(contd.) –
What the inhabitants of the right kind of a habitat need to do, is –
Essentially, active and full-fledged participation in public life, including running for office as and when necessary. Founding one’s own political party. Not being deterred by early lack of success. Find new, more effective methods. Keep trying always. –Unless you have something better than this, to do 🙂 .
Occasional acts of courage and sacrifices, if necessary.
Every adult person, –in spirit – even late teenagers, should be a potential leader. He should cultivate in him/her qualities, and assimilate the knowledge to be able to take up positions of leadership (at any level), if need be, for his/her society. He should be willing and prepared to do that.
He/she should take up that responsibility.
Why is the right kind of political system so important? Because it affects everyone so deeply sooner or later. Was it Pericles who said – “Just because you do not take an interest in politics, doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.”
You might say don’t bother me with politics, leave me alone. But politics won’t leave you alone. Bothering about politics is a practical necessity.
Ideally, Politics would mean public affairs, national affairs, welfare of individuals and families.
-And all the factors –positive or negative – that affect the same. E.g. safety/law and order, defence, health, education, the right economic conditions (so that citizens may have the right material standard of living), civic amenities (e.g. water supply, roads, electricity) etc.
It has to do with governance and administration. Being knowledgeable about and managing/influencing such affairs. –As a part of the State, or a political party, or an NGO or activist or ‘lobbying’.
It should be done in a calm, dignified way, should involve more of pondering than ‘debate’. Its staple activities should be observation, information collection, assessment, and critically- action.
All activity should be constructive in purpose. The frame of mind should be positive.
The right kind of a ‘politician’ also has to be an educator, philosopher and guide for the society especially for children (not political indoctrination or propaganda, but simple wholesome education and right kind of books, magazines, lessons etc). She/he much preferably should be well-educated (including some self-education), truly educated.
[It is almost inevitable that a person who would have these qualities naturally, would also be a cultured person].
If we work properly, then we would be free to play happily. –Be carefree. –Live life as we want to.
So in the share of time that it is necessary to work, let us work.
But first let us decide what constitutes ‘work’, and what is mere ‘activity’ or futile.
‘Smart work is more important than hard work’. Mind, it is not being said that hard work is not necessary. In a competitive scenario, it is indeed essential.
~
A good family life, a good ‘personal culture’ and way of life, and a good habitat/’environment’ are things which if a person has, he/she feels no need for a luxury car or a luxurious large house, costly furniture and gadgets, expensive vacations.
He/she has no indispensable need or craving for restaurants/shopping malls/multiplexes. Even a large income or assets become truly unnecessary.
Individuals are content, happy. They have dharm and peace in their hearts.
They have a cultured mentality. (-Though not pretentious or tiresome, but innocent and ‘fresh’, often cheerful. –natural).
If I have a cosy house in a gentry, decent town, solid parents, a loving elder sister, a loving and educative aunt/uncle, good-hearted friends with whom I share interests, cousins with whom I spend holidays, -play, a caring and truly sympathetic and responsible wife (and corresponding for women), a civilised, responsible government, then who needs a grand wedding ceremony, consumer gadgets or extravagant, thrilling shopping days?
If the neighbourhood and town in which I live, has the natural look and feel, ample, dense greenery and space, peace and quiet, places to stroll about and sit down for a bit in a homely way, if the fellow-inhabitants of my hometown and home-region, are gentlemanly, unobtrusive, if my student life is not marked by worldly competition, if my professional life has no regular, serious stress or fear of losing the job even though I happen to be a reasonably competent, sincere worker, then there is no need for materialistic goals to chase. One is already in the ideal place.
The home and the town, the outdoor environs, provide all the succour and pleasure one needs.
NOTE : In such a life of a person, there might be and should be dreams, some pure aspirations.
-About relationships, writing a good book, travel and enjoyment, exploration and pioneering, excellence and striving for perfections in one’s vocation, building an ideal ‘world’ and society, scientific discoveries and inventions.
But underlying all of these, is a contentment and serenity. A gentle joy. –which is immune to infringements. A feeling of already ‘being there’.
~
The work life may involve frequent hard work, planning, thinking, commitment to goals, at least for certain durations or tasks. But there is no uncertainty about the Basic Necessities of Life (i.e. food, clothing, shelter), and a few basic comforts for the family, a dignified living.
Something like a Universal Basic Income or the direct provision of basic goods and services on a free/highly subsidized basis, -by the State and desirably-voluntary private contributions, a satisfactory government healthcare system, a reasonable health insurance for all should exist. But if individuals and the State are doing things rightly, then except for misfortunes or handicaps, no person would need to avail of UBI or Direct Provision.
Also, a person availing of such State facilities must take up any job that the State Employment Exchange might offer. (-Provided it is not hazardous to the health, or physically/mentally not feasible for him/her to perform).
This may seem like unnecessary elaboration, but anyway .. nowadays in urban India, among members of the ‘educated’ and white-collar class, there is some kind of a ‘driven’ quality. If that makes sense. Often there is – and it helps in survival and ‘worldly success’- a burning/intense/all-consuming desire, and attendant anxiety and stress. -In the form of competitive entrance examinations, job matters, even in the search for-, ‘vetting’ of-, and co-existence with one’s life partner.
