Introduction

Existing together is both at the same time, easy and not easy at all. Many forms of organizations of communities have evolved in nature and among human beings. While, in the ages, they were all local, the developments of technologies of the past 10’000 years, past 1’000 years and most accentuated past 100 years converted the many communities of human beings into a single world-wide one. Hence, the criticality and challenges of integrating diversities, preventing the accumulation of power and using resources sustainably have dramatically grown.

The forms of states that are in use today, however, originate from times of long-overcome communication and transportation technologies, when the cultural and ethical backgrounds of communities and states have been more homogenous. Also, education and information were less common goods. And unfortunately, there are still remains of state forms present today, monarchies and dictatorships, where a minority of people rules in full or partly, has privileges and sometimes still conquers subjects and provinces.

We claim, however, that states must be formed by freewill of the people of all its geographical parts. If the people of a part want to quit, this is their right. If parts or states want to merge, this must be achieved by democratic agreement. Democratic means that all state members have equal rights, and all human beings have equal rights to become state members.

The project of Stable State is an attempt to devise a new form that overcomes current deficiencies. The form is not entirely new but a very pure form of democracy. One key element is to simplify and rehabilitate the term law. We define it as basic and stable as the laws of physics which cannot be changed:

''' Law 1. Be true. '''

''' Law 2. Be respectful. '''

''' Law 3. Be peaceful. '''

There can be no politicians, lawyers nor oligarchs, nobody that can change them. Everything else law-like is called rules.

The 3 laws shall be fulfilled to a maximum within the confines of a state and the population democratically decides on rules to be followed to achieve this. While the laws remain, the rules are subject to optimizations and change. The dynamics of rule change, however, can be quick in urgencies but is usually slow. This slowness, together with the fundamental 3 ideals and laws constitue the Stable State.

In contrast to the laws of physics, we understand the 3 laws can be violated. Also, the rules can be violated. Hence, an enforcement organization and procedures must also be in place as part of the rules. In the undoubtedly occurring cases of difficult interpretations of the rules, however, it is always the 3 laws of truth, respect and peace and their fulfillment that must supersede an eventual literal rule’s interpretation.

''' We are convinced that all people, independent of race, confession, language, place of birth, gender or other attributes can commit to the 3 laws and ideals. ''' This common and unconditional commitment unifies people and groups that otherwise might focus on their diversity and subdivision. While politically unified under the 3 laws, we encourage regional and ethnical groups of people to live and celebrate their cultures. At the same time, it is important that individuals must never be forced to participate at specific cultural or other events and organizations that are not part of the state’s rules. Having stated this principle, it means that the state's rules must be minimal and only cover things that are everybody's concern and impact.

Let us elaborate in more detail what truth, respect and peace mean:

Truth

The basis of all prospering collaboration of human beings is truth and, hence, reliability. It is the fundamental ideal of this project and state form. We are convinced that truth is and has been very fundamental at all times, and is also the fundament of nature, physical and biological processes, and the universe. Truth as we define it, is not some meta-physical concept, but is as simple, for example, as being on time at an appointment. It also means to accurately and completely reporting about the self-experienced past if asked for. Fairy tales, irony and fiction are only allowed in appropriate contexts.

A much more demanding aspect of the principle of truth is the requirement for knowledge and skills. The reason for this is that we treat all untrue information and non-professional behaviour as a violation of the first law independent of the intentions. So, if you don’t know a subject, better hold your mouth shut and learn first. To act truly and usefully in the practical private and professional tasks caring for sustainable resources usage, each human being has the duty and right to get the appropriate education. Also, it means that the knowledge and skills must be maintained throughout lifetime. Finally, it means you strive to improve and assist in educating others when need becomes apparent or you are asked for.

All definitions of true or false are facts-based, mathematical and scientific. Facts and current state of knowledge must be clearly distinguishable on all media and forms of communication from other information. Other information can be not yet constructively or experimentally approved hypotheses, opinions, non-provable, unprecise, meaningless or plainly false information. No rules must be based on other information and false information leads to penalisation. Also, predictions into the future, apart from contractual obligations, must be declared as such and attributed a well-founded probability of accuracy. Still and of course, privately and company-internal you may use any information and processes to work and decide, but we recommend to stick to facts and knowledge.

Respect

While the truth is the fundamental principle, it is not sufficient to regulate a prospering community of human beings. The truth alone is unforgiving and if the truth is that somebody has stolen $2’000 out of your wallet, that’s it. An additional concept and ideal is needed to make the act of stealing illegal: property and respecting it. Each person shall be sure of and profit from his or her achievements. Else, the motivation to invest into education and skilful private and professional behaviour cannot be assured. Private, economic and state processes would not be able to function properly as can be seen in regions where corruption and mafia prevail.

Human beings, first, possess a body. And respect, first, means that you and others care for and respect your own body. Then, it means that each respects the privacy and appropriate distance of each other’s bodies. Also, respectfulness in the more traditional meaning of appropriately greeting and being polite, is required by the ideal of respect.

Then, we possess things like cloths, cars, animals, money, contractual obligations, real estate, etc. And we possess all non-public data about ourselves which must not be passed to others without consent. Respect means that all true possessions of a human being must not be touched or used without permission. Damage, destruction, theft and contractual non-compliance are, of course, also not allowed under the principle of respect.

Peace

The last of the ideals is peace. It might be inferred as respect for the body. But it has great importance and some additional implications and is therefore an explicit principle.

Peace begins with not threatening others explicitly nor with gestures or other non-verbal forms. It encompasses free passage into public areas and prohibits physical violations. Certain contact sports like boxing or football must formulate exemption rules from this. Peace culminates with the command of not to kill.

Peace for the state also means to never attack other states, be neutral in conflicts between other states.

But peace is never for free. It means that all persons must prepare and contribute to defend the peace against threats or attacks stemming from state-external opponents and state-internal entities. In the case of an external threat or attack, all persons are exempt from the law of peacefulness against the state-external opponents to protect the entire community. And it also means that against state-internal threats nominated persons, forming the police, are also exempt from the law of peacefulness against the misbehaving individuals to protect the society. Finally, it means that you must and may prepare for and self-defend yourself and help your family and friends in the case no or not sufficient police is present. Each self-defence has the goal to stop the attack and identify the attacker. It must not go further.

Conclusion

If we agree to live together in truth, respect and peace, and we already do it most of the time, life is easy. It gets uneasy when we violate these principles and it gets really complicated if also the rules, currently sadly named laws, governing our society are a legacy, not clear and not focussed on the 3 ideals.

We hope that reformed communities and state organizations according to the principles of the Stable State project can contribute to making this planet a better place for humans and all living creatures. Finally, the Stable State might be a form appropriate when all human beings will be unfied in 1 single state sometimes in the future.

If you share this hope, like the ideas and would like to contribute, please contact [mailto:moser@acm.org me].

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