The World's Direction

I was having a conversation today with my father, an economics major, about politics, economics, and the direction society is headed in general. Eventually, the conversation arrived at social and economic programs, which led to further personal consideration.

In order to best analyze any system, one must first identify the purpose for which it was created. The most basic purpose of economics and of society would be to provide for its members. Therefore, we need to define what it means for an economic system to provide for its members. In order to define this, we need to identify what it is we see to be the ideal product of society. In other words, given the ideal social and economic system, what is our vision for the ideal member that it produces?

The last question is where the discussion starts. It can be broken down into three general categories: economic expectations, academic expectations, and social expectations. Within those categories exist more subdivisions. In economics: housing, clothing, food and water, and recreation. In academics: history, philosophy, and science. In social values: ethics, aesthetics, love, and achievement, among many, many others.

A consensus must be reached by society about these things in order to better work towards their achievement, and thus to better work towards the ideal economic system. If we cannot do this, our goals will be in conflict, and they will not be achieved despite our best efforts. A priority needs to be established among the people of the world. Before we end political stagnation or economic turmoil, this is what we must accomplish.