This is not progress. In many ways, things were better a hundred or sixty years ago. Where did it go wrong?
There should not have to be the continual effort, there should not be the need to raise oneself above or escape from the ‘ground level’. -As is very common among the middle class in India. There are of course reasons behind it; -it is understandable.
In the right kind of a system, the ground level itself is ‘haven’.
The regular environs itself is the ‘sky level’.
~
Our ‘habitat’, -‘the public sphere’, should be such that it enables us to live safely and securely, with dignity, with reasonable comfort and convenience, with reassurance (about life overall), -in a free, un-worried manner.
~
Make no mistakes, within an imperfect real world, due to both human and natural factors, it is ESSENTIAL for a society to have a strong economy, an independent and self-sufficient economy, adequate public funds for normal times and also contingencies, strong defence capabilities, advanced technology – not in terms of gadgets imported, but fundamentally in terms of the intellect/intelligence and aptitudes of its citizens. -Its native manufacturing, inventive-, R&D activities.
The government of such a nation must be manned by principled, practically aware, courageous and capable persons.
The country preferably must be a rich country in terms of national wealth, and public spending capacity.
____________
(C)
(contd.) :
11) Public health and hygiene is maintained up to a completely satisfactory standard.
12) Public propriety and decency.
For a dignified, pure (i.e. ‘normal’) environment.
a) In the public sphere
-i.e. In public places, on television and radio, in the print media and books, on packaging/labels of products in the market, for ‘imprints’/images on containers,
-the speech of actual persons who happen to be present in a public place (including shops, theatres, a standing vehicle etc.),
-any kind of song, audio/video material, drawing, statue, carving or text that is in public view/perception,
-that is improper/not decent according to the law (as per objective and well-defined criteria),
-is prohibited.
That includes, in public places –
No risqué/ improper/indecent or crass/vulgar hoardings, posters or advertisements.
No textual, graphic, audio or other material that constitutes improper (abusive or obscene) language. This includes speech by actual persons in public places and on State property (e.g. government offices, buildings).
Any broadcaster that wants to air programs in the habitat – including a foreign or external one – would mandatorily have to comply with this law).
NOTE : ‘public place’ includes school/college premises (including privately owned ones), private company offices etc. i.e. wherever a common person may need to be.
b) Attire that is improper in the public sphere, is prohibited in the public sphere,
– either on actual persons donning them (e.g. ‘bikinis’ on a beach, any form of dressing that does not cover the midriff or back i.e. leaves an unclad gap between the upper garment and the lower garment, males without an upper garment etc.), (the sari, if properly worn, is an exception to this principle. -One believes it does have such a gap, but on the whole it is not noticeable, looks quite proper).
– attire with improper writing/’message’ or image on it.
– or in depiction e.g. of a graphic nature (e.g. a photograph/drawing etc. as an advertisement or on the packaging, for a brand of inner wear). The items of inner wear may themselves be depicted on the packaging, or put on display, but only on shop shelves, or a poster/photo on the wall in a ‘ladies/gents only’ area out of the view of a passer-by.
There are many persons who have acted as models in certain kinds of advertisements which are considered anucit / an ‘error’/mistake in these Papers. Of course, one has all respect and love for them. And goodwill. But this conduct is something that is a serious mistake or deviation from the ‘right way’, and is something that needs to change.
In an ideal habitat, a person would of his/her own will, don attire which is proper and dignified. (this idea or principle is part of Paper 5 : Person – ‘Nature’. Such is the kind of dress he/she would naturally like.
That includes – the dress for a male or female should be below the knee-level.
Although – perhaps – this should not be a law.
Government offices, -institutions should have a Dress Code that disallows this.
13) Advertisement hoardings/billboards of any kind – especially enormous or obtrusive ones – are minimal or absent.
14) There must be the following facilities provided to the inhabitants by the State :
a) An excellent, state of the art public healthcare system (with research and development activities for continual advancements in treatments).
It should include Tertiary Care for all inhabitants; and persons of lesser financial status i.e. those who cannot afford a certain life-saving or critical treatment, must receive adequate financial assistance/subsidies from the State. This is the moral duty of the State, as defined in the Constitution.
However, those who can afford will be required to pay – for treatment, medicines etc. – to the extent that they can afford. This means Upper Middle Income Group and High Net Worth (HNW) (‘rich’) persons (and their dependents) would be required to pay almost all or all of the costs (depending on the type and duration of treatment). -The patient party’s income and Net Assets documents would be checked.
~
The State healthcare system should be extensive enough so that the waiting period for critical/life-saving treatments is not so long that it affects the patient’s well-being.
Special taxes for the above purpose may be instituted.
To realise the above ideal, the State treasury, and perhaps also the economy of the habitat in general, have to be sufficiently strong.
Private citizens should adequately donate to this cause.
There should be certain laws which ensure standards in the administration of medical services. E.g. –
O An upper limit on the number of patients a doctor may see per day. Say 20 or 30.
