PREFACE

The purpose of this book is to persuade the people of the world to take the action needed to save the human race from the destruction that is inevitable if current demagogues continue to govern. An overview of the incredible violence caused by the lust for power and greed throughout the ages must motivate THINKing individuals to develop an intelligent, equitable and nonviolent system of global behavior if life on this planet is to survive.

In this 21st century, human beings in developed countries, despite having access to the best education and freedom of thought, tolerate corruption by career politicians, bureaucrats, corporate criminals, and pretentious religious leaders who are unwilling to make permanent changes that might interfere with their control. Others in under-developed countries are ruled by power-hungry dictators, terrorists and fanatics who, under the guise of religion, make fear their weapon of mass destruction.

Having produced technology that has made it possible to communicate with each other throughout the world in a matter of seconds, it is astonishing that peaceful existence has been a monumental failure as humans continue to bring misery and death to each other. Without a complete change in global attitude our young are destined to witness the destruction of planet earth.

There is not one single aspect of life as we currently live it that can be pronounced as successful, or functioning with truth, honesty, compassion, fairness, equality, tolerance, spirituality, generosity and love. Despite thousands of years of established religion, and national and international political institutions which were to provide life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all citizens, we are not any closer to co-existing. Instead, we are victims of the very institutions that were designated to act on our behalf.

Many authors and speech-makers have told us what needs to be healed, but not how to find and implement a cure. It is analogous to doctors of medicine who provide few cures, but are satisfied with prescribing outrageously expensive drugs whose side effects can be more serious than the original illness.

Cave drawings dated as early as 13,000 BCE depict war. All there is to show for the history of aggression is an incredible waste of lives, property and the lost opportunity to live in an endless age of PEACE, knowledge, love, and achievements beyond imagination. THINKing people must come to the realization that it is necessary to remove all of the current forms of government, educational and financial institutions, military, established religions, and replace them with a completely different way of life that reflects human spirituality, with a deep desire for peaceful existence.

THINK of the stupendous amount of planetary revenue that could be amassed if we no longer needed rulers, elected or self-appointed government and religious leaders, their seats of government and symbols of power, massive cathedrals, secret police and intelligence agencies, tax collectors, penal institutions, endless court procedures that affect neither truth nor justice and duplication of bureaucracies benefiting national, state, county, and local officials. The public pays their salaries and lifetime pensions which they allocated to themselves.

THINK of how that wealth could be used instead, for all of the basic needs for all of the people, with colossal amounts remaining for superb education, careers, health and medical research, family enjoyment, safety and comfort, even luxuries.

It is too late to expect governments to repair the current system with its destructive actions. There is no time for political committees to pretend to study solutions but have no desire to change. Everyone knows of man's inhumanity to man, but make no protest or efforts to initiate practical ideas. Everyone knows what is wrong and what we ought to be, but no one has envisioned a new world completely different from what we are currently experiencing.

Despite opinions of disheartened naysayers, the worst of whom strongly believe that changes are impossible, not only do nothing themselves, but encourage others to join them. Moreover, changes are not only possible, they have been occurring constantly through the ages. The difference is that they change for worse, not for better.

There is a solution and it must begin now, while current and potential wars, self-dealing, natural disasters and global warming are on the brink of obliterating human life on earth. We must open our minds and imagine how life could be more humane and equitable with an entirely new way of self-government, economic opportunity, education, spiritual and social needs, truth in a new justice system, health care and PEACE ON EARTH. We need to "throw the baby out with the bath water," and start with new babies worldwide who will be educable by age four, to become the new humanity. In that four year period, we must rebuild the base from which their lives will evolve.

The fundamental plan for global change must be derived from changing our system of education throughout the world, so that it becomes the base for the most effective, affordable and acceptable structure that will be the ultimate guide for all global activity. Fortunately, this plan is underway as nations are coming together to study each other’s methods.

The entire concept depends on awareness and understanding that tyrants who were given or seized power throughout the ages, have manipulated, deceived and violated the people. To overcome the defects we will need to accept a unique method by not electing, but selecting and employing qualified people who will be thoroughly educated and trained to perform their public duties, and who will be unable to wield power and privilege beyond what the people allow.

The first step is to persuade those who say that the earth's problems are "too complex to be solved," that with daily practice to be generous, compassionate and loving to each other, we can change the world. Cynics may scoff, but people throughout the world have come together in every major disaster; earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunami, forest fires and the September 11, 2001 attack on the U.S., to bring emergency supplies and medical help, which has generated global brotherhood, respect and gratitude.

The next step is to remove current, fanatic nationalism that is responsible for war and tremendous waste of lives and the planet’s resources. A realistic, nonviolent plan must be designed to remove those who will refuse to relinquish the power and privilege they have guarded for themselves for centuries, and replace them with a new system of self-government.

A precise plan as to how to fund the new system and maintain a responsible global, fiscal policy will be described in detail.
This book will concentrate on how rulers, governments, political and religious institutions have misused power; how world-trade methods, and modern corporate practice and greed have influenced the global economy which directly affect how we support our families. We must etch deeply into our minds how greed and lust for power resulted in the extremely inequitable distribution of global wealth through the ages.

Those who do not think changes are possible only need to remember that all of the changes to improve our society have been brought because a single individual refused to accept the worst violations of human rights.

Abraham Lincoln emancipated more than a million slaves; Mohandas (Mahatma)* Ghandi’s doctrine of nonviolence brought freedom to India; a seamstress, Rosa Parks and an obscure minister Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated their lives to obtaining civil rights in the United States; Betty Friedan helped women liberate themselves; a worker Lech Walesa of Gdansk, Poland resisted the Soviet Union and Mikail Gorbechev recognized that it was impossible to sustain the enormous cost of the Cold War against a new military build-up by the Reagan administration, and the people tore down the Berlin wall to free their countries from communism. Jimmy Carter rose from the presidency of the United States to a higher calling and recently was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Individuals in spiritual congregation and affluent celebrities devoted to wiping out disease and poverty in Africa and elsewhere in the world are making differences with courageous and rational solutions.

If Americans were able to free themselves from British rule, if colonies freed themselves from European powers, if the Soviet Union collapsed and became separate nations, if China now embraces capitalism, and if new democracies and republics can emerge within a lifetime, there is reason to believe that necessary profound changes can be accomplished within the lifetime of a new generation.

This work is undertaken with the firm belief that our progeny will live a “good life” in synthesis with the true spirituality that resides in the hearts of mankind.

Bertha Stoller Fields, 2007