{"id":595,"date":"2026-01-18T18:42:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T02:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brentandersonart.com\/site\/?p=595"},"modified":"2026-01-18T19:09:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T03:09:49","slug":"an-immodest-proposal_a-living-democracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brentandersonart.com\/site\/an-immodest-proposal_a-living-democracy\/","title":{"rendered":"An Immodest Proposal_A Living Democracy"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Living Democracy<\/strong><\/p>\n

A living democracy gives every individual voice the chance to speak and, more importantly, the opportunity to be heard by the group.<\/p>\n

Without access to the megaphone, a person who speaks addresses an empty room. Denying this megaphone to some while granting it to others kills democratic equity and equality in a society.<\/p>\n

\u2018China’s … market economy supervised by a technocratic party state [was] erected on ground brutally leveled by Mao’s Cultural Revolution.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018The appeal of Maoism… came from its promise of spontaneous direct democracy … engagement outside the conventional framework of elections and parties.\u2019 – Pamkaj Mishra (New Yorker Feb 1, 2021 pg. 65)<\/p>\n

On the comparison of Donald J Trump to Mao Tse Tung as a catalyst of social revolution, a paraphrase: \u201cDonald, I knew Mao, Mao was a friend of mine, and you Donald are no Mao.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018The virtues of deregulation, financialization, privatization, and international trade … bound Democrats to Republicans and Tories to New Labour (UK) … [and were no longer] distinct identities as representatives of particular classes and groups. …No longer political antagonists working … basic principles [of] social welfare for the liberal left, stability and continuity for the conservative right.\u2019 – Pamkaj Mishra (New Yorker Feb 1, 2021)<\/p>\n

Tony Judt (2010) – \u2018…mass movements, communities organized around ideology … religious or political ideas, trade unions and political parties had become … extinct. No external [input], no new kinds of people [no new voices] — only the political class breeding itself.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

UBI, UPW and Self-Issued Debit-Credit in a Living Democracy<\/strong><\/p>\n

‘An Immodest Proposal’ <\/em>Informal Question Survey<\/p>\n

As an example of what I mean by a Living Democracy, I once asked friends and colleagues at random the following questions:<\/p>\n

Do you work? Do you enjoy the work you do? Do you feel your work benefits other people and provides you with a sense of purpose and fulfillment?<\/p>\n

Question 1: If you were guaranteed a Universal Basic Income (UBI) of $160.00 per day of self-issuable interest-free fluid credit that would pay for your daily basic goods and services (~$40.00 for food and education, ~$40.00 for shelter and housing, ~$40.00 for comprehensive medical care, and ~$40.00 for transportation, communication, and entertainment) would you do the same work you are currently doing for your current wage or would you not work at all?<\/p>\n

Question 2: If you had the option to earn an additional $160.00 to $480.00 per day on a sliding wage scale (@$20.00 – $60.00 per hour) of a Universal Prevailing Wage (UPW) of self-issuable interest-free fluid credit working up to eight to sixteen hours per day, at whatever vetted job that most suited your ability, skillset and interest, would you?<\/p>\n

Across the board, answers to these questions were deemed moot, because it \u201ccould never happen,\u201d and so why deliberate a fantasy.<\/p>\n

People no longer have to “work for a living.” Technology and communication has made it possible to now “live to work” and contribute voluntarily to the betterment of all rather than struggle on behalf of the betterment of the few.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Self-Issued Credit Short-term Debt-Limited-Profit Digital Coin barter system through a Federal Debit-Credit Reserve is one possible means to this end. (See https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2nBPN-MKefA “Money as Debt” (2009 rev) by filmmaker Paul Grignon for an in-depth look at the basis for “An Immodest Proposal.”<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Living Democracy A living democracy gives every individual voice the chance to speak and, more importantly, the opportunity to be heard by the group. Without access to the megaphone, a person who speaks addresses an empty room. Denying this megaphone to some while granting it to others kills democratic equity and equality in a…<\/p>\n

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