On a surprisingly regular basis I get asked the question: ‘What would your empire be like, Seb?’
It always makes me stop and think. Who told you I’m planning to be an emperor…?
I don’t think I’ve told many people about my aspirations of world domination, but perhaps it’s the kind of thing that manifests and makes itself known in other ways. Maybe it’s the sparkly glint in my eye, or the grandiose sweep of my arms when discussing important issues. Who knows though, really. Humans have a way of picking up on things, right? And it would be stupid of me to deny something that is so plainly true. People will continue to ask me what my empire will be like — so it would be good to have some answers that I can give those that inquire.
And I have some answers. Not a complete manifesto of course — I guess I have another 15 years or so before the world will take an entire manifesto seriously. Damn my lack of senatorial grey hair and wrinkle-implied wisdom. But I have some ground rules, some ideas that would make it a grand and just and mighty empire.
Let’s call this My Manifesto, just for fun. In case any historians are reading: this is liable to change at any time — I haven’t finished travelling the world yet. So consider this manifesto in flux.
Starting at the beginning:
Education
Proper education for all. Plain and simple. ‘Proper’ is defined as ‘an education that prepares you for later on’. If the world wants to be a democracy, education will teach you political science and democracy. If the world wants to be a dictatorship, education should teach you how to be a good subject of the dictator. Remarkably little is actually learnt at school — and most of the ‘important’ things aren’t even touched upon. Probably because politicians/parents/?? are afraid of kids actually knowing what’s going on. Kids used to know so much about the world when they lived their education. Depending on what is important, that should be taught. It will vary from country to country, but it’s about time we actually teach useful knowledge.
This section has been expanded in its own entry
Politics
I’m split between dictatorship and democracy. Both have their merits. Democracy/bureaucracy doesn’t tend to get things done quickly. Perhaps a ‘temporary dictatorship’ system like the Romans? This requires the world to actually trust their leader(s) again though — something we haven’t had in a long time now. To successfully push through the changes in this manifesto you would need the support of an entire parliament/senate. Dictatorship would be easier… but that’s the trap, eh?
But I think if you have an educated populace, politics don’t matter quite so much. Politics is all about reaching a compromise between (wildly) varied points of view. Tyranny is easier because only one point of view matters. It works until that point of view is ‘wrong’ — that’s why you have democracy/bureaucracy, to ‘even out’ the wrongs, to make sure things don’t go too wrong. But you ‘even out’ the peaks as well as the troughs. The good bits get diluted. Why do our opinions and the opinions of lawmakers on important matters vary so much? Is it simply due to differing levels of education, knowledge and wisdom?
Research
Historically, most research funding is spent on defence — obviously, if I had a world-spanning empire, conventional military force wouldn’t be required. Planetary defences would be though. But this is a two-pronged thing: research into space travel also aids planetary defence. Many inventions and leaps in technology between 1900 and today have been off-shoots of military spending. But it’s time to move on now. We’re so ‘Earth-centric’ that we’re ignoring a frickin’ huge frontier that’s just begging to be explored. You would be shocked (or appalled) at the tiny budget allocated to space travel/research. We’re talking fractions of a percent of the annual budget. I think we need to care less about what we have now and more about what we could have. We need to give the explorers something to explore. They’re getting antsy, I assure you.
There’s more to it than simply ‘explore space’, but that’s a large part of it. Many corollary industries would surge forward too. Right now our inventions and technologies are very, very ‘Earth-centric’. Alter the playground, the locale, and the game changes. Just compare the kind of inventions we saw in the 1900s to the ones in the 200s. Compare motor vehicles to the Internet — and the sub-industries that have formed beneath each.
Welfare/Taxation
I quite like the concept of ‘flat tax‘, but I appreciate that my grasp of economic science isn’t perfect. Social support is a tricky one: how far do you extend the helping hand and deep pockets of state welfare? I think if we explored, our stockpile of available resources would expand at an alarming rate. There are other planets with resources like those of Earth. There are other places with gold nuggets literally dusting the landscape, just as they did when explorers first set foot on the New World of America. Resources dry up but the universe is almost infinitely large. Again, why are we so ‘Earth-centric’? I wonder if Big Oil (or national government even) realises just how much money they could make if they found a planet with oil or [insert some other fuel that hasn't been invented yet].
Taxing the rich is just one way of providing welfare. Would taxes need to be so high if our population density was lower and we had more natural resources? There are (I assume) always going to be people that need support from the state. There are other solutions than taxes.
Arts
You can’t begin to regulate the arts — they’re not something that should ever be under the jurisdiction of a government. Thankfully the days of artists being ‘commissioned’ to make self-adulatory statues or paintings of dictators are gone. Arts and artists simply need to be nurtured and they will flourish. I guess this ties into the ‘education’ section above because everyone’s an artist. You are artistic whether you like it or not — it’s just a matter of how easily or readily that art comes out! I have a feeling that making sure schools have adequate resources for the arts is another one of those ‘cheap, no-brainer’ things. I don’t think we need to worry too much about arts on a global scale — TV, film — I think we’re just all suffering a little from ‘cabin fever’ at the moment. All cooped up here on this fair planet with instantaneous communication and the equally instant/urgent need to satisfy our needs.
