I'm A Utopian
I want to make the world better.
I think we can.
And I have some specific ideas for how we might do that. Please note that I do not assume that I'm always (or perfectly) right -- I might be wrong! Or simply forget to take some painful side effect or showstopping complication into account. But I bias to action and believe its better to try than not. To iterate and learn from our mistakes, as we go.
Why?
In my lifetime so far I've seen *massive* advances in some domains (like in computing) but only slight to modest improvements in other ones (eg. cars, or food safety). Effectively none at all in some (eg. public restrooms.) And a few areas matters seem to have gotten noticeably & significantly worse by now compared to when I was a kid. (eg. major party patriotism & the stability of democracy itself in the US; balance of privacy vs surveillance; allowed flavors of discrimination & truly equal rights.)
This massive imbalance across domains boggles my mind! Because I assumed we'd see big strides in ALL areas of life. I believe I know why some areas are moving more slowly, whereas some areas are held back (by apparent intent) by vested interests with selfish or parasitic motives. Think "institutional capture" or metaphorical rent-seekers.
Despite the exact reason or excuse we should still try! We should keep our dreams for a better world alive. And try to get as *many* ideas implemented and adopted, at scale, as we can. Wherever "they" allow us (where the specific "they" in question varies by domain, in terms of the vested interests who dominate it or effectively wield a veto.)
I picked the name Utopian because I feel it most closely fits my goals and interests and mindset. I didn't want to say Democrat or Republican, or say I was a conservative, libertarian, liberal, progressive or socialist. Because they all have specific political assumptions each. They each have baggage. Good and bad, whether fairly ascribed or not. I'd prefer to avoid getting put into a bucket that causes someone to make the wrong assumptions about my aims.
The unifying theme (from my persective anyway) is to try, earnestly, to take steps towards a kind of real-world everyday utopia. Reached pragmatically, by any means necessary. And for the specific advancements I have already in my list of ideas I know they dont all fit neatly into a so-called leftwing or rightwing or even a centrist agenda. They are all over the traditional spectrum.
A short list of ways to improve the world (at least my country, the US):
* President requirements become more strict: to better filter out obvious/likely traitors, proven serial liars or the dangerously insane
* parent licensing
* ban minors in restaurants (so all their loud craziness, stress, mess & disruption go away, and all adults present can better eat, communicate & relax in peace)
* ban backyard/outdoor-based dogs in home neighborhoods
* public restrooms with better ergonomic standards (I have a private list I maintain elsewhere titled RestroomsDoneRight, with dozens of obvious (and cheap to implement) best practices & design rules which 99% of US locations (that the author has experienced directly, anyway) seem oddly ignorant or apathetic about)
* UBI (universal basic income)
* massively more simple, fair & automated taxes (I have a specific design proposal written elsewhere titled TaxZen; gigantic improvememts are possible and the math will still work out!)
* meritocratic elections: idea is not ALL voters/votes should count equally; rather some should have greater weight than others, based on relevant and objective merits & uniform rules/standards
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