The doctor has to give a certain minimum amount of time to every patient, if the latter so demands. Say 7- or 8 minutes. He has to give a certain minimum amount of time separately at the end of an appointment in answering questions and doubts of the patient. Say 3 minutes.
If applicable and necessary, this law should apply to the number of surgeries that can be done in a day by one doctor, also.
O Probably periodic and some ‘surprise’ tests for doctors, nurses and allied healthcare service providers, arranged by the State/ a reputed academic body, throughout their careers to ensure high quality of services. Some of the questions would be based on basic or routine matters, and some related to difficult/complicated/risky cases where a mistake on the part of the doctor may harm the patient seriously.
If practicable and beneficial, then even surprise visits to the OT by eminent experts of the field to observe the work of surgeons (in full OT ‘gear). Or observing the video recordings.
–Not for all doctors routinely, but occasionally, randomly. So that their skills are always in a well-honed condition for all such procedures where a mistake may have serious implications for the patient.
Only if the doctor has cleared the latest test, would he/she have the legal right to display on the outer wall of his chamber/building the relevant certificate from a State agency, with its date. A patient should verify this certificate (with date) before availing of any service from that particular doctor. The patient should know that if he is availing service from a doctor who does not have this, he might be running a risk.
If a doctor/nurse fails in such a test, he/she may be tested more subsequently. All doctors’ test performances and remarks (if any) from the Agency, would be publicly available on the relevant State department’s website/health portal. If an unfavourable remark has been made by a State expert, the doctor concerned may lodge a rebuttal, which would also be mandatorily featured alongside.
This author may not have sufficient technical or expert knowledge to be able to formulate a satisfactory plan regarding this, but he reckons there is scope and necessity for such measures, the sole purpose of which is ‘quality assurance’ and safety.
Besides, importantly, a doctor in such a system would retain his license to practice, even if he does not pass a given test or performs poorly in important topics (to be specified in the Certificate). Appearing in a given test is voluntary for a practitioner. The Certificate is meant to be suggestive, help the patient in making a decision; it is not a decree/ban.
Such a regular testing and certification system would also take up a large amount of resources (funds, man-hours), which indicates three things –
Control of overpopulation is extremely important.
Unnecessary &/or harmful expenses – whether in production or consumption – in things like alcohol, tobacco products, porn/’sleaze’, ‘page 3’/tabloid/celebrity media, profligate spending, a surfeit of luxury goods, cosmetics, confectionery, -the same in the ‘entertainment’/advertisement industry, should stop.
Do we need to engage people and spend money on lavish new year/wedding parties with lightings, ‘waterworks?’, very expensive stage, décor etc., to be happy or enjoy ourselves?
Unjust wars, unnecessary military deployments and manufacturing must be avoided.
The best form of quality-assurance and safety protocol observance is by the worker himself. –His diligence, conscientiousness and habit of alertness and thoroughness.
O Probably an institutionalized and standardized system of cross-checks and second opinions in serious cases. E.g. the diagnosis and treatment plan of one doctor are soon after verified by another. The two doctors might be mutually unacquianted or their identities mutually unrevealed, or not as deemed best by the authorities, or opted by the patient, in a given case.
Possibly involving internet, multimedia and personal visits by the patient.
Ideally, at times they should confer with one another, which may improve the understanding of either/both.
O The State should prepare a list of ‘Standard Practices’ for doctors, nurses, other health workers and hospital owners/executives, explicitly and in complete detail stating the things to be done and the conditions to be maintained for each kind of a patient.
What acts (as part of the particular healthcare service) are considered essential, what are only moderately significant, and what are ‘optional’, should be mentioned.
Each specialist, including a surgeon would have a specific type of list prepared for his/her field.
These lists will be published (and updated as necessary) on the Health Department’s website. All healthcare professionals and students would be required to have their own respective list/s memorized all through their careers. Any point from it may be asked in the aforementioned tests.
Common people would be able to read these lists (in public domain), so that they know what is their right to expect.
This list should be prepared in consultation with the best and most reputed experts in each area and from the most authoritative textbooks and papers.
The level of the standards laid down in these Lists, the quality of service/care which would result from them, is not intended to be and will not be ‘moderate’ or just ‘maintaining some minimal standards’, but high.
For life-threatening conditions (whether acute or chronic; directly or indirectly), these standards will be designed to ensure excellence. –State of the art service.
The State should undertake continual research and try to come up with procedural/financial innovations and better, new methods to make treatments the least expensive, the least time-taking, comfortable and hassle free and universally available.
O Right kind of statutory norms and regulations set by the State for healthcare institutions/concerns e.g. hospital/clinic/lab. Strict adherence to them is ensured by the State.
Regular plus random inspections, and prompt action/redressal by the State authorities.
Strong ‘consumer laws’ in the healthcare field. These laws should be fair to the medical professional too.
O A satisfactory State hospital/clinic must be present in all areas of the habitat, including remote or sparsely populated ones. Good transport facilities should be made available.
The number of doctors/nurses per unit population must be sufficiently large.
The hospitals/clinics (with labs and imaging facilities) in small towns or rural areas must have sufficient amenities and recreational facilities such that well-qualified and capable workers willingly and happily reside there permanently. Actually a neat and clean, aesthetic town with good law and order condition and gentry environs, a decent school, would automatically make outside workers welcome.
