The First Step is to Wish It

Putting  aside whether it could ever happen, do we *wish* it could happen? Do we wish everyone could be rich? That everyone could somehow have the kind of house they want, live where they want, have a job they enjoy, have enough days off and enough vacation time — and so on? I do. “But then we would have pay soda jerks what we pay doctors and lawyers! That would reward lazy bums the expense of — “ I said put all that aside for a moment. What do we wish? We wish to go to the moon? “But you can’t get to moon by horse, by automobile, by aeroplane!” Very well, we’ll have to invent space flight. We want everyone to enjoy their one lifetime on  Earth? Very well, we’ll have to invent whatever kind of flight that is. We all need to know that the first step to the incredible is incredibly easy — and crucial. And illuminating. Maybe some of us don’t want everyone happy. That’s worth knowing, too.

Mark Tauer: I wish everyone could have their basic needs met.

Tom Beaver: More thoughts on this: I drive through the countryside and see big, beautiful houses and yards. And small, run-down houses and small yards. One the one hand, it seems inescapable and fitting. But what if it’s neither? I can imagine a science fiction world where the humans have found a way for everyone who wants a big house and a big yard to have one. The society I’m imagining attempts to be plausible, addressing the kind of arguments people give against this kind of idea — that it would reward the lazy and stupid! That it would disincentivize the hard-working and brilliant! That Jesus said we’ll always have the poor with us! If I can knock those arguments and others apart in my mind,, I think it’s possible that we can collectively knock them apart for real. I think it’s worth considering.