OUR SYSTEM

Pursuing fulfilment without harm leads to free and fair competition, competition in which we realise our potential but do not harm other’s. It is a struggle to be ourselves, not a struggle against each other. When we compete, we must not harm. To harm is the wrong way, it contravenes the principle of no harm. The right way is to compete by doing our own best in our own way, not by denigrating or excluding others. Fair competition in open and free markets, according to the principle of no harm, facilitates the realisation of our potential. Competition tells us who is better at different things and what methods produce the best results. Competition provides a driver for improvement. It helps us find niches where we are best and avoid those where we are worst. Competition is an important, democratic method of sorting and filtering effort and stimulating improvement without central planning or control. Competition in markets and in trade is not a zero sum game. There are no absolute winner...

What follows is a response (actually mine) concerning 'a shared base income' (given in a 21st Century LinkedIn discussion on 'Where To Begin? ') that I think is useful to replicate here, as it addresses the fundamental issue of changing the incentive of our system from financial accumulation to fulfilling our potential by making our best contribution (according to who we are and where we see the need). An incentive change that at the same time frees us to be ourselves. "Yes, I think it is up to indigenous societies how they wish to adopt and adapt technology, just as it is up to all of us what technology and learning we wish to adopt and adapt to ourselves. I imagine, however, that if we are responsible we will adapt and use that technology to help ourselves grow and further develop, not recklessly abuse it to exploit our natural resources for, ultimately, limited material gain. However, this form of gain is incentivised by the 1st world economies most of the world...

38 years ago President Kennedy launched a pledge to land a man on the moon – and 30 years ago it was achieved. But this was no race against time. It was a race against the Soviet Republic. The competition needs to happen again. This time we need a pledge to create emission free energy for all our needs by 2020. This can come from the US, it can come from China. It can come from any country that wishes to prove itself the most technologically advanced - and the saviour of the human race. Surely this is something to do. … I have seen online comments from many Americans deploring the lack of sovereignty demonstrated by the US recently. Well this is a matter they can demonstrate sovereignty on, and supremacy in, by rising to the challenge of developing emission free energy that can supply the world. Get to it. …