PURPOSE OF SECTION
We are ambivalent about utopia. Classless societies minimize competition, but as we see it, competition separates worthies from the less than worthy. That bosses reach exhalted positions inclines us to follow their orders. And there is always hope that someday we will be boss.
For those unhappy with the way things are, utopian concepts provide direction for social change. Try The Garden of Eden for a description of a utopian society.
The hope is to make this section collaborative in that the issues raised each month will generate discussion among what ideally will become many readers.
TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT
WHAT SAY WE COOPERATE?
What we call "freedom" depends on the balance a society strikes between individual and collective interests. The more individual interests we sacrifice to collective ends, the closer we come to totalitarianism, but everyone, except Libertarians, believes some collective interests outweigh individual inclination. Most of us favor pollution control, public schools, a publicly supported military, and land use restrictions like zoning. Representative democracy, our way of deciding where to draw our lines, does not work especially well. As a variety of demonstrations and demonstrators have made clear, the majority's wish remains unknown, a serious uncertainty in a nation where the majority purportedly rules.
We agree that badmouthing capitalism borders on treason. A free market is our solution for every human problem though even a cursory examination of our situation proves capitalism an inadequate manager for rapidly evolving technological societies. By emphasizing individual interest, capitalism locks us into the status quo. We fight to protect our jobs or our investments, no matter how detrimental they may be. We cannot stop using fluorocarbons, internal combustion engines, or a host of other products because economic dislocations would be too great.
We believe individual entrepreneurs fulfill collective needs best. The scenerio implies that we, collectively, make no mistakes. Before technology, mistakes did not matter, but when someone invents something which the rest of us purchase, his or her individual miscalculation becomes collective and "we" develop a stake in perpetuating error. Our present mind set prohibits taking collective action to correct collective mistakes. To create a government issue non-polluting motor vehicle violates everything we hold near and dear.