pathless land
A Vision for a Society of Humankind
“To be free, not only from nationalism but also from all the conclusions of organized religions and political systems, is essential if the mind is to be young, fresh, innocent, that is, in a state of revolution; and it is only such a mind that can create a new world — not the politicians, who are dead, nor the priests, who are caught in their own religious systems.” ~Jiddu Krishnamurti
A Declaration of Free Interdependence
By
Pathless Land of America
On the 12th day of December in the year 2072, this Declaration of Free Interdependence was ratified by representatives of a new republic, Pathless Land of America. It is our blueprint for peace, security, and prosperity.
Preamble
Human history is a soul-searing litany of tyranny, wretchedness, slavery, war, subjugation, and genocide. Contempt for the sanctity of human life has yielded unremitting barbarism and cruel oppression that infuriate the pure conscience. Innocent people have been continually assaulted by the covetousness, superstitions, prejudices, dogmas, aggressions, and ideologies of others. Governments have not only failed to prevent these abuses, they have often abetted them. The multitudes of common people have been forever ravaged by secular and theocratic tyrants imposing themselves on everyone else. Our desperate yearnings for Justice and Peace cry out for a fresh and rational approach.
We are sovereign individuals who desire the benefits of society. We seek to ensure justice, provide for the common defense, and promote individual accountability. Our goal is to secure the blessings of free collaboration for ourselves and for our posterity. Our new republic is conceived in liberty, committed to lasting peace on Earth, and dedicated to protecting the equal and unalienable rights of all people in our society.
We acknowledge that a perfect Utopia is impossible. We live in an entropic world where malevolent events naturally occur, where fallible people make mistakes, where villains torment others, and where everyone vies for scarce resources.
In light of this turmoil, a vital role of government is to protect the lives and rights of our citizens. We are consecrating a society in which people can freely choose their own paths, safe from others who may try to harm them or steal from them.
We endeavor to protect all citizens from all forms of coercion and violence, whether committed by individuals, by groups, or by governments. We believe that the only way to eliminate tribalism and the superficial divisiveness of skin color, creeds, and cultures is to unite around universal principles.
The motto of Pathless Land is our North Star: “Neither coerce nor be coerced.”
Truths
We hold these Truths to be consistent with the nature of Humans and of Reality:
- WE LIVE IN AN ENTROPIC UNIVERSE.
Existence is ordered by transcendent laws. Among these, Entropy imposes on every individual the burden and responsibility to continually strive for survival and happiness.
- WE ARE COLLABORATIVE BEINGS.
To survive and thrive, we rationally engage in mutual trade, defense, customs, language, affection, and sharing of knowledge to further our self-interests.
- PEOPLE HAVE FREE WILL.
Every person has volitional consciousness, which gives rise to individual responsibility and moral agency. We are each the sum of our decisions and the consequences thereof.
- PEOPLE PREFER BETTER OVER WORSE.
People, acting according to their own judgment and values, will choose actions intended to yield better rather than worse outcomes. Protecting their freedom to do so is the keystone of morality in Pathless Land.
- WE ARE GUIDED BY KARMA.
Personal relationships are guided by social feedback that encourages trust, respect, honesty, generosity, and common sense. Transactional relationships are guided by market feedback that encourages efficiency, innovation, and proper resource valuation. Present Self is guided by the anticipated judgment of Future Self, which encourages personal integrity and accountability.
- PEOPLE ARE UNIQUE.
People differ in their abilities, aspirations, and efforts. Thus, a free society will naturally yield unequal outcomes. It is impossible to have a free society and equal outcomes.
- EACH CITIZEN IS SOVEREIGN.
We endow all citizens with the rights to choose their actions, to enjoy the benefits thereof, and to think and believe as they wish, so long as they observe the similar rights of others. We consider all forms of coercion to be immoral.
- THERE IS AN OBJECTIVE REALITY.
Truth can only be validated by the free and continual exchange and testing of ideas, not by the immutable dictates of fallible leaders and institutions.
- PEOPLE ARE IMPERFECT.
Fallible people often choose to coerce others due to weak character or the influence of mysticism, collectivism, elitism, or bigotry. We are establishing this society and forming this government to achieve mutual protection from such aