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| | What would a perfect world look like?Page 3 of 8 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) | demigod,
""I'd like to encourage public transit as a way of moving people around big cities.""
That may be an issue where you are, not here, 1.1 million rides on the MBTA each day and as I said, whole floors of people in cubicles diddling on keyboards who do not need to be there. | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/20/2012 7:00:36 AM |
HEY PAUL
Why then do you espouse and keep beating a drum for a SINGLE PAYER health care system? Is health care so sifferent than any other provider of a service that THEY and only THEY are immune to the laws of supply and demand? I can see where with electrical providers there should be only one provider, because then everybody would have to lay their own lines,............. what a mess. BUT, only electrical providers are subject to the laws of supply and demand, and health care providers aren't?
REALLY?
Shirely, you jest...........
Hmmm. Really ? I think you need to go back and read my comments again.....
In my first comment, Msg #6, I clarified how the system worked. And did indeed praise the service delivery. I do like the fact that every citizen has access to medical care and the costs of that aren't driven up by old age and the presumption that a higher number of services will be required by the elderly. I do indeed like the fact that the delivery of services are available to all without priority being given to the person waving the biggest wad of cash. I do indeed like the fact that the service delivery is based on a nominal charge for prescription drugs and even then, if someone has a need for a high number of prescription, there is the ability for them to advance pay for a plan which would cost the maximum to £104.00 per annum regardless of how many prescriptions they needed in the year ($167.54 CDN/$164.20 US). The availability of services for all, means that an adult with an on-going health issue would get their meds at an affordable cost along with the supportive services to help them. It means in retirement, the elderly would continue getting their meds without charge after the age of 60. It means that children get proper health care from the day they are born. And, the system as it stands, means that those who can't work vs won't work, are exempt from those fees for the duration of time that they are unable to work.
But there is not one comment, praising the or endorsing anything but the service delivery only the fact that I like the result of availability to health care for all regardless of income and that there are measures in place to ensure the high risk groups are covered too.
In my next comment, Msg #8, I re-confirmed how the funds for this system were gathered, but again, no beating of a drum there.
Next Msg was #24, further re-iteration from my that I think the delivery of service is one of the better systems but no, just checked, nothing whooping it up about how funds are collected. Even when I go on to explain within the same message, HOW the funds are gathered, not one word of praise there for it all being from one provider.
What I will say is that with this method of gathering funds to run these services, it means that only those with income contribute to the cost of running the service. Those currently unemployed, on maternity leave, long term sick, etc, are not currently paying into the scheme but remain able to benefit from it paying only a nominal fee for prescription drugs and even then, that fee is waivered in certain circumstances.
The system is based on your ability to pay. I do think, it would be better still, if the capping was not in place.
Now, if you were in the UK, you would be able to pop along and have your eyes tested, as it seems that you are hallucinating. Eyes tested and meds for a nominal fee - and next year, when you turn 60, with no fee at all.
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/20/2012 11:30:58 AM | purfectmeow,
""After reading this thread I would say that a perfect world would be one without HUMANS""
The earth would certainly be better off without us, for sure, and will probably wipe us off it in due time, like dinosaurs. | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/21/2012 2:55:26 AM | After reading this thread I would say that a perfect world would be one without HUMANS The earth would certainly be better off without us, for sure
The condition of earth would be better without us, but the earth - and possibly the galaxy or even universe - would be far less interesting without humans. If I were an alien visiting earth it would be humans who would be by far the most fascinating earthlings to study, not dolphins, termites or trees. Sure, these are interesting but they don't comprehend themselves or the cosmos. They don't compose music or art. They don't launch space ships. The don't have thousands of languages and cultures.
