= Seed = A New Philosophy

By Steve Glickman

In this highly original and groundbreaking new book, Steve Glickman explores new territory in our search for understanding.

Not only does he reveal the different influences causing us to operate in self-destructive behaviors, he also supplies a startling new solutions - adjusting the weight, or size, of our individual votes.

Accessible, enjoyable, and always controversial; =Seed= will be relevant for many years to come.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steve Glickman
• Release date: Aug 2, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466150379

Steve Glickman

Founder and President Vote Sizing Institute http://iVoteSize.com (formerly http://VoteSizing.org) http://TheWorldsGreatestLivingPoet.com http://KickAssScripts.com

Book preview

Introduction

There are two inventions and two institutions that we as human beings have created to regulate and encourage our development. As a society we operate under a system of capitalism and democracy. As individuals we participate in that society by using money and votes.

Although both of these systems allow us to benefit from the world and each other, and to protect the world and each other from harm; we have come to a point where the majority of power is determined by how we spend our money, and the way we spend our money is having a negative impact on the world and the people who live in it. The problem is that the people with money have become so separated from the realities of life that they are now driving an economy which harms society instead of nurturing it.

The solution to this problem is to invoke a curve on elections, so that the poor have a larger proportion of votes and, thus, more of a say in how the world is governed. This vote scaling can be accomplished without dismantling any of our current institutions or our access to a free market; and could be put into place immediately with no changes whatsoever to the current political system.

This new philosophy is not some kind of magic spell that will change the world overnight. Instead, it proposes a gradual and controlled shift to a system where we can exercise more control over our lives, and where we are no longer alienated from the environment, each other, and ourselves. As we become better able to meet the needs of our poor by allowing them a more equitable chance to be heard, then hopefully we will have less craving for a life of escapism, insulation, and excess that is so resolutely promoted by the wealthy today.

Preface

The concept for this book has been in my mind for a long time. It all began fifteen years ago when, during a university philosophy class, the professor drew the following diagram on the board:

This started a chain reaction of thoughts in my head which over the years continued to rise to the surface no matter how hard I tried to keep them suppressed. It was on that fateful day that my life took a curious turn and eventually brought me here to the point of publishing this book.

When I think about it though, the concept for this book really began long before that university class. It began with my decision to study philosophy in school; a choice which brought me to that particular class and led me to question the social norms prevalent in our society today.

But no, that was not the beginning of my journey either. It really began before all that, before I can remember much of anything, before I tried to puzzle it all out, and before I was even inspired to search for alternatives to the way in which we run our lives. In all likelihood, the real journey began shortly after I was born, and was generated from a belief in trust.

TRUST

And although it’s only a belief, not a concrete knowledge of trust, it is the belief in our ability to trust each other, to trust the unknown, and to trust ourselves that propelled me down this strange and fascinating path. During my search for trust I have formulated an idea, a new philosophy, and I invite you to explore it with me.

This book is founded on the idea that this trust should exist; that it is worthy of our efforts. And I ask you, while reading this book, to undergo the same process, the same search for trust that I have. I am turning over new ground in an effort to stimulate ideas; I want to plant a seed of trust. I want each person to search inside themselves for trust; to see that, although it seems difficult, it is not impossible to change things for the better, to get control of our future, and to shape that future into something beautiful and kind.

Peace, love, and happiness,

Steve Glickman

Canada, September 2000

Disclaimer

This book is not intended as a primer for philosophical thought or study. I am not a philosopher, economist, or theologian. I do not intend to convince you that I have