I know we’ve been static for a very tiny period relative to the entire history of humanity. But things are now moving quickly. The cogs are whirring but we’re standing still. We need to push forward now, towards the fringe, lest our own technology crushes us.
[Updated 30th November 2009]
Melissa
Nov 30, 2009
Vote for Seb, Emperor of the World, Ass-Kicker of Idiots, Conqueror of the Galaxy! At least of our arm of it, to start. How many habitable planets do you suppose are in our galactic zip code?
In other words: I like your manifesto very much. Politics is hard, but you’ve got a better take on it than many attempts I’ve seen!
Sebastian's mother
Nov 30, 2009
I don’t see Care of the Elderly in your manifesto, dear.
What about a ‘Free Incontinence Pants For All’ policy??
Rachel Cotterill
Nov 30, 2009
I wish they would get on with making space travel easier. I’ve been frustrated all my life that there are so few places (on earth) that no-one’s been yet.
sebastian
Nov 30, 2009
Thanks, Melissa! (But no, there’s no space for a right-hand wo/man, sorry…)
I think the estimate is something like 1 to 4 planets per solar system that COULD sustain human life. But the main thing is a) did they establish intelligence yet? and b) did they nuke themselves yet?
Apparently the odds that we’re still here and haven’t nuked ourselves are pretty small
Sure, mum… How about we cure incontinence instead? Or are you looking forward to the ‘easy life’…?
You and me both, Rachel. It’s unfair that there’s nothing left for you and I!
Ben
Nov 30, 2009
Whats your policy on Minarets?
I imagine you left out religion to keep things simple but it is a huge part of the world and would still be of any world you later go on to control.
Look forward to reading your thoughts in later revisions to your manifesto.
sebastian
Nov 30, 2009
Ah, religion… yeah, I thought about including it. As long as it remains separate from the government, I don’t mind really. It’s when people start doing things for their God/gods rather than the actual good of the nation that things get a little messy.
I think there’ll probably be a space for prayer and meditation when we’re out and about, travelling through the heavens, but I’m not sure if religion will survive.
Having said that, religion only really took root when global trade/communication became a reality (Roman Empire). Maybe we’ll need the solace of religion when we’re lightyears away from home.
Who knows
Ben
Nov 30, 2009
Have you noticed how minarets look like the Ares 1 rocket program?
sebastian
Nov 30, 2009
I have! I think it might be merely coincidental though.
I saw some lovely minarets when I was in Turkey.
And St Peter’s Basilica is probably the most beautiful structure in the world.
There’s a lot to be said for churches and buildings of a religious nature. I wonder how many artists and stone masons have been inspired by them.
Hezabelle
Nov 30, 2009
You’re already too old to follow in Alexander and Augustus’ footsteps… but MAYBE you can be a Julius Caesar. Or, judging from some of your TMIs, maybe a Nero or Caligula?
I also think you need a monumental architecture policy.
sebastian
Nov 30, 2009
How about a Space Elevator?
Or a palace on the Moon so large that it can be seen from Earth?
Unfortunately it’s very hard to be a young dictator/tyrant nowadays, especially in the Western world. Too many safeguards.
Kevin
Nov 30, 2009
Have you ever seen this: http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html ? Some of these might come in handy after you reach the top. Also, have you ever read Piers Anthony’s Bio of a Space Tyrant series? Interesting in a kind of 80s scifi/fantasy way, but the main character, Hope Hubris (no, really) does many of the things you’re advocating.
sebastian
Nov 30, 2009
I have seen the Evil Overlord stuff… is it that obvious that I want to be one when I grow up…? Damn, must re-think things.
I haven’t read the Piers Anthony stuff yet! It’s on the Great List Of Things To Read.
I’ll bump that one up a few spots though
Eric
Dec 3, 2009
Easy enough to declare these things and pass judgment, but what really is “proper” education? “Learn democracy” doesn’t count. I was taught about American government. I was taught math, science, history, and English–very poorly, for the latter. What about these things isn’t important, and what are the important things?
sebastian
Dec 3, 2009
Well I insinuate that importance depends on your role in life, or the level of society or — whatever, it’s contemporary, it changes a lot.
In one zone you need to learn about wood-cutting, another you might be better off with website design.
There are basic things that we need in the modern world, like the ability to process data, a high level of literacy, critical analysis (due to the vast amount of non-authority opinions out there on the Internet).
If the world is going to be incredibly political, then we must understand political science. You don’t need to study political science in some tribal sub-Saharan village though.
Connie
Jan 14, 2010
For a number of years I have been contemplating the overthrow of the world in order to straighten things out a bit, but I am simply too busy… I’m a mom. So glad to see that you’ve stepped up to the plate. Carry on.