Robin Burton asked the question. In the wake of Trump and his ‘Make America Great Again’ (which seems to do exactly the opposite and should be MATLSOTW – Make America The Laughing Stock Of the World). Certainly, seeing someone as uncouth and ignorant as Trump getting elected says something about America.
It raise the question – what is a Great Society?
To me, in order to be considered GREAT a society needs the following criteria:
- To protect its citizens
- To promote an equal society in which all people of whatever colour, race, gender or religion are valued
- To be tolerant
- To be outward-looking
- To protect nature and value the natural world
- To be honest and extinguish nepotism, corruption, unfairness, racism, sexism and gross inequality
- To help the rest of the world develop
- To allow individual freedom, expression of views, expression of religion
- To allow freedom of speech while combating hate speech
- To remove all violence, aggression or belligerence
- To have a non-aggressive foreign policy
- To provide the basic needs for all people – food, water, power, clean air, health care, homes, support during sickness and old age and maternity
- To provide excellent education for all
- To provide power through sustainable means
- Not to pollute or produce harm to the natural world and to respect the wonders around us
- To promote awe and wonder
- To police in a way that is conducive to the local community
- To tax fairly in order to pay for quality services and infrastructure
- To ensure that the rich and powerful do not exert undue influence or gain advantage, but are treated equally
- To have a justice system that does not discriminate against any group nor favour any group and applies justice fairly and reasonably.
- To have politicians who are accountable and held responsible for their actions
- To have a media that is unbiased and holds all those in power to account
- To provide an environment that is safe for its citizens, healthy, clean and respects people, property, animals and all nature.
- To have fair work conditions with generous hours, holidays, fair pay and sickness benefits.
- To have a basic level of income for all
- To have a welfare system that provides for those in need
- To have pensions so that people can live to a reasonable level in old age
- To provide the spiritual well-being of its citizens
- To have a transport system that is efficient, cheap and clean
I have probably missed out loads but at least it gets the ball rolling.
Looking at my list I think the UK fails on a number of issues but the USA fails on most and what Trump is promoting makes everything worse.
Make America Great Again seems to only look at making the rich richer the rest is a con.
Well, that’s quite a list Opher. Almost Utopian and quite a desirable wish list with the benefit of our knowledge today. I think it’s already been suggested we don’t actually need billionnaires!
Some of it realistically achievable quite quickly and much in the long run but is some of it just wishful thinking and unrealistic?
Which could be achieved in a decade or a few and which might be ‘wishful thinking’ items.
And what would it all depend on?
Here’s hoping you/we get some more answers here!
Trevor – I think all are achievable – but some more difficult than others. But there’s nothing wrong in being idealistic and setting the bar high, is there. This is what, in my view, society should be like. Not too much in the way of response as of yet.
10., 19., and 22. are the points I think most difficult.
10. To remove ALL violence, aggression or belligerence – How? (I’m not even sure such a society would be desirable – injections or brain surgery?). Settle for discourage/minimise or other qualifications?
19. To ensure that the rich and powerful do not exert undue influence or gain advantage, but are treated equally – requires getting rid of the ‘rich and powerful’? They will inevitably gain some advantage
22. To have a media that is unbiased and holds all those in power to account – I doubt it’s entirely possible but we could have strong regulation about honesty of reporting and make ‘lobbying’ (of the paid/bought variety) illegal??
and 28. To provide the spiritual well-being of its citizens – not sure this ought to be the responsibility of society or the state. Freedom of religion (or ‘no religion’) might be a good idea but the ‘providing for’ should be the responsibility of religions, smaller communities and the individual within an enabling legal framework of rights?
Just some thoughts!
Trev – education. I saw the effects of utilising techniques such as restorative justice. It works. We will never eliminate it all but we can produce a society that is friendly, caring and not violent.
Inequality is a scourge and needs addressing. It’s a cancer. But, as you say, that is a difficult one – but at least we can make it a lot better.
To have any sort of democracy requires an unbiased media. There must be a way of achieving that.
Spirituality comes out of respect, wonder and awe. in my view, – and I think we’re back to the power of education.
I’ve just had a morning email from the Equality Trust about their latest podcast. Do you get it?
I’ll find some links about awe and wonder on the NFN website and send them to you.
I’m still not sure an unbiased press is possible, you’d have to remove all opinions and only allow publication of verifiable fact, implying censorship – balanced perhaps? But again, how? It couldn’t be state owned – so variously privately owned and probably undesirable to attempt balance in a single publication (BBC?).
Perhaps every news channel should carry a ‘health’ warning: ‘owned/published by so-and-so’!
Thanks Trevor.
I like your suggestions. I don’t want to remove all opinion. Balance would be good. A clear statement of ownership and bias.
A watchdog to check the veracity of facts.
We have had forty years of pro-establishment media undermining political parties, spreading nonstop propaganda, slurs and lies. Forty years of anti-EU propaganda. Something has to change.
Go President Trump keep building the border walls. Illegal aliens have no rights.
Just what we need – a two thousand mile fence preventing all animal migration. Of course, nobody will be able to tunnel under that or climb over it. It will be extremely effective. They won’t be able to come through the checkpoints or on boats. And what is the coast of this project?? And the manning of the border?? And the upkeep??
Fortunately, it looks as if the xenophobic, racist madman is on his way out. Good riddance to him and his half-brained wall.
Just what we need “pale face”? You have no American citizenship, you have no rights.
I have lots of rights, thank you. I don’t live in fear of some missile landing on my head either. What happens in America affects us all. Let’s hope for a return to sanity.
The US Bill of Rights only applies to US citizens. Silly.
My rights aren’t enshrined in any US Bill of Rights. I’m a British citizen.
Your an ignorant British citizen. The entire concept of citizens and rights separates serfs and peasant of Europe who had no rights. This defines the American and French revolutions of the late 18th century. Duh.
The Constitution with its Bill of Rights applies only to US citizens. The founding fathers limited the franchise to white land owners. Over the 200 plus years the franchise has witness an expansion to include women and blacks. You as a British person, the Constitution and Bill of Rights does not apply to you. You have no US citizenship. The US Constitution only applies to US citizens. Duh.
Idiot. The USA is not the only purveyor of rights!
Silly Goy, if you came to the US the Bill of Rights would not apply to you. Reason: simple, even a moron can understand – you have no US citizenship any more than I have British citizenship.
Pathetic idiot. Britain has no Written Constitution like as does the US. Parliament, what ever law which it passes become the Constitution of Britain. A British Court can not declare a law passed by Parliament at Unconstitutional! The US Supreme Court together with all 50 States (the 10th and 11th Amendments to the Constitution) have the right to declare laws passed by the Federal Congress and Executive Branch as Unconstitutional.
Go back to grade school and get an education.
You do not understand rights do you?
Clearly ya did not learn about the American and French revolutions. LOL pathetic.
Don’t be so stupid.
I’m not in the States idiot. But if I did I would have the same rights.
If you came through legal channels then yes you would have and enjoy legal protections. But if you came into the US illegally, then NO you would not enjoy any legal rights from the Constitution.
If you are illegal you still have rights – not the same rights as a citizen but still rights.
Perhaps, but again you employ “rights” as a general term and bring no specifics to support your stupid ignorance.
Absurd.
Noise. Prove it.
I’m at a loss as to why you don’t just block this American moron Opher!
I find him amusing Trevor – plus, I think it’s important, occasionally to hear what these people have to say, how they justify their views.
The entire purpose of the Bill of Rights … to protect the citizens NOT serfs rights.
That’s what the law of the land does. My rights are enshrined in law.