The Human Predicament ...
Human society is now consuming and polluting our planet faster than it can replenish itself. This means that our Situation has changed. We can no longer carry on as though we are independent actors in a pursuit of happiness (e.g. profits) without also working together to solve our collective problems. So now, we are embedded in a System that structures competition, rewards trashing the planet and undermines the necessary acceptance and collaboration of all.
The good news is ... we can restructure the underpinnings of human society so that we acknowledge our interconnectedness, face our common problems, collaborate to solve them and transform our System so that many impossible-seeming existential issues can start going away. We believe this 8-step ToBe Project (shown below) is a way to bring this about.
Some of the global "Monster Problems" we must address are listed below.
Here's the good news: In addition to all the good works currently underway, few of us can facilitate "all" of us to creatively address the Monster Problems and achieve breakthrough progress in "all" of them. Just by adding this new "We the People" thinking process to what we already have is a fundamental restructuring of our System that can erase the Human Predicament and start human society on a path to resolving society's biggest issues.
The good news is ... we can restructure the underpinnings of human society so that we acknowledge our interconnectedness, face our common problems, collaborate to solve them and transform our System so that many impossible-seeming existential issues can start going away. We believe this 8-step ToBe Project (shown below) is a way to bring this about.
Some of the global "Monster Problems" we must address are listed below.
- Climate crisis ... See: Solving climate change
- Overpopulation ... A number of scientists say the carrying capacity of the earth is about 2 billion people
- Worsening "L-curve" distribution of wealth and power
- The resurgence of Authoritarianism ... Seeking to shift the System backward from Box to Triangle
- Collective PTSD from wars, poverty, climate events, racism, authoritarian governments, sexism, etc.
- The Tragedy of the Commons ... e.g. Fish resources, fresh water, biodiversity, forests, soil, pollution, trust-levels, etc.
- Pandemics ... e.g. Covid 19
- Castes and prejudice
- The out-of-control rise of Artificial Intelligence
- (You name it ...)
Here's the good news: In addition to all the good works currently underway, few of us can facilitate "all" of us to creatively address the Monster Problems and achieve breakthrough progress in "all" of them. Just by adding this new "We the People" thinking process to what we already have is a fundamental restructuring of our System that can erase the Human Predicament and start human society on a path to resolving society's biggest issues.
We need a "Holution" to the Human Predicament.
We need some way to ...
- Get all humanity to stop and think together periodically ... To address each Monster problem ... And to reach unified viewpoints.
- Facilitate this new "We the People" conversation so that it is high quality, i.e. the spirit of choice-creating. This assures that people engage one another respectfully, listening and co-creating shared understandings; that they reach unified conclusions on TRUTH (i.e. what is really going on), VISION (i.e. what we really want) and STRATEGY (i.e. how to best get there); that breakthroughs occur in ways that affect both collective and distributed actions; that a new spirit of global community emerges; that "We the People" establish equitable and effect global institutions of governance; that individuals become more educated about the issues, more capable and more empowered.
- Convene this new "We the People" conversation to be ongoing, which means that it becomes a structural addition to global society — i.e a transformation of governance, economics and culture.
- Provide for currently blocked "solutions" to become viable once again (e.g. to overcome partisan gridlock so that intelligent policies can be implemented) and for new subsystems like healthcare, security, taxing, etc. become collectively determined.
The ToBe Project ... Here's how we can make it happen
The ToBe Project is an eight-step process, a way in which a few of us with adequate resources can set in motion. It's a strategy aimed at convening and facilitating a new all-inclusive global conversation. This new form of self-governance can be termed "Wise Democracy". Here is a brief summary of the eight steps by which to achieve it. For more detailed description see The ToBe Project
- Gather "Just Us" and adequate resources
- Identify the first Monster Problem to address
- Randomly select 10 to 16 people
- Use Dynamic Facilitation to reliably evoke the spirit of "choice-creating" in each Wisdom Council
- Convene a live "global community" meeting where the Wisdom Council presents the story of its journey & unified conclusions
- Structure this process of global Wisdom Councils to be ongoing
- Provide for the new whole-system conversation to include everyone
- Provide ways for all to learn more about this holistic model of change, especially the mode of thinking (i.e. choice-creating) and our way to reliably evoke it (i.e. Dynamic Facilitation)
Can this "Holution" really happen?
Yes! We know from experiments and experience with the "Wisdom Council Process" that it works at large scale. e.g. Two states of Austria have adopted the Wisdom Council Process into their state constitutions. And we also know that it's possible for a citizen group to set the ToBe Project in motion. We don't need some government to do it. In fact, if we can be sponsored with enough money, this informal approach is better!. ... We have learned that the "magic sauce" for this process working lies in our ability to reliably evoke a particular quality of thinking, what we call "choice-creating."
So ... Can we save the world?
YES, but enough of us need to "get it" that The ToBe Project can be the desired MetaSolution. Our System (the Box) is still doomed. But we can facilitate our System to safely transform itself into something better (the Circle).
Here is a 28 min video addresses "Can we save the world?"
For example, What Can I Do to help solve climate change?
See this link for the issue of the climate crisis. But it also works for the other Monster Problems as well. And it even helps with extrinsically caused issues like volcano eruptions and asteroid impacts.
Also ...
- Hear the recent fun and funny podcast interview of Jim Rough and Cassie Firman by Dr and Mrs Future on "Making Democracy Wise" https://www.drfutureshow.com/drfutureblog/58-future-now-interviewdiscussion-making-democracy-wise-with.html
- See the 5-part video seminar to understand this new-paradigm approach: "Essential Wisdom for Solving Society's Biggest Issues"
- See video examples of the Wisdom Council Process working at large scale in a public setting
Be a supporter. Donate to the Center for Wise Democracy! ... All donations are tax-deductible.
We are a 501-c3 organization.
We are a 501-c3 organization.