I have discovered that equal human rights are the precondition without which a good society cannot be made. Without equal human rights, we can only discuss the level of a bad society. That is a reason why a good society never existed, or at least, it was never as good as it should and might be. That is why we have permanent problems. I am convinced that unequal human rights have contributed to all the issues in the history of humankind, and that all societal problems will be solved by the creation of equal human rights. Equal human rights will solve all of humanity's issues. Once equal human rights are established, they will unconditionally create a good society where people lead fulfilling lives.
I can illustrate it by referencing similar events that occur in nature. In physics, the principle of action equals reaction provides stability. Equal power animals never attack each other. In the human world, equal human rights are a natural law that provides security and a good life for society, but we have never fully grasped them.
The highest scope of equal human rights we know today is a democracy, in which every individual is supposed to have equal rights to participate in making decisions of common interest. So did democracy create stability and a good life? Of course not! It was because democracy did not bring equal human rights. In today’s world, influential people still wield power while hiding behind a formal democracy. We have perverted democracy by not giving absolute power to the people.
I have invented a developed form of democracy based on equal human rights. People will have an equal power to give a small award to an individual who creates convenience for them in any way and to punish the same way an individual who does inconveniences to them. Such a right would direct all people to perform the least inconveniences and the greatest conveniences for others. Such an orientation of society would undoubtedly follow the will of all the individuals in the best possible way and, therefore, would present a developed form of democracy. I have written more about it in the article: “The Future of Democracy.” Direct power in the hands of all individuals cannot be corrupted, unlike in the case of democracy, which we know. This kind of democracy will unconditionally and unavoidably create a good society.
Creating a good society should sound desirable to all people. In my opinion, making a good community would not be difficult at all. So, why don't we already have it? There are substantial barriers to the implementation of equal human rights. In the first place, influential people do not like to share their power with others, so they block even the appearance of such an idea. From the time I finished my book “Humanism” 26 years ago, not even the “progressive Left” ever published my work. Okay, let's assume my work is incorrect, which it isn't; I have developed such a prominent theory that it could not go unnoticed by the Left, even if it is erroneous. Usually, a work like mine would require criticism, not ignoring. Ignoring my work would not be possible without a complete conspiracy of influential people with a task to stop the progression of humankind.
Another barrier begins with the fact that most people would like to have equal rights to those above them on a social scale, but would not want to be equal to their subordinates. This is the result of alienation stemming from living under the control of influential people throughout history. In an alienated society, power over people brings satisfaction, and that is why it is so desirable. However, this satisfaction is a result of a lack of wisdom.
In an alienated society, people often accept values that lead them down the wrong path. One of the biggest mistakes people make is comparing themselves to others. Not only is it pointless, but they also do not pay enough attention to the way they live and struggle to find the best way of living for themselves. The best life comes from discovering one's actual needs. Such needs bring a stable, joyful life barely known in an alienated society. Objective needs will not bring the eruption of happiness as alienated needs do. Alienated needs are based on illusions coming from the poor living in an alienated society. Alienated needs often bring disappointment, along with some misery. People who compare themselves to others usually seek to gain power over others and can rarely be satisfied with their own lives.
People who attain power in society often oppress others. Oppressed people try to relieve themselves of it. If they cannot achieve it through reforms, then societal dissatisfaction calls for a forceful revolution. Revolutions may bring better lives to society, but it is never good enough. Forceful revolutions have never created a permanently good society because using force over people cannot achieve this. Leaders can hardly be democratically controlled, while leaders of revolutions cannot be controlled at all. They always oppress people more or less as their predecessors did. So far, we have not learned how to improve society enough to reach a good life for people.
I have proposed a simple reform that will establish equal human rights and inevitably lead us to a better society. It is fully presented in my book, “Humanism,” which is available free of charge online. Some wise people will eventually recognize the benefits of equal human rights and offer them to society. One day, dissatisfied people will accept it. Joined together, they will build much more power than those who rule the world today have. This will start the permanent bright future of humankind.
Below is the famous cartoon portraying Rockefeller controlling the government, published initially in The Verdict on January 22, 1900.