That would be its name. My island. My child.
An island because. It would be voluntary. No one would be forced onto it, nor would they be forced to stay at any time. At any time they could leave, come back, leave again. But if they chose of their own free will to live on Egalitaria . . . they would have to abide by its rules, and work toward the benefit of all islanders.
A new economy. No capitalism. No getting rich. For that, one could go elsewhere. Again, it’s their choice.
The island would have no money, no currency, no coins or dollar bills, nothing to hand over in exchange for goods and services and nothing to accumulate. One could not hoard currency. One could not collect currency from others and grow a mountain of old coins and dirty paper. Instead, islanders would carry an electronic card, a debit card of sorts. Everyone would get a card and on that card they would receive digits for work done. Numbers representing work. Salaries to be set per type of work, duty, job, degree of difficulty — all within a certain range to prevent large imbalances, disharmonies and inequalities. There would be no ratios higher than three to one, because three in one is magic, has always been magic. And the island, through its constitution, watched over by its councils, would also award bonus numbers for exceeding the norm, for going beyond just enough, for doing more than is required. But the freedom to do just enough, without falling into penury — if that’s an islander’s choice — would always be there. There would be no penury, no poverty, no want.
The island would set prices for all goods and services, and set them extremely low across the board, so no one need fear. There would be no need for profits, because no one could make surplus currency on any sale, or through paying workers less than they produce, less than they are worth. They could only make the agreed upon amount through set prices and wages and perhaps add bonuses in accord with island bylaws and traditions. Managers and workers could earn more numbers, more children of Pythagoras, based upon the quality of their work, its added value for the community, its harmony with the natural world, and its ability to improve quality of life for all.
The island would have no long term political representation and no parties. No parties could form, according to the island’s constitution, and that constitution would set general parameters for wages and prices and environmental and quality of life standards necessary for the island to prosper. And by ‘prosper’ we islanders mean:
Healthier, longer lives; richer, deeper, more varied intellectual experiences; better, sweeter, more delicious organic food and drink; safer, cleaner, more pristine environments; clearer, sharper sunsets and sunrises. More love and friendship; more laughter, song, joy around campfires; more art, more poetry, more music of the spheres, wine and dance . . . .
All adult citizens, after the age of 21, would serve two year terms on local councils, independently, and they would be the temporary voices of the collective will. No one could serve longer than their two years, so all citizens would rotate through the councils and everyone would know that moment on the council would be superceded by others, and others would have their turn in time. And they would be young when they looked after the doings of the island, young and full of idealism and energy and strength, which would be needed to help the island tend to the Way. And each new council would elect a leader from its own ranks, and that leader would direct the flow of the meetings, but would not rule. She or he would facilitate, broker, augment, gather the force of the island and keep it on the path of the Way, flow with the council, lead, flow and follow . . .
More thoughts on Egalitaria in a few days . . .