The State should build spacious and well-furnished, surrounded by greenery, well-maintained, clean quarters for health workers to live with their families. A small cinema, a well-stocked kiosk of books and magazines, a library, a nice, cheerful, well-stocked departmental store where almost all items available in a city store are present, a recreational park for children.
O A health worker must interact with a patient courteously (e.g. as ‘aap’ and corresponding words (kariye, lijiye) only, always). When applicable, sir/madam or Mr./Mrs. etc. should be used (–although at times these may be foregone to save time and energy).
[ NOTE : Any government employee/contractual service provider in the line of duty must always interact with a common person/customer in the above way. The converse is also mandatory. There should be stringent laws protecting the physical safety and dignity of healthcare workers ].
O The remunerations of and facilities provided to State health-workers (doctors, nurses, technicians, cleaning-&-maintenance staff etc. should be among the best among government employees.
O Their working hours – especially in emergency and critical care duties – should not be too long. They should probably be a maximum of 8 hours.
O No section of the State healthcare system will be under-staffed. The Head of Government and the relevant ministry should ensure this as a highest priority, with promptness.
O In a hospital/lab/private practitioner’s chamber, it should be a statutory requirement to maintain certain standards (defined objectively) e.g. comfortable seating and waiting experience for all patients (and 1 escort), minimal waiting times, incentives (e.g. tax rebates) to a healthcare institution that obviates queues (by using a token system, ‘e-tokens’, or appointment by a phone/internet app; automated/AI drug vending machines or home delivery of drugs and other products by self-driving pods/drones etc. ).
Availability of drinking water, glucose. A clean and hygienic environment. Ample space.
A health care worker/institution must really take care of the patient’s multifarious needs, in a thorough manner. –Everytime. Reliably.
O The State must carry out a continual, multi-sphere Program of Health Education, with the purpose of preventing those diseases which are preventable; -and screening for and diagnosing other diseases at the earliest possible stage. Public health and hygiene measures, actively asking about and eliminating risk factors, providing subsidized/free (for those who cannot afford) screening tests etc., must be done by the State.
Modes of communication (with target persons) like print and electronic media, posters, live human messages in public places etc. are used.
b) There must be good and well-endowed institutions like libraries, public parks and gardens.
Sports complexes. Amusement and educational ‘parks’ for children (like Science City in Kolkata), museums and art galleries, festivals and fairs.
The last two should ideally be conceived and organized by private parties (including perhaps local chapters of the Citizen’s Body), but the State should play a role, especially if there is not much private activity.
Private individuals are of course welcome to-, and it is desirable that they engage in creating and running all the above kinds of institutions, facilities and events.
c) A good school and University education system maintained by the State.
d) Research institutions and programs.
e) Academies, cultural centres.
Private individuals/organisations may freely own and run the above kinds of institutions, but it is mandatory for the State to maintain the same, on a sufficient scale and reach (i.e. presence in all regions of the habitat).
In fact, fortunate is the country whose private individuals –out of a pure, idealistic desire – endeavour to found such quality institutions.
f) A satisfactory public transport system.
It should be sufficiently extensive to serve even far flung regions and localities.
(That is a responsibility of the State).
In urban and even some rural areas, for environmental ‘cleanliness’ and beauty, underground trains (‘metro’/’tube’) serving all major routes, should be there.
Even some routes of light traffic may have it.
The transportation of goods, delivery of purchased items should be done by self-driving automobiles and other automated systems, as much as feasible. Goods should be transported by underground routes as much as possible. Certain items for or situations in which drone delivery might be advantageous/expeditious, it will be used.
Means of transport should be electric, not fossil-fuel burning, so far as achievable.
(Hydrogen, solar automobiles, if possible).
There are extensive pedestrian-only zones and paths in the habitat’s cities and towns. Pavements.
g) Certain services to handicapped persons, senior citizens etc.
e.g. Periodically and randomly checking on the safety and good treatment of the above groups and children. ‘Quotas’ in education/job. If income group of the specific individual is ‘small’, then a ‘pension’ from the State life-long, to cover basic necessities, electricity and water bills.
Health and Medical treatment related services, Shopping and Home Delivery, Domestic Work/Chores, Escort service (e.g. to hospital, the cinema/a park) for those who need it. Persons of the neighbourhood should volunteer for such services, on a part time, say each person on a ‘once/twice a week’ basis. –Or the Citizen’s Body should organize them.
In any case, it is the duty of the State to ensure a satisfactory level of these services. If for a given settlement, they are not offered by private parties, then the State must.
Again, this is not a ‘favour’ by the State or the private parties. For the former, it is their essential Constitutional duty; for the latter, a moral duty.
h) The Basic Necessities (i.e. food, clothing and shelter) of every inhabitant of the habitat is ensured by the State, as an essential Constitutional duty.
-i.e. if a person cannot afford to satisfy his/her basic necessities, from own means.
