Creating the Nouveau Enlightenment, circa 2012

The Age of Enlightenment (or Age of Reason) was a cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that organized in order to mobilize the power of reason, reform society and advance human knowledge and functioning. Intellectual pursuits and debate questioned and opposed intolerance and abuses in both the Church and state.

Let us begin the Nouveau Enlightenment. A time of human growth, social/scientific advancement and decency. Our society is a barbaric society of scarcity, control, war mongering and deceit. After 100 years of so-called civilized existence we have failed. Our energies have been spent on our destruction, not our enlightenment.

We continue to do what we know doesn't work. Socially we continue to push prohibition, when every attempt to control human behavior to escape via chemical means, has failed horribly. We now criminalize and prosecute petty infringements of civic code, when a fine would be adequate. We pollute our water, poison and modify our food, and then purchase patented pharmaceuticals as remedies (that usually don't help). We have taken all that is good and corrupted it. Police forces were created to serve and protect, now they intimidate and terrify. It appears that to be human, is to destroy the essence of all that is good.

Politically, our system has became so corrupt, and has drifted so far away from our founding principles- that we now exist in a semi-Fascist dictatorship. We can go through the motions of change, but we are powerless. Corporate personhood makes and enforces the rules of government and our elections. We have taken the most enlightened political philosophy, our Constitution, and modified or reinterpreted it to the point where it no longer stands as the rule of the land.

We live in a society of corporate dominance, where every human activity is patented, marketed and charged for. It is no longer the Military-Industrial complex. It is the Prison-Industrial complex, the Pharmaceutical-Industrial complex (increase illnesses and pretend to treat them), the Nutritional-Industrial complex... Even now, we are attempting to create new industries based on manipulation, deception and greed (Global Warming as a new industry). Corporations control the gold, the water, the food, the weapons, ad nauseum. The only thing they have yet to harness, is the air we breathe (but they have managed to corrupt the quality of it).

I could go on and on.
What do we have that is pure, honorable and truly contributing to the evolution and betterment of mankind while not tied to making a profit? Even our religious beliefs and faith have been corrupted. The Enlightenment was "Mankind's final coming of age, the emancipation of the human consciousness from an immature state of ignorance and error. (Katz)". The traditional enlightenment failed. We reverted back to our base animalistic instincts. Can we quit destroying our environment, killing people, and enter a new enlightenment where beauty, peace, prosperity and the betterment of mankind and our planet, are valued above
profit and power?

Can you imagine the evolution of our species when we turn from destroying our world, to evolving our world? The money spent killing people and exploiting other countries for our advantage, could be spent on technologies, pleasures and creations we have yet to fathom. Instead of bombing entire cities, for the same cost we could build revolutionary social systems. 'Positive Economics' where we channel our energy and investments into growth and achievement. Why does profitability have to come from exploitation and destruction? Can't the same funds be spent for technology, investing in all of humanity and world enrichment? It could be just as profitable to build towards the advancement of mankind than towards it's destruction

My battery is getting low so I will sign off. How can we usher in a Nouveau Enlightenment that will be told in the history books. About how mankind turned from the darkness towards the light? Where writers will glorify us for our revolutionary ideas of prosperity and positivity after thousands of years of darkiness. This enlightenment can start right now. What are we going to do and how are we going to do it? We have the knowledge of what doesn't work, and we are at the tipping point regarding how we have lost control of our facet of our lives all in the pursuit of profit and power. Let the Enlightenment begin.[

Why comment on a post like this when we can continue to focus on the negative. We aren't able to move forward as a species...only to look back, complain and wonder why we are where we are. I think it is a futile effort to think that one person would dare to look forward.