By: John Silva – November 2018
Timmy, I want to tell you a story. It takes place in the future, and its a story about choices and hope, and it begins with a dream.
All in favor of the motion signify by saying Aye. All opposed say, Nay. The Ayes have it. Would the Speaker please notify the president of our vote, and advise her that if she doesn’t sign this bill into law… and we mean TODAY! We have a mandate from our constituents to pass this legislation with or without her consent. The citizens of our country have spoken. They will no longer tolerate leaders spending obscene amounts of human, financial and moral resources on any war. And, furthermore, by the end of this month, all of the countries of the world will have also passed similar legislation.
That’s how it happened… and that was that. The new enhancements of the super internet easily facilitated consensus. The population of the world had committed to the idea that there was no reason why they should kill each other. As a world community, the people had come together and refused to tolerate the insanity of war.
As more and more people united, the politicians were forced to comply with the demands of the people. The people of our planet supported a common dream; they were determined to stop killing each other. And, they did it with the stroke of a pen. Not a single death was incurred. The subsequent jubilation and joy that erupted around the world was broadcast by CNN and every newspaper, cable company, and internet service. The people had had enough of war and they had worked together and stopped the madness.
All governing bodies were limited to enacting resolutions concerning domestic and trade issues. Neither the president nor the Congress nor any other elected official or body could introduce legislation to start, fund or direct the military to take any action against any other country. The mandate was clear. NO MORE WARS!
For the first time in the history of the world schools, hospitals, social programs, medical research, infrastructure, etc. were fully funded because senseless wars could not cripple the world’s economy.
Slowly, individuals and companies changed. The focus moved from gaining an advantage over someone to helping someone. Instead of personal gain, they received awards for finding ways to improve the lives of everyone including their neighbors, their neighborhood, their city, their state, their country, and the world. Resources were focused on worthy goals instead of being wasted on scams and instant rewards that only benefited corrupt individuals.
Because of artificial intelligence and robotics, capitalism was abandoned as it was no longer a viable system. There were simply too many people and not enough jobs. Machines plowed the ground, planted and harvested the crops and products were manufactured by robots and AI (artificial intelligence) made it all work. Goods and services were provided to everyone. There was no poverty, and money was no longer needed.
With the problem of war resolved, countries could focus on important problems. Needs were posted on the internet. Individuals, corporations and even countries could bid for the opportunities. For the most part, bartering was preferred to using money by individuals, companies and nations because physical things are difficult to use as a means of transferring wealth. Whereas money is easily transferred and accumulated indefinitely. For example, imagine trying to put actual cows, automobiles, silos of corn, and an actual lake in your savings account. It is only when currency is accepted as a substitute for something tangible that greed can function.
Removing the temptation to keep accumulating more, and more, and more money allowed everyone to obtain and desire tangible things vs. numbers on a piece of paper. In reality, actual “money” has no real value. It’s just ink on a piece of paper or now using computers just electrical impulses. In other words ten dollars will buy you a hamburger, but a ten dollar bill is not a hamburger. Eating a ten dollar bill will not satisfy your hunger or sustain your life. It is only when someone says it has value and the value is agreed upon that it takes on a new persona.
Could this concept actually work? How? Could a country trade one hundred thousand bushels of wheat for another country’s labor to build a dam? It is essential that it is not a symbol representing the wheat, but the actual wheat. The point is that when a transaction is complete it is complete. The money from the transaction is not used over and over and over.
There would no longer be a need to collect money for services, but services could be traded for other services. For example, Israel has roads that need to be repaired. They post the opportunity on the internet. The State of Palestine notices the post and responds. In trade, Israel builds a desalination plant for Palestine. And so it goes. Sanity being preferred to insanity.
Epilogue:
Timmy, how is my favorite grandson?
Grandpa, I am your only grandson.
Oh, what a smart boy you are Timmy. I’m so glad you are my grandson. How old are you?
Grandpa, I’m five. Can I tell you something, Grandpa?
Of course, you can Timmy… of course, you can.
Grandpa, I’m so glad we don’t have wars anymore because my friend Mary Ann told me she doesn’t have a daddy because he was killed in a war, and I don’t want any more daddies to be killed. I think all kids should have their daddies… and mommies. But, Grandpa, here’s what I don’t understand. Why were there wars before and now there aren’t any wars?
Timmy, thank you for reminding me. I told you how people all over the world started talking to each other and demanded their countries stop all wars. And, the part that made the whole thing possible was each country was determined to use their resources to immediately terminate any rogue individual or country that tried to start a war… and poof… there were no more wars.
Grandpa, what does terminate mean?
Timmy, to terminate someone means to kill them. The people were fed up with the stupidity of some of their leaders, and they decided that anyone who tried to start a war would automatically be killed. They all agreed that it was better to kill that person than to let him or her start a war where so many daddies and mommies would be killed. Timmy, when it comes to war, nobody should get a free pass… especially presidents, prime ministers, kings, emirs, and dictators, etc.
Grandpa, when I grow up, I promise I will never start a war. I want it to be peaceful because it’s so much more better. Grandpa, can I ask you another question?
Of course Timmy.
Grandpa, can I have a puppy?