[ It should be a cultural, social principle/sentiment that if an adult lady is unable to provide for herself due to legitimate reason (including no job suitable for a woman being available), then it is her father/brother’s duty to do the necessary. They should do it out of love. Of course a son/daughter is obliged by law to provide for his/her parent, at least financially, if his/her income/assets permit that. Needless to say, morally, the adult child has to beg if necessary to provide for his/her elderly parent/grandparent ].
Of course, a person availing of this facility has to mandatorily accept any job (unless it is hazardous to his/her health or physically/mentally not feasible for the particular person to perform, or the daily working hours is more than 7 hours, or there is no holiday every week) that the State Employment Agency might offer him/her.
These services should be provided in a perpetual, assured, polite and solicitous way.
15) There is no alcohol (as beverage) or tobacco products in the habitat.
Production, import/export, retail and distribution, transportation of these two are prohibited by law, with strong penalties and incarceration upon violation.
Raising of the tobacco crop or that of hemp (source of certain intoxicants/narcotics) or marijuana is prohibited.
[ Needless to say, narcotics and marijuana are prohibited ].
In an ideal habitat / place, one feels there would be ‘plain’, simple pleasures. Restrained tastes.
There would not be a surfeit of confectionary, snacks and cosmetic products (to a moderate extent is alright), ‘improper’(i.e. risque) content and language in media (e.g. books/magazines/films) etc.
Of their own will, consumers and producers would not have anything to do with the above.
That is, even if the law didn’t exist, they would not have chosen the above.
16) The occupation of all persons in the habitat is a white-collar one.
-i.e. a knowledge-based or technical one e.g. engineering, medicine, scientific research.
Or an intellectual or artistic one.
Teaching is an important profession.
All unskilled or blue-collar jobs, i.e. those that are essential be done to maintain normal or good life, are done by the common persons of the habitat, as a part-time or side occupation.
In a gentry class populace, the need for security guards etc. would be nil or minimal. This could be met by a group of white-collar workers of the habitat of the appropriate age group and fitness, who have volunteered for the task. If no one volunteers, then the State would assign such tasks randomly to suitable kind of citizens in the locality. Such deployments would be on a rotational basis. So a given man/person would be required to work as a security personnel for say 1 day a week, but only for 20 or 25 weeks a year.
Certain professions like surgeons, research scientists, certain kinds of safety staffers/inspectors will be exempt from such duties.
*
As far as practicable and effective, security systems would be automated.
*
Some persons may even specialize in a certain specific ‘trades’/’tasks’. For example, Mr. Evans who is a software engineer by training (from an elite university) does his own sweeping (along with his wife and children), -his own plumbing.
But he has talent and interest in carpentry. It is to him – to some extent – a hobby too and he believes in making quality articles. He makes sturdy, handsome tables and sofas. It is his ‘side-occupation’. He devotes one or two days a week to this. Neighbours and townspeople come to his house sometimes, for repairs and new ‘commissions’. (They take him by their car to their house or ask him by phone and pay the conveyance charge in advance online, or take delivery of the furniture personally).
When an electrical appliance in his house malfunctions, he calls Mr. Robinson across the city (who is listed on yellow pages or such a website) whose regular occupation is that of an electrical engineer (in a hydroelectric power plant). It is easier for him to do repairs of household electrical appliances and the job gets done well too.. compared to if a doctor had attempted to learn it. He too does these repair and maintenance jobs for 1 to 2 days in a week on average.
Ms. O’Donnell is a systems engineer, twenty seven years old, she has general plans to get married within 2 years; she lives in a city close to her parents’ small town residence (her employer company has gladly assigned her a posting in that nearby city so she can visit her parents frequently; after all, she is a society-member, the society becomes stronger if sincere individuals thrive; she ‘could have been the niece’ of the senior executive who has the authority in this matter, so he thinks). She doesn’t actually enjoy doing alterations for clothes in a tailoring place once a week, but she does it because the remuneration is decent and someone needs to do it, it is a form of social service.
She is nonetheless skilled at her job.
There are 3 companies in her habitat which produce good quality woolen sweaters and jackets of fine aesthetics and comfort. They use automation and AI to a large degree, but some of the tasks have still got to be done by hand, Ms. O’Donnell has received an offer from such a company for 8 hours a week work and she is considering switching.
When and where feasible, employers allow flexible working hours to enable the smooth execution of such ‘blue-collar’ or semi-skilled tasks.
NOTE : A reader may wonder – why can we not simply import all our manufactured apparels (even if we are all white collar workers ourselves, in the habitat)? Besides the designs of such articles would be by us.
Well, it is always good to be self-sufficient. Especially in the long-term or contingencies, that avoids much problems. Also, what we desire for our society, ourselves, should we not desire the same for all humankind?
(Contd.) –
There is no system of domestic workers/’helps’, waiters, laundrymen, janitors, drivers, security guards etc. There are no such persons in the habitat, who have such an occupation.
The work of ‘nannies’, or looking after children for a few hours or days in the absence of their parents, is done by the grandparents or other relatives. Neighbours offer cordially. The State also provides such a facility (to be availed if other options are missing) where the ‘caretakers’ are well-trained and vetted.
(Remember : in an ideal habitat, the grandparents (one couple) live together with the parents (as the natural, permanent residence), in all cases where it is materially possible. It is a blessing).