Yes, our current detrimental effects on the environment need to be corrected. This we can do easily over the next century, but if we were gone the chances of evolution creating another species as intelligent as us here is quite small. You could argue that it only took a few millions or tens of millions of years to go from ape to human and so with all the semi-intelligent animals around it would only be a couple of million years before something as intelligent as us emerged. I agree this is possible. But if we do wipe out every human on earth (eg. through nuclear annihilation), it is fairly safe to assume that such an apocalypse will also wipe out most other complex organisms. It could be hundreds of millions or billions of years until something comes along with as much spark as us. Or it could never happen here again. It is possible - though unlikely - that earth is the only life bearing planet in the universe. It is more likely (though still pretty unlikely) that earth is the only life-bearing planet in our galaxy. After all, there are only 200-400 billion stars here in the milky whey. With Andromeda 2.4 million light years away, wiping ourselves out could well render this galaxy forever dead. Is sterility perfection? | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/21/2012 2:59:43 PM | Even removing humanity doesn't make it perfect. It's not like things didn't die and get eaten until we showed up. That has always been happening since life began. Even without life, who will stand to call the universe and it's chance happenings "perfect" as it is? A perfect world really would have to have been planned by an omnipotent, omniscient being. You would know every reason for the action, and be hardwired to do everything this being intended you to do. The will of the planner would be undeniable.
That's as close to your "perfection" as I could imagine. | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/21/2012 5:10:44 PM | What would a perfect world look like?
Some place where big old bacon cheeseburgers were free.
Fries came with brown gravy, Beer was free and women looked like Jessica Alba! | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/21/2012 6:34:39 PM | raingrimoire,
"But hold on. Indeed, what are we considering to be a trait of perfection in this scenario?"
Perfection was defined as not depleting natural resources such as fresh water, rain forests, etc; using renewable energy resources; seriously cutting down pollution; and stabilizing the population to replacement levels.
It would be what political and economic systems best foster these together, going into the future, assuming that we are now on an unsustainable and suicidal path.
I made one suggestion, that since home was once a place of production until the industrial age, with so much work being done on computer a lot of it could be done at home, there are no factories to go to operate equipment, etc. An advantage of that would be to conserve energy (gas), less pollution with rush hour traffic, etc., as well as to strengthen neighborhoods and families by having people at home more.
In other words, try to think of things past this age we are in which is built on an industrial model to another model. | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/22/2012 8:52:26 AM | in a perfect world everyone would agree, on everything.
though I'm sure someone will disagree with that, since our world aint perfect. lol | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/22/2012 10:48:52 AM | Hey import........
You wrote:
"I do indeed like the fact that the service delivery is based on a nominal charge for prescription drugs and even then, if someone has a need for a high number of prescription, there is the ability for them to advance pay for a plan which would cost the maximum to £104.00 per annum regardless of how many prescriptions they needed in the year ($167.54 CDN/$164.20 US). "
So $164.54 covers ALL the prescription drugs that a person would need for a year, even if they need a "high number of prescriptions"?
Really? Shirley, now I know thou jestests.....................
Just one question, WHO pays the rest, and where do they get they money from?
And I am the one hallucinating.........................
Paul K | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/22/2012 5:57:42 PM | Here are a few facts about health insurance, American style:
In the last nine years, the cost of health insurance has risen 120 percent while wages grew only 29 percent. Health insurance premiums have risen so high that experts forecast 52 million Americans will be uninsured next year.
The lack of health insurance coverage causes 22,000 deaths each year in the U.S. People without health insurance are more likely to delay medical care, to get less care and to die when they get sick.
Among the uninsured, 80 percent are employed. Total health insurance premium contributions and cash outlays for an average family of four climbed 7.4 percent this year to $16,771.
The average combined cost of health insurance premiums paid by employers and workers climbed to $12,680 for family coverage in 2008.
The number of Americans in families with problems paying medical bills in 2007 climbed to 57 million, or one in five, up from one in seven in 2003.
Since 2004, employees have seen their cash outlays for health insurance co-payments and deductibles climb by 40 percent. The monetary value of employer-based health benefits declined from 2004 to 2007 as American families were required to spend more of their own money.
Health insurers have resorted to saving money by limiting benefits, using maneuvers such as imposing sharply higher co-payments on expensive drugs needed to treat life-saving diseases.
In bankruptcy courts, 62 percent of filers said medical bills contributed to their debts in 2007.
About 45 percent of Americans say they are "very" worried about having to spend more on health insurance premiums and medical costs.
Enrollment in low-premium, high-deductible health insurance products known as "consumer-directed health plans" rose to 8 million as more companies herded workers into the coverage whether they wanted it or not.
