CIVILIZING THE WEALTHY

TWO PRINCIPLE PROBLEMS FACING THE WORLD TODAY AT THE FUNCTIONAL LEVEL ARE GLOBAL WARMING AND DISPARITY OF INCOME.  FOR BOTH THESE FEATURES OF PRESENT HUMAN ACTIVITY NATIONAL SOLUTIONS WILL NEVER REALLY PREVAIL.  BOTH PROBLEMS ARE LINKED AND INESCAPABLY GLOBAL IN NATURE AND LACKING A SOLUTION ANYWHERE WILL OBVIATE THE CHANCE FOR SUCCESS EVERYWHERE.  THE SOLUTIONS WILL ONLY COME FROM INCREASED POWERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS TO ENFORCE FINANCIAL AND ENERGY BEHAVIORS WORLDWIDE ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES: A SINGLE RATE CARBON TAX ON USE OF ENERGY FROM CARBON SOURCES WORLDWIDE; A SINGLE RATE SALES TAX ON ALL FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS; ALL INCOME BEING CLASSED AS INCOME IN ALL COUNTRIES REGARDLESS OF ITS SOURCE, WHETHER FROM LABOR OR INVESTMENT, AND TAXED AT THE SAME RATE.  IN ADDITION, ALL PROPERTY INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSETS HELD IN STOCKS, BONDS OR ANY OTHER FORM ANYWHERE ON EARTH, MUST BE TAXED AS PROPERTY AT THE SAME ANNUAL RATE AS REAL ESTATE OR OTHER PHYSICAL ASSETS; AND ANY TAX UNCOLLECTED BY NATIONS UNDER WHOSE JURISDICTION THE ACTIVITY IS CONDUCTED WILL BE FORFEITED TO THE UN AND COLLECTED BY IT.  THERE MUST BE NO ESCAPING TAX BY MOVING ASSETS OFFSHORE FROM ANY NATION TO ANY OTHER PLACE INCLUDING SO-CALLED INTERNATIONAL WATERS AND NATIONS SHALL NOT COMPETE FOR INVESTORS OR ENERGY-INTENSIVE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WITH TAX RELIEF, INCLUDING CARBON TAX RELIEF, IN ANY FORM INCLUDING DEFERRAL.

FAILING THIS LEVEL OF COOPERATION, THE VERY REAL AND THREATENING PROBLEMS THAT PRESENTLY MAKE THE FUTURE OF THIS SPECIES AND THIS PLANET INSECURE WILL SOMEDAY SOON OVERWHELM ALL MORE LOCALIZED EFFORTS.  

THIS LEVEL OF GLOBAL COOPERATION IS COMING.  WE CAN EITHER HELP TO PEACEFULLY USHER IT IN, WELCOMING IT AS A NEEDED CURATIVE FOR A RAPIDLY OVERCROWDING PLANET, OR WE WILL ARRIVE AT THE IDENTICAL ARRANGEMENT AFTER A GLOBAL CONFLICT, FOMENTED BY THE PRIVILEGED WITHIN PRESENT SOVEREIGN NATIONS OF EARTH, THAT MAY LAY WASTE TO MUCH PRECIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT AND LEAVE MUCH LESS OF VALUE TO BE SHARED.  WHAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO ACCOMPLISH IS NO LESS AND NO MORE THAN TO CIVILIZE THE WEALTHY.