Efforts should be made to realize this objective in the habitat, but in a pragmatic way. It’s easy to imagine the consequences if ‘security guards’ were to suddenly disappear from a community.
Still in a community where every member is of the gentry class, -a well-educated, white-collar worker, the prevalence of crimes would be negligible. Such cases would be ‘isolated cases’, rare, the work of exceptional – depraved, mentally disturbed or violently insane individuals. –i.e. there would be no gangs or organized crime with money power and serious weapons.
It is important to keep in mind that there are actually such places and communities in the world.
Since the habitat is made up of learned and intellectually awake people, the inhabitants know that giving one or two days every week in their work-life to side-occupations reduces the productivity of their society economically.
But they also understand that this system helps in maintaining peace of mind, security and dignity for all innocent and good persons of the habitat, for their children and family-members. Therefore they support this system wholeheartedly. They would show determined efforts to perpetuate it if such efforts were to become necessary. They are conscious.
There are things more important than economic productivity, GDP and competitive edge. Over the long arc of history, societies which act in a principled and cultured way, with good sense … (how do I put it?) … with a simple, classic intent/will for good (based on thoughts for their families and the society) fare far better than those populations which place priority on materialistic goals/ambitions, large scale, impressive revenues, production, profit-maximization and ‘structures’.
-Or those who give their allegiance to/-indulge in dogma/ideologies of some kind.
Often, the latter lose even their material gains eventually. And at the end of the day, the former have more well-being, assured thriving. A better future for their children.
Most importantly, the former is the right way.
NOTE : 1) Some professions in which high performance is critical, are exempt from having to give some fraction of their time to side-professions e.g. surgeons, special forces operatives, ministers, safety inspectors in various industries, quality-control personnel in pharmaceuticals.
Some artists and intellectuals are exempt from side-occupations.
2) Inhabitants voluntarily forego certain non-essential items (e.g. some consumer goods) and services, because there aren’t any persons in the habitat to do some work necessary for their production/provision.
3) Maximum possible automation – through robotics, AI and any other form of technology necessary – is applied in the habitat. E.g. self-deriving cabs and -electric rickshaws. Clerical work is maximally automated or alternative, ‘manual-free’ systems are practiced.
The frontiers of technology in this matter are constantly striven to be extended. The aim is complete or perfect automation in all spheres of human activity. However machines and devices should be ‘inconspicuous’, unobtrusive in our lives. This is a part of culture.
4) The massive savings in national resources (man-hours, natural resources, materials, money) by the exclusion of unnecessary &/or harmful products i.e. tobacco, alcohol, excess of luxury goods, undesirable kinds of ‘entertainment’ (‘night clubs’, ‘discotheques’, the kinds of acting/modeling that are incompatible with propriety/’anti-culture’ etc.), – excessive or undesirable kinds of ‘marketing’ and advertisement, is probably going to have a significant positive effect on the economy of the habitat.
5) There might be some persons in the society who – due to some reasons – cannot have a white collar job. They are willing to work in a blue-collar job or semi-skilled work. They are our brothers and sisters. -A part of our society. Their honour and welfare, their comfort is ours.
In their case, working in a non-white collar job is alright.
However if practicable, the Citizen’s Body or the State should offer them financial support to acquire some technical, degree level qualification even in their middle age. And at least ensure that their children get a quality institutional education and are set on the path to a white-collar job.
But in the habitat, if the right system is being truly applied, then the proportion of such persons would not exceed 5% or 10% of the total work force. That always must be the goal of the State.
6) The local government offers training courses in each neighbourhood/town to common persons so that they are able to take care of their own car, domestic/office plumbing, electrical connections and appliances etc. Their repairs, parts replacement and maintenance. Desirably, some persons from each neighbourhood should volunteer for such courses, to serve other homes in the neighbourhood too. If no one volunteers, some randomly selected members of the neighbourhood would be trained to perform specific tasks of these types. –In such a manner that every neighbourhood has an adequate number and every type of persons who have these additional manual/blue-collar skills.
The remuneration for these services would be healthy. The State would set lower limits.
17) In the habitat, ideally, there should be no ‘businessmen’ or ‘merchants’ as such. (This is said with all respect and goodwill for the persons who happen to have such an occupation).
However, entrepreneurs, company-owners who are essentially engineers or doctors or run a beautiful ‘fashion’/boutique/artisan items’ manufacturing concern may be there. It is very much desirable that they be there.
E.g. SpaceX, Infosys, Tesla, Sakti, the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins University etc.
Innovation-based/R&D-rich companies are given great freedom and all encouragement.
Please refer to the ‘Paper 9 – Economic’ for the complete version of this idea.
All other businesses which are necessary for the economic sustenance of a habitat, are owned and run by the State. But important products like medicines, all other items/materials important in healthcare, essential foods etc., –their manufacturing, import, retail, transportation systems etc, passenger transport and communications companies may be owned by any private individual/company. This is a safety net. –In case the State goes rogue and starts persecuting/coercing citizens on the basis of its sole power to produce/procure such goods.
