The Next Democracy Virtue 5

Primacy of priorities for the future generations and the Earth’s care;

The idea that humans could alter the composition and process of life to the point where earth might become uninhabitable simply wasn’t on the mind of our 18th century constitution’s authors. In this century the prospect is no longer an Orwellian prediction but a visible accelerating scientific certainty so frightening even our youngest citizens are becoming cynical and depressed. It takes the power of a cult to deny the danger. Hence, for the moment, the cult of magical thinking rules the day and under current leadership the truth of science is slowly becoming illegal.

Although when I was a parent of young teens I may have disagreed, it is almost a blessing that children must reject their parent’s values for a period while they establish their working identities. Children are born curious and genuine. Curiosity is cult proof. While many adults these days lounge in the easy chair of delusion regarding the future, youth can see the future clearly like a massive train coming down at them on the only tracks across the Gulf of Disaster.  The Next Democracy must explicitly lock in on to the values of governance that protect this one planet of ours into the next generations.  The science of this century has changed our relationship with this blue orb from a connection with a limitless resource impervious to exploitation to a backyard garden that must be safeguarded and nurtured carefully in order to feed a growing family.  As older adults our sloppy delusions will be fatal to the future and thus our offspring unless we as the old prophets once said repent and turn around.  

An Urgent Plea for Good.

Good is offering the sacrifice of some of our comfort in the present time for future generations.  Good is helping our neighbors break out of their cults of denial. Good is practically providing not so much for each child’s individual future, but the preserving the planetary context in which those children can build their own necessary futures given their uniquely evolved working identities. Good is building the future and the earth’s care into a first level priority in the good decisions of governance. Good is resisting the current governance that insists on reverse gear on climate change at top speed assuring a limited, futureless, three generation planet of gluttony and consumption.  Build the youth’s future into your highest sense of good.  That alone would be good.

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