[David Hausladen]

Michael Chui: I can see how a world government could create a great deal of good for the world. I don't recognize the reference, which isn't surprising considering I've only read the first two books in the Shadow Saga, and can't remember them very well. I think the good done by any form of world government would really depend on its form.

I'm half-inclined toward peaceful anarchy, but I can't see any way to create that condition without opening the door for tyranny to immediately follow. You'd almost have to create a world government to prevent governments from arising...which, of course, makes no sense.

Maybe I'll look up the Shadow Saga on Wikipedia and see if I can find some info on the example of world government that you mentioned...could be interesting.

Nico Kempe: I know what you mean about dystopian futures--it's hard to be optimistic in the face of current events. Then again, maybe things are overall better now than they've been at any point in the past, and the only reason things look bad is because of the way the media portrays it. And as you say, our collective vision of the future is what's actually responsible for how the future goes. My hope for this thread is that we can think about what things we really want to see in that vision, and by envisioning help the future to move in the right direction.

If I hear you correctly, one thing we ought to intend for the future is more optimism, happiness, spirituality...in short, a general movement toward higher consciousness. I'd certainly put my intentions toward that.