So what is happening in the world? It seems we are at a cross road where we need to decide what is more important; the survival of mankind on one hand and our right to choose from 300 types of toothpaste on the other.

I know. It isn't an easy choice.

Global warming, our use of natural resources such as oil, deforestation and so on and so on. It all makes you wonder. Why is it happening and what can we do about it?

I would argue that the main problems are freedom, democracy and the market economy. I know we've been fighting for these things through history, but I'm afraid it is time to let them go.

We have to accept the fact that we are selfish beings and left to our own devices we will do what we always do – short term solution for our own personal benefit. And believe me, there is no room for saving humankind in that.

In a market economy businesses and consumers decide what they will produce and purchase. The consumers want Ipods and Big Macs and the businesses are only too happy to oblige. To for a second believe such a system will act in humankind's best is wishful thinking at its worst. It is an economic system based on consumer gratification and on business competition (thus we have 300 types of toothpaste that only differ in their marketing).

Democracy. Put simply, it is the rule of the people. It is the rule of those same people hankering after Ipods and Big Macs. In essence democracy is the market economy of political systems. The representatives chosen to run the country for a limited time are the ones that gratify us to most. How can that be the basis for effectively running a country? And again, how could it act for the best of mankind?

Both the Market Economy and Democracy has the basis in freedom, but we never ask ourselves what the price is for that freedom. We've been able to fool ourselves into thinking it has no consequences, but with freedom comes responsibility and we haven't taken any so far. And if history is anything to go by, we will never take that responsibility so what right do we have to have it?

So, sorry mankind, but Freedom, democracy and Market Economy has to go. We've proven that left to our own devices we create 300 kinds of toothpaste instead of looking at how we can effectively use our natural resources. We need a planned centralized economy that works not for the individual best, but for the best of mankind. Not for a country or race, but for the planet. We've proven democracy only leads to short sighted solutions based on the fickle will of the current voters. So out it goes. We've proved that freedom doesn't let to anything but instantaneous self gratification and down that path lies nothing but misery.

We need a political system that is more akin to the authoritarian than the democratic. In this type of rule decisions that are unpopular but good for mankind can be taken.

Perhaps I'm wrong. A Planned Centralized Economy in an Authoritarian world state where there is only one type of toothpaste doesn't sound very attractive, but I can't help but wondering if that isn't our best chance of survival.

Very interested in other people's opinion here…

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