Key issues for a successful system that’s meaningfully different from the one we have now, and is more socialist in practical ways that I think would make a tangible difference:
1) do as much as possible through a library economy.
That means that, like a library, instead of having to purchase something there are centers in which objects can be borrowed and returned for practical needs. For example, there really doesn’t need to be twenty leaf blowers each owned by different people. That’s an easy tool to share, and there are many other things that are currently purchased and owned that could be shared via a library-like system—even if money still exists, we can minimize the need for it for every single part of life the way we currently have it. Practical needs can get met and money can be saved for things that can’t be borrowed the same way. It also builds trust and a generally stronger social contract.
2) reintroduce trade as a economic option across communities.
Again, minimizing the need for money, and building a stronger social contract. And not just trading objects, but trading labor.
This is an obvious one. It’s simply a stronger democracy if people can more accurately vote their values.
4) voting days should be holidays.
Whenever your local voting day is, you should have the day off so you can make sure to vote. This makes sure people are aware of when voting day is as well, which isn’t always the case right now.
If a leader—anything from a representative in the government to a union leader—is failing those they lead, it should be easy to call a vote on whether to replace them. I understand that this can be weaponized, but it puts a lot more pressure on the leaders to actually deliver and to maintain appropriate trust with those they lead and I think that’s good. Leadership is a responsibility and a privilege, there should be real work required to maintain that kind of role.
6) the right to self defense needs to apply to everyone equally.
Otherwise things like police brutality are inevitable. People need to have a right to defend themselves and to fight back in court if state violence is unjustly committed against them. And on a similar note—
7) replace state violence wherever and whenever possible.
State violence should be the last resort in every possible circumstance. Lives should not be in danger the way they so often are if we actually value due process. That includes at the border, if we can’t get rid of it.
8) remove monetary privileges and advantages in court
We need to remove anything that favors the wealthy. If someone poor wants to take someone rich to court, they should be able to have an equal chance at justice.
9) context should apply in court.
If someone steals because they can’t afford food, that should be judged differently than a mugging.
9) no billionaires. Period.
Any net worth at a billion or more gets reinvested into pursuing the right of all to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This includes universal basic income and universal health care. If a company is worth a billion dollars or more, that similarly needs to go into improving employees lives—NOT into the CEO’s pocket. If they leave, then fine—it means we don’t have to pander to them anymore. If we have to tolerate their exploitation for them to stay, then that’s a trade off I’m willing to make.
10) policy needs to be judged for its actual impact.
That means if the government or a company is implementing policy that would on an individual level land someone in prison, there’s no reason they should face a mere slap on the wrist—if that. Everyone else has to deal with the consequences of their actions, they should have to worry about that as well.
11) abolish the prison industrial complex
Obviously. And replace it with systems genuinely designed to help heal and solve problems so that lives can tangibly improve. Prisons shouldn’t be centers of dehumanization, but rehabilitation.
Those are just some initial thoughts about tangible, (imo) common sense actions we can move towards.