Health care costs are expected to grow 71 percent over the next decade, which will in turn drive premium increases for health insurance. Unless we take serious steps now to reform our health care system—in particular to reduce the rate of growth in health care costs—health insurance coverage will slip out of reach for even more individuals than the 52 million Americans who today are uninsured.
Without health reform, average family premiums will grow to more than $22,000 by 2019, up from $13,100 today. In some states with higher-than-average premiums, family premiums will exceed $25,000 in 10 years. Of course, a family’s total health care costs will be even higher once co-payments and other out-of-pocket expenses are calculated into the total. | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/24/2012 6:40:52 PM | What would a perfect world look like?
Simple. It would BE AT PEACE.
"Serving your country" would mean helping people in YOUR country, or international humanitarian efforts. Maybe a world at peace could devote co-operative efforts to dealing with some of the other troubling issues of the day-poverty, lack of education, poor health habits,expensive health care...but that is all details. Step #1,IMO, has got to be a world at peace.
Cindy O
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Blalah
| | Joined: 3/25/2012
Msg: 66 | |
| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/24/2012 10:14:38 PM | What would a perfect world look like?
Come to my house, look out over my lanai first thing on any given morning at the view of the majestic outer islands
over the deep blue pacific and therein lies your answer. What does it look like in the constraints of your own brain? That answer lies in the life consuming experiences that you allow to manipulate your existence. | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/27/2012 5:25:07 AM | Perfect World. As a number of bright posters have stated, no such thing I'm afraid. What me be ideal for one individual may be anathema to another. Each notion may be held to have merit. It's when the competing notions of the perfect world clash clash that the difficulty comes in.
That's the rub.
Well OP, in a sense you identified one of the crucial elements-checks. More specifically, checks and balances. They help to ensure that no one framework of ideology runs roughshod over another. There may be lack of understanding distrust, friction, or even conflict. But it can be kept to keep the lid on things. Not the perfect system, but it does have it's own merits. In that respect it is close to the perfect system in that it allows co existence of those competing interests, believes or other value systems.
As to those people who do have the power to impose those checks and balances, the ancillary question becomes "who watches the watchers?"....Dunno, but wish I did know.
Interesting post.
Back to my coffee. | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/27/2012 1:27:48 PM | The problem with every post here is he is asking for a perfect world not this world and yet you all still can't get your own heads out of your rear ends and figure out some imagination. Imagination isn't creating things you have never created an original thought in your life imagination is breaking down ideas and assembling them back together. Unrealistic is our goal lets see how much of that we can get processed shall we?
Morality: Freedom > Evil Quality (Equality)
Population: I propose Android children and a fully operational adult class to fully utilize the population.
Economy: Capitalism's only enemy is Travel so I propose Teleportation and banning of Tourism. Communist countries squander millions in military and are hindered by economic sanctions yet they still keep crawling along, we need that evolutionary economic survivability.
Governing: A tiered voting system where each individual votes upon each candidate. Perhaps give the ability to vote for one candidate and against another. Thereby completely unrepresented candidates within the gross spending of marketing will actually stand on even political ground. | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/27/2012 5:52:31 PM | I guess I should have not said "perfect" when I meant balanced, a balanced world.
That means we don't deplete natural resources... we grow in population only to the degree that the planet can support us...etc.
For example, we are over-fishing at a rate where fish can't reproduce and emptying the ocean of fish..........I don't mean how do we have perfect fish, but what kind of system does it take to catch fish in a balance with how they can reproduce so they don't go extinct......... | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/28/2012 9:12:04 AM | | The perfect world is here now and spreading across the globe from person to person. We are spreading the message of both alarmed at the use of worlds resources and and inequalities both political and social and also we speak of harmony, peace, ecology, sustainability, commonality, dynamic creativity and social equality. Communities are working together in alliance to promote cause to achieve this perfect world. Not even governments can stop the perfect world, not even the most powerful, if it is not there intention to join the global village, where the perfect world blossoms. There is no money for war, only for health, education and the pursuit of happiness for all. Let's make it to the stars as one global nation divisible my none. The Earth is in the perfect place in the cosmos to sign that this is the time for ascension to a higher governance. Constitutional law and Natural law are the foundation framework from which to find the perfect world anywhere you are. In places where the perfect world as not yet reached, you may feel as there is some reason to be fearful, hate or otherwise dislike another person, culture or country only by the prompts of war dealers, there is money in war and that is not where the perfect world lives. | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/28/2012 8:00:30 PM |
Anyone else come accross Jacque Fresco's Venus Project?
