The Just Third Way: A Sustainable System

The Just Third Way

• A comprehensive strategy that aims to create a system where life on the planet is good for every person and the rest of nature.
• Based on the philosophy of Buckminster Fuller, who believed in a systems approach to solving global problems.
• Encompasses technological, economic, and social aspects to ensure a just and sustainable society.

Definition of a System

• A system consists of structure, inputs, outputs, feedback, and correction.
• Separate things working together in a coherent and interconnected way.
• Can be understood as a set of principles or procedures that enable something to be accomplished.

The Just Third Way Terminology

• Developed from Louis Kelo's ideas, which were seen as a third alternative to individualism and collectivism.
• Econonomic Personalism: a philosophy that focuses on the dignity and empowerment of each person, promoting fundamental human rights.

Key Principles

• Human person: the foundation of the just Third Way, emphasizing the dignity and empowerment of each individual.
• Two factors of production: human and non-human (capital).
• Three principles of economic justice:
  • Participative justice: the input principle within a system.
  • Distributive justice: what you get in terms of your output or reward.
  • Social justice: ensuring balance and detecting problems in the system.

Policy Principles

• Expanded capital ownership: the missing element to ensure every person can participate fully in the economy.
• Limited economic power of the state: to prevent coercion and ensure economic freedom.
• Private property: an institutional mechanism for people to realize their economic rights.
• Free and open markets: enabling people to participate and determine just prices, profits, and wages.

Other Key Points

• The UN Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the right to own property, alone or in association with others.

• Economic personalism is closely aligned with the thinking of John Paul II and Martin Luther King.

• The just Third Way economy aims to create a system where every person has access to the means of becoming independent and self-determining.### Artifacts of Civilization and Social Constructs

• Education is a critical artifact of civilization, transferring ideas to bring about change in a system, and helping people understand what is justice, leading to peace and freedom.

• Education should focus on developing critical thinkers, moral thinkers, and creative thinkers, preparing them to thrive in an economy with robots and artificial intelligence.

Politics and Government

• Politics and government are essential for enacting the Economic Democracy Act, which aims to enshrine just third way principles into law, ensuring equal access to every citizen to become a capital owner.
• The Economic Democracy Act promotes equal access to ownership and other key principles.

Money and Credit

• Money and credit are crucial elements in achieving a just and orderly system, as they influence the entire economy and access to resources.
• A just system of money and credit creation is essential for ensuring equal access to resources and opportunities.

Tax System

• The tax system is critical, as it feeds government and can encourage or discourage equal access to ownership.
• Government has legitimate roles to play, but it is not suitable for economic production, and choice and competition in the marketplace are preferred.

Technology

• Technology, such as computers, artificial intelligence, and robotics, can bring about rapid changes and new opportunities, but its use must be beneficial for everyone.
• Technology can be a powerful tool, but its use must be managed carefully to avoid damaging consequences.

The Five Major Levers of Change

• The five major levers of change are education, politics and government, money and credit, tax system, and technology, which can bring about rapid transformations in a system.

The Just Third Way

• The most succinct way of expressing the just Third Way is "own or be owned."

The Just Third Way

• Aims to create a system where life on the planet is good for every person and the rest of nature.
• Based on Buckminster Fuller's philosophy of a systems approach to solving global problems.
• Encompasses technological, economic, and social aspects to ensure a just and sustainable society.

System Definition

• Consists of structure, inputs, outputs, feedback, and correction.
• Separate things working together in a coherent and interconnected way.
• Can be understood as a set of principles or procedures that enable something to be accomplished.

Just Third Way Terminology

• Developed from Louis Kelo's ideas, seen as a third alternative to individualism and collectivism.
• Economic Personalism: a philosophy that focuses on the dignity and empowerment of each person, promoting fundamental human rights.

Key Principles

• Human person: the foundation of the just Third Way, emphasizing dignity and empowerment of each individual.
• Two factors of production: human and non-human (capital).
• Three principles of economic justice:
  • Participative justice: the input principle within a system.
  • Distributive justice: what you get in terms of your output or reward.
  • Social justice: ensuring balance and detecting problems in the system.

Policy Principles

• Expanded capital ownership: the missing element to ensure every person can participate fully in the economy.
• Limited economic power of the state: to prevent coercion and ensure economic freedom.
• Private property: an institutional mechanism for people to realize their economic rights.
• Free and open markets: enabling people to participate and determine just prices, profits, and wages.

Other Key Points

• The UN Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the right to own property, alone or in association with others.
• Economic personalism is closely aligned with the thinking of John Paul II and Martin Luther King.
• The just Third Way economy aims to create a system where every person has access to the means of becoming independent and self-determining.

Artifacts of Civilization and Social Constructs

• Education is critical, transferring ideas to bring about change in a system, and helping people understand what is justice, leading to peace and freedom.
• Education should focus on developing critical thinkers, moral thinkers, and creative thinkers, preparing them to thrive in an economy with robots and artificial intelligence.

Politics and Government

• Politics and government are essential for enacting the Economic Democracy Act, which aims to enshrine just Third Way principles into law.
• The Economic Democracy Act promotes equal access to every citizen to become a capital owner.

Money and Credit

• A just system of money and credit creation is essential for ensuring equal access to resources and opportunities.

Tax System

• The tax system is critical, as it feeds government and can encourage or discourage equal access to ownership.
• Government has legitimate roles to play, but it is not suitable for economic production, and choice and competition in the marketplace are preferred.

Technology

• Technology can bring about rapid changes and new opportunities, but its use must be beneficial for everyone.
• Technology can be a powerful tool, but its use must be managed carefully to avoid damaging consequences.

The Five Major Levers of Change

• The five major levers of change are education, politics and government, money and credit, tax system, and technology.

The Just Third Way

• The most succinct way of expressing the just Third Way is "own or be owned."