I’m painfully aware of how pathetic it looks when some unknown citizen decides to enlighten the rest of us with their manifesto or theory on how to "fix the system" or "save the world". Nevertheless, the following pages represent my own contribution to this unique literary genre. Please accept my apologies; I’d greatly prefer not to make a spectacle of my delusions but the compulsion is more than I can resist. The self portrait seen here suggests madness, but you cannot entirely discount the remote possibility of genius without at least reading a few pages.
To imagine that an idea (any idea) might have the power to arrest the ongoing train wreck of Western civilization is probably grounds for commitment, but I am obsessed with the thought that this idea does exist and is in fact familiar to all of us; it predates Christ, was known to both the ancient Greeks and Chinese, and in recent centuries has exerted a profound positive influence on Governments around the world. But that positive influence has always been sharply limited and constrained by a contradictory belief which holds it in subservience. It is, in my opinion, quite literally an idea whose time has finally come. Instead of languishing in servitude the time is now ripe for this idea’s ascendance to a dominant position in our culture. Given the opportunity it might even save us from ourselves.
Yes, I'm speaking in riddles and I do apologize. I’d love nothing more than to state my thesis clearly in the first sentence or paragraph, but since my thinking flies so thoroughly in the face of convention I’m afraid to, fearing you’ll reject the concept out of hand without giving it the consideration it deserves. So instead of taking the direct route I have chosen a long and meandering course of eleven thousand words. Most of the following essay is devoted to abstract theoretical speculation, withholding my central point and concrete proposal for the final pages. No doubt this wordiness will also turn many readers away, but perhaps any who actually reach the conclusion may even be partially convinced. This is the most that I would hope for, because unlike most zealots I do not promote my opinion as fact. I insist only that my position is marginally plausible and worthy of your serious consideration. Perhaps there really is no stopping humanity’s apocalyptic course, but if such a thing is possible then my recommendations may be as credible as any.
There is a link at the end of the essay directing readers to a page at Blogspot. Daily KOS is fine but diaries obviously have a short shelf life. The Blogspot location is meant to provide a long term home for this proposal. I intend to post this diary repeatedly, in the hope of gradually siphoning off some supporters from KOS. I hope you’ll become one of these.
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