I'd be hard pressed to come up with a better concept of what could be achieved.
I watched a video "Zeitgeist: Addendum" and learned about the Venus Project. It seems to be getting serious look by influential people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gKX9TWRyfs
There is political message in the form of how the "monetary" system works, you may want to fast forward if this type of commentary makes you uncomfortable. It's fascinating stuff....makes me think of a Star Trek future. If you can get passed the concept that humans HAVE TO BE wage slaves, then it does seem like a possbility.
In the same vein, there is a new book called "Abundance". The argument is there is enough resources in the world for every person to be afforded the necessities of life without factoring the need to work other people. Takes out the inequality of being born in a family with less means than another.
http://www.abundancethebook.com/
Sounds way better than the system we currently have. | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/29/2012 4:48:27 AM | | The venus project is part of the movement to sustainable living, that are communities blossoming all over the world. There is a point in your life, when you realised the true nature of your existence on the planet and how the planet interacts with you both naturally and the human constructs we have built. There is a point where we finally decide for ourselves that we are capable of understanding the world we inhabit and what is truth and what is faulsehoods. There is a point in life , where you can truly see the world that we all wish for of peace, unity, abundance in all directions and the end to mindless sufferings, suffering born of sufferings, to be replaced with genuine compassion, creative expression and such unique happiness. We have been trained by war mungers to fight, we have been in fear from scare mungers and oppressed by debt mungers. But day by day, person by person we awake to that fact and say no more. We stop fighting,fearing and being oppressed and stand firm knowing what is fact and what is falsehood. Then in a sense using the laws of positive attraction,bring abundance to you to fill the space, change the way you think, realign your DNA and connect with the matrix of universal love. | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/29/2012 5:14:15 PM | "huge disparities in wealth as well as in health."
You could say the same thing about genetics. Some people are born with more far "desirable" genes than others. Some are born far more healthy than others. Is that a evil? Is nature evil?
"We need growth to keep the money flowing"
Depends on what you mean by growth. If you mean the economy needs to expand and incorporate more and newer products/services indefinitely, that is not true. In recent centuries, humans have certainly *wanted* growth, but there is no *need* for it. For the vast majority of history, technology and even trade remained nearly stagnant.
"The human population is growing at exponential rates never been seen in history"
...this is absolutely not true. Hans Rosling is one of the most noted academics on the topic. He has a TedTalks presentation you can watch here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTznEIZRkLg
"stripping the earth of its resources"
With the exception of energy, which resources are we "stripping" exactly? Resources like wood, water, and metals all exist within a renewable cycle and aren't going anywhere. They're simply changing form.
"What are some answers that provide a political and economic system that fosters equality, spreads health and wealth, preserves the earth and keeps population growth in check?"
As far as I've researched, liberty-oriented political systems, that inhibit human freedom the least, foster the above the most. And as research shows, as populations become wealthier and more educated, they have fewer offspring. So much so that population *decline* can actually become a problem. | |
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| What would a perfect world look like?
Posted: 5/29/2012 8:34:37 PM | With the exception of energy, which resources are we "stripping" exactly? Resources like wood, water, and metals all exist within a renewable cycle and aren't going anywhere. They're simply changing form.
I'd say that fossil fuels ( energy) are a large concern that merit much more than a 'with the exception' of energy statement. These are finite fuels since they take millions of years to develop and renew; therefore, I'd say that they are of eminent concern in regard to energy until other sources of energy are actually developed to the point of powering cars and supply the same uses that are provided by fossil fuels, with the same magnitude of use and the ability to handle sustained growth of use.
Water has a renewable cycle but it is being affected by pollution and the general population growth. A preeminent concern.
OP, I'm still giving this thread good thought. | |
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