European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Goals for the 21st Century

by rdf
Tue Jan 2nd, 2007 at 10:28:17 AM EST

The political processes has gotten mired down in day to day squabbling over short term issues. This has resulted in a complete abandonment of any discussion of long-range goals. This essay is an attempt to inspire people to, once again, start thinking about the more distant policy issues. First, I attempt to formulate goals, including those that seem too idealistic to be achieved. Then, in subsequent diaries I deal with the possible objections to these goals of a general nature. Later I'll discuss each goal and specific objections to implementation. Finally, I'll attempt to outline specific steps that can be taken to implement each goal.

Hopes and aspirations should not be limited by fears of being unrealistic. This is a first pass at a set of goals from a developed-nation point of view. It is hoped that others will make suggestions in the appropriate forums.

[Since it's a new year I thought I'd air out the group of essays on my web site dealing with long-range goals. My idea is to deal with each point below in subsequent diaries. Crossposted at dKos]

From the diaries -- whataboutbob

Individual goals:

1. Universal retirement, disability and under age financial support for every member of society.
2. Universal health care support for every member of society.
3. Mandatory education through high school with certification of achievement and a relevant curriculum required.
4. Free education to anyone who wishes it through college.
5. Universal food support for every member of society.

National goals:

6. Restructure communities to be less dependent upon transportation.
7. Improve land use planning so most people live nearer the natural landscape.
8. Lower the work week to prevent both over work and under employment.
9. Establish equal protections for workers.
10. Eliminate discrimination based upon a person's inherited traits.
11. Reform drug laws to be more effective and less retributive.
12. Reform "sin" laws to be more effective.
13. Create public works projects to improve water supplies in the West and to improve desirability of living in the center of the country.

International goals:

14. Achieve new sources of energy using fusion, solar power or other breakthrough technologies.
15. Reverse migration from the land to the cities. Create viable economic opportunities in a decentralized environment.
16. Develop new goals in life less dependent upon material rewards.
17. Lower world population by 20% by the end of the century.
18. Demilitarize the world economy.
19. Establish global land use policies to replenish the natural landscape.
20. Improve standard of living for all those below the norm - health care, education, food and shelter.

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Goals for the 21st Century | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Goals for the 21st Century (none / 0)

When you say "society," do you mean certain Western countries or are these global goals? One might question whether issues like slavery, starvation, and disease in the Third World might be higher priority than the replenishment of the natural landscape. Alternatively, one might argue that the Third World is hopeless anyway so we should worry about our own problems...

by asdf on Mon Jan 1st, 2007 at 07:10:15 PM EST

Re: Goals for the 21st Century (none / 0)

6. Restructure communities to be less dependent upon transportation.
7. Improve land use planning so most people live nearer the natural landscape.

and

15. Reverse migration from the land to the cities. Create viable economic opportunities in a decentralized environment.

I disagree with those. And thus by implication this one

13. Create public works projects to improve water supplies in the West and to improve desirability of living in the center of the country.

Deurbanization (and presumably reducing suburban sprawl) means rural sprawl. Massive development of rural areas to cope with the new population, waste of resources, and making it more difficult to achieve energy efficiencies.

by MarekNYC on Wed Jan 3rd, 2007 at 07:49:29 PM EST

Goals for the 21st Century | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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