The AEON website (where I got this snip from) is a
digital magazine that showcases bright ideas and strives to answer provocative questions. I’m
often overwhelmed by the number of topics they cover... But sometimes I’m stopped dead
in my tracks, like this time about “Who owns the earth?” Indeed. I believe it's the biggest and most important question of our time. (Only Trumped by how much longer we can allow it to be a question?)
I don’t believe the earth can be sub-divided anymore into private parcels of “private" land ownership (no matter how small the parcels). In fact, I believe we will have to undo all the private parcels of land that already exist on earth, everywhere, all over the place!
Antonia Malchik wants to believe we can still have it both ways, private and public, but deep down I believe she knows we can’t… I believe she knows that the world and all its total resources (our only readily available and reliable resources) (some renewable and some not-so-timely-renewable-as-we-might-like) are (simply, really, truly) “limited” and the “Tragedy of the Commons” is (really, truly, unfortunately) "upon us" if we don’t embrace learning how to use and govern “our” collective common resources “worldwide” wisely. (Can you follow all that?)
In fact, I believe if we don't grow up soon and get our act together...instead of The Utopia on Earth we could have (no "reason" not to) we will be Doomed to Oblivion! (Google "Utopia or Oblivion" and discover the amazing Buckminster Fuller who wrote the first book about this subject I know of...in 1969!)
I don’t believe the earth can be sub-divided anymore into private parcels of “private" land ownership (no matter how small the parcels). In fact, I believe we will have to undo all the private parcels of land that already exist on earth, everywhere, all over the place!
Antonia Malchik wants to believe we can still have it both ways, private and public, but deep down I believe she knows we can’t… I believe she knows that the world and all its total resources (our only readily available and reliable resources) (some renewable and some not-so-timely-renewable-as-we-might-like) are (simply, really, truly) “limited” and the “Tragedy of the Commons” is (really, truly, unfortunately) "upon us" if we don’t embrace learning how to use and govern “our” collective common resources “worldwide” wisely. (Can you follow all that?)
In fact, I believe if we don't grow up soon and get our act together...instead of The Utopia on Earth we could have (no "reason" not to) we will be Doomed to Oblivion! (Google "Utopia or Oblivion" and discover the amazing Buckminster Fuller who wrote the first book about this subject I know of...in 1969!)
Every breath we take, drop we drink, morsel we eat...depends on the one and only worldwide collection of common resources we have, all of us, equally: “The Commons!"
The commons is the one big thing that makes life possible (and even pleasurable sometimes for those who recognize they are social creatures who, regardless of age, can still play and party like a child) simple as that. But for life on earth to continue as the good deal it can be if-when-done-right we must now (starting today) learn to preserve the earth and protect it (to share it not fight over it) or the party's over! (There's no place left to move to on earth anymore to "get away," we must learn to "get along" and stop behaving like "spoiled children" who refuse to "play nice.")
When utopia breaks out on earth we will still need law enforcement and money (but we won't need lawyers or millionaires or billionaires anymore and we won't allow those mistakes to happen again) nor will we need military weapons of mass destruction anymore or have large scale forces of evil to deal with and worry about once we undo privatization of land and get rid of all the bad "isms." (No matter if you can't name all the bad "isms" but you will need to believe why gated communities and high rise penthouses cannot survive for long closed off from the commons...OK?)
Utopia will come easy and be wonderful once we get moving in that direction, but making the move in that direction (to Transition Toward Utopia) for now, yet, unfortunately...that's the hard part.
Give the Big Question at AEON a look and join the discussion: https://aeon.co/essays/is-it-time-to-upend-the-idea-that-land-is-private-property
The commons is the one big thing that makes life possible (and even pleasurable sometimes for those who recognize they are social creatures who, regardless of age, can still play and party like a child) simple as that. But for life on earth to continue as the good deal it can be if-when-done-right we must now (starting today) learn to preserve the earth and protect it (to share it not fight over it) or the party's over! (There's no place left to move to on earth anymore to "get away," we must learn to "get along" and stop behaving like "spoiled children" who refuse to "play nice.")
When utopia breaks out on earth we will still need law enforcement and money (but we won't need lawyers or millionaires or billionaires anymore and we won't allow those mistakes to happen again) nor will we need military weapons of mass destruction anymore or have large scale forces of evil to deal with and worry about once we undo privatization of land and get rid of all the bad "isms." (No matter if you can't name all the bad "isms" but you will need to believe why gated communities and high rise penthouses cannot survive for long closed off from the commons...OK?)
Utopia will come easy and be wonderful once we get moving in that direction, but making the move in that direction (to Transition Toward Utopia) for now, yet, unfortunately...that's the hard part.
- Who will be the first (or last) filthy rich person on earth to come clean that a resource based economy for earth makes more sense than Capitalism?
- Who will be the first (or last) bottom feeding scum sucking lawyer on earth (or high ranking legal scholar) mumbo jumbo expert willing to step forward to start simplifying, demystifying, and specifying all the exact words every law, rule, or regulation on earth should have so every person on earth can understand it (or have it explained to them by their mother or father)?
- Who will be the first (or last) world renowned expert on earth to simplify, demystify, and specify precisely everything they know about everything...and then join the cause for the advancement of knowledge and science in their area of expertise (whatever it might be)?
- And finally, who will be the first world renowned artist, athlete, or leader recognized for their art, athleticism, or leadership (generosity, sportsmanship, or honesty) to carry on being at the top of their craft, sport, or service...but willing to help us Transition Toward Utopia?
Give the Big Question at AEON a look and join the discussion: https://aeon.co/essays/is-it-time-to-upend-the-idea-that-land-is-private-property
