working definition.
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy did. When asked “what makes the ‘Rule of Law’
effective?” He answered ‘it requires
“three” basic elements. First, the laws must
be made and enforced by a democratic process (people’s participating in rule
making is important, but majority rule is dangerous). Second, laws must be applied equally to all (No
justice. No peace). Third,
laws must be protective of basic unalienable human rights’ (many claim this
alone is the primary function of government).
Dangerously, US government
S&S miscarried here. In our “Justice
System” it is better to be rich and guilty than innocent and poor. It is a legal system not a justice
system. Worse, our nation’s defense
system is lethally unjust globally. Both
systems demonstrate little respect for everyone’s unalienable rights.
Fundamental rights (Life,
Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness):
You’d be crazy to drive across a bridge or fly in an airplane that was engineered
using APs. Yet we are complacent in
living with a US Constitution and UN Charter with both ignoring the
LN&NG. Why not trust “Self-evident”
“Truths”?
Confucius say, “Abandon weapons first. Then food. But never abandon trust. People cannot get on without trust. Trust is
more important than life.” Last year
Thomas Friedman said “Government moves at the speed of trust.” In FDRs 1941 State of the Union Address he
defined four basic freedoms ‘freedom of speech and worship, and freedom from
want and fear.’ Together these quotes
offer a sane path to ensuring life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for
all.
Countless truth-seekers over the last 3000 years have spelled
out the FPs. Historians document the persistent human folly of ignoring
them. Why do politicians continue to
defend APs as our cherished freedoms and security diminish?
Mental Flaws (beliefs, limits, and intractability): We cannot deny our mind’s capacity to believe
ANYTHING. Our imaginative capacity enabled us to visit
the moon, eradicate smallpox, and establish a global communications system. Originally, a tool to improve our chances for
survival and procreation, our mind eventually became the righteous and often
murderous defender of APs.
Worse yet, we don’t even do what we know we should -- like
preventing problems instead of reacting to them. But our minds capacity for distraction may be most
dangerous. We are sinking in quicksand while swatting at
flies. Instead of debating who can
marry, we should be lobbying our elected officials 24/7/365 to take essential actions.
Essential actions (Holistic,
funding, security): Expert’s agree. Workable solutions will require ‘holistic’,
‘comprehensive’, ‘universal’ or ‘whole of government” efforts. These are needed to prevent wars, genocides,
famines, dictatorships, terrorism… and effectively recover from threats we
cannot prevent. After WWII’s horrors the
undemocratic UN agreed to what should be humanities most valuable document – the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It’s
the closest the world came to codifying the LN&NG, but the UN was given no
power to enforce it. This December 10th is
the 70th anniversary of the hope it offered. Gloriously, just 2 years ago, the world’s
governments approved 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. But, without adequate funding. Fortunately, there’s no lack of money in the
real world. What is needed is a global movement of movements
(MOM) to freeze and seize some of the estimated $32 trillion now stashed in
off-shore accounts by corrupt leaders, drug cartels, and greedy capitalists -
all avoiding national taxation S&S.
Movements (Peace, Justice,
& Environment): Advocating as
one movement, these three broad movements (peace, environment, and
social/economic justice movements) consisting of tens of thousands of
organizations with hundreds of millions of individuals could create the
political will for funding a more workable world. But their advocacy must be done in the
context of national security…as well as their existing humanitarian/moral goals. So far each has resisted abandoning their own
movement’s special interest to sustainably achieve life, liberty and justice
for all.
Three publications (Global justice, Warnings, UN Reform): There’s no shortage of prestigious studies,
unanimous reports, and bipartisan commissions offering repeated warnings about
the threats we face, action plans to prevent them and the blue prints to create
a more workable world. Here’s three:
WARNINGS: FINDING CASSANDRAS TO STOP
CATASTROPHES, Richard A. Clarke and R.P.
Eddy, 2017.
Transforming the
United Nations System: Designs for a Workable World: By Joe Schwartzberg. A book summary can be found: http://www.workableworld.org/book-summaries.html
In
conclusion: Unless we follow the laws of
nature (using science and engineering to sustain humanity) and nature’s God
(the wisdom of the ages –the golden rule – liberty and justice for all) humanities destiny will be hobbled or
ended. This revelation is not new. Everything changes. Can we?
"Now all acts of legislature apparently contrary to
natural right and justice, are, in our laws, and must be in the nature of
things, considered as void. The laws of nature are the laws of God: A
legislature must not obstruct our obedience to him from whose punishments they
cannot protect us. All human constitutions which contradict His laws, we are in
conscience bound to disobey." -- George Mason (1725-1792), drafted the
Virginia Declaration of Rights and one of three who refused to sign the
Constitution.
"A
bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on
earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse."
-- Thomas Jefferson
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