Such private company owners would be heavily taxed, so that their financial status would be ‘upper middle income group’ or ‘entry level rich’, rather than ‘super-rich’ running multi-sector conglomerates. The purpose of having private individuals owning such companies is only as a safety feature, a practical necessity. Those individuals themselves should believe in the above economic precept.
Ideally one such individual would own only one such company or a closely-related, same-/ancillary sector group of companies.
‘Too much’ capital should not accumulate in any one individual’s hands.
For larger concerns, co-operatives and partnerships may be formed.
If such individuals are lacking, the State should perhaps make such a company and then hand it over to a private individual or group, even if they do not happen to have the purchasing power.
The people of the society and the State should have the sincere intention, the commitment to bring about these changes, but in the form of a smooth transformation, and only when the ‘side-effects’ or ramifications are not serious or worse than the problem, -so that no one is really ‘hurt’.
18) Gambling in all its forms is prohibited.
19) In matters of critical importance i.e. those decisions which may affect the very nature or defining character of the society or the habitat, elected representatives should not make the decision or only a ‘1/3rd weightage’ should be given to their choice. Instead, by default, as provided in the Constitution, those decisions will be made by popular referendum.
-i.e. certain government policies would be determined by Direct Democracy’ rather than ‘Representative Democracy’.
(E)
The words ‘Ideal conditions’ (in a habitat) should not be taken to mean that they cannot or need not exactly be attempted to be realised. These ideal conditions can be realised, one believes easily, and they should absolutely be attempted to be realised.
___
(B)
In the habitat, one would come across lakes, river, orchard, grove, woods. Canals or streams, mears. –commonly.
Greenery. Dense foliage. Large leafy trees.
In the city and towns, the large, dense canopies of trees, from both sides of the street, arching over the street and mingling with each other.
There would be gracious and dignified university buildings, museums and galleries, theatres.
The countryside would be quiet and secluded.
-With ‘non-overt’, unassuming spots of culture and substance; such people.
~
Distinct societies and cultures are a good thing; one of the best and most valuable things in human heritage.
All individuals and institutions should make efforts on a priority basis to protect and make flourish/advance their own society and culture.
– And if applicable, certain other people’s.
The erosion of local and regional cultures, the cultures of individual countries, and their replacement by a common, uniform ‘big city-’ or ‘global culture’ is a an extremely undesirable thing, a great loss for humankind.
[ Indeed this latter ‘culture’ mostly contains no culture, but is merely a set of practices- often utilitarian, at best some ‘fashion’, designs and aesthetic décor etc. (frequently based on motifs/designs originating, created in ethnically homogenous societies ].
A few cities, like say certain neighbourhoods, certain commercial, entertainment and shopping areas of New York or New Delhi or Bombay or some modern University towns may be ‘multi-composition’ or cosmopolitan. But it should not be the general condition in a country.
(-i.e. most of the cities of a country or province should not be like that. And the villages and towns especially should not be like that).
(Literally every feature or element of a regional culture need not be practiced by a native of that place. E.g. a young Yorkshire man need not speak always in his regional dialect; and the same for a young person of East Bengali origin. But it would be good if he sometimes habitually does; and knows well about, loves and appreciates all the positive or ‘inoffensive’ elements of his regional heritage, and considers them to be his own).
At the same time, the spirit of the universal brotherhood of Man and co-operation should also be maintained.
This is possible and natural for right minded and good-hearted people. They are not dichotomous /antithetical. Why would we think they are?
Some interest in, and appreciation of other cultures –perhaps including very dissimilar ones – is natural for a right-minded or educated person.
ADDENDUM :
Re. 14) –
As for healthcare institutions, ‘essential educational institutions’ (i.e. schools and professional training colleges), means of transport and communication, production and distribution system of essential foods (e.g. rice, wheat, baby formula, milk for babies, sugar, salt) and drinking water :
Private individuals/organisations may freely own and run the above kinds of institutions/companies, but it is mandatory for the State to maintain the same, on a sufficient scale and reach (i.e. presence in all regions of the habitat).
As we know, it is easy lay out how things should be, what is desirable, but another matter to realise/practically achieve those goals. This author does not have sufficient knowledge in all aspects of this matter ..on how to , nor unfortunately does he have the time to gain such knowledge comprehensively. He guesses that it would require deep knowledge and perhaps innovative/sophisticated/ingenious ideas regarding raising sufficient State revenues, the resource base of a population, what is economically feasible, and how much is potentially feasible etc. and of course , honesty and hard work.
It should be realised to the extent it is practicable.
Probably the State should own some businesses, more businesses, -which are competitive and highly profitable, in order to increase revenues for such public expenditures.
Also, the State should own and run good, high quality institutions of learning and research.
It is a moral cause. A worthy task.
—
(A)
It is desirable – and should be part of the agenda of the local self-governments and Citizen’s Bodies – that a person be able to spend his entire life with his family in his home-region itself, and would never really need to leave it. He may have all the education needed in becoming a ‘modern’, enlightened, knowledgeable and cultured person, acquire the professional qualifications necessary to hold a white collar job, have a ‘pleasant’ job sufficient to comfortably sustain his family and all its needs, and have all basic and emergency medical services and goods, all the basic civic amenities (e.g. electricity, water etc., municipal services) and ‘facilities’ (libraries, newspaper and magazines’ kiosks, a few nice shops or one or two departmental stores well-stocked with bright and standard branded items -within his/her home-region itself. In brief, it must be possible for a person to live his entire life within his home-region itself, without needing to go out of it on a routine basis, for any reason. (Tertiary medical care, University level highly specialised education, highly advanced or technical jobs etc. are a different matter). His life would be nice, contented and of substance.
If the total area and population of a habitat comes to be large, then it would contain multiple ‘home-regions’, with each home-region being a self-sufficient (at least subjectively), ‘complete’ ‘habitat’ in the minds of its inhabitants. -While being a part of the larger habitat which could be called the ‘Arch-Habitat’ or ‘Composite Habitat’, which contains multiple such contiguous home-regions, dwelt in by people of the same society i.e. ethnic group and value system. -Perhaps with a minority of people of another but very closely related society.
It will be like many similar and self-contained units side-by-side to one another, and constituting the larger habitat.
The different home-regions of a habitat (if the habitat happens to be large enough) should be well-connected with one another physically, in communications and consciousness. There would be complete brotherhood, fellow-feeling and feeling of ‘oneness’ among inhabitants of different ‘home-regions’ of a habitat. And free passage of persons, travel, trade, economic and all other activities amongst the various home-regions. -Needless to say. After all, they are the same habitat and society. The same Culture. Simple.
A home-region would typically consist of a town surrounded by some countryside and a few economic establishments which provide jobs and create wealth. Or a few such close-by towns or villages embedded in a few hundred square kilometres of open country. –natural lands.
A habitat may have one or a few large cities –depending upon its size, even a metropolitan city (or two), though they would not have crowding or congestion. They would be civilised. They would have much greenery and spaciousness.
Examples of ‘very closely related’ societies could be – Dutch people and German people, or Scottish and English people. Or perhaps even English and Italian –‘functionally’.
—
14 a)
One is aware that the above system perhaps leaves open the possibility for bribes and the State ‘targeting’ a private healthcare professional, out of unscrupulous motives. But under the present system too, culpable negligence and gross incompetence, lack of accountability and transparency by healthcare institutions and practitioners are relatively common, at least in some parts of the world.
—
C7 –
‘Loitering’ is a legal offence but that would not interfere with an aimless stroll, flanerie, sitting on a bench in a public place for a while.
Or ‘-to stand and stare’.
The law regarding this would be so ‘qualified’ or nuanced.
A group of teenagers or young persons standing on a pavement or street in a way that appreciably affects pedestrians or traffic is to be considered ‘obstruction’. A ‘way/passage’ is meant for transportation/commute and not for repose/assembly, for which there should be other public spaces. Senior citizens (above 65), unwell persons, mentally or physically challenged persons, and a single lady with a baby are exempt from this law, but encouraged to find a better spot for standing.
—
B5 –
The penalties include disqualification from any state employment in future.
The policepersons involved, and even their immediate superior who would have a censure or an ‘official reprimand’ entered in his service record, which would count as a negative factor in his promotion.
In some exceptional cases, the population of a habitat may include a minority which is not of a closely related ethnic group, -of no more than 15% (preferably no more than 8%) and never to exceed that, only if they essentially have the same broad moral code and civilisational principles as the main population or ‘defining population’ often the habitat (the Constitution of the habitat would define what is its ‘main-‘ or ‘defining’ social group), and their cultures are compatible. An example could be English people and Koreans in the same habitat.
And this, only in the cities. And not in the towns or villages, hamlets or farmsteads. They may not have voting rights. An approval i.e. a ‘Yes vote’ by a referendum in the defining social group is essential before another such specific ethnic community which is not closely related to the main social group, is permitted to settle in large numbers in the habitat.
As with all laws and constitutional features of the habitat, it is objectively defined, with an exhaustive and unambiguous list, which ethnic groups are considered ‘closely related’ to the ‘defining ethnic group’ of the habitat.
—
B 5 –
If a citizen files a lawsuit against the State, a government department or official for negligence to enforce a law or rule, or for dishonesty, and the judiciary rules or a higher authority within the Government structure accepts, that the complaint or charge is valid, then all the costs for the legal process, lawyer’s fees etc., are to be remitted to that citizen, by the State, as compensation for the time and energy that he has had to spend, which should not have been necessary in the first place. – if the State had been doing its job properly.
The State would of course compensate the affected party as per court directives.
If the person who filed the suit is not an affected party in the matter (i.e. like a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India), then the State will make an honourable mention of his/her name on a special day/State publication, and award to him/her a monetary sum as a mark of appreciation for his/her contribution to a good cause.
A written acknowledgement and regret letter is to be issued by the State.
—
C6 –
-or a pet that is of an excessive size or inappropriate species
—
C10 –
This may sound dicey, but in principle, it seems that the right to call publicly for the overthrow of the regime of the land should be permitted in the Constitution, provided that the nature of the particular statement does not imply the possibility of physical harm to civilian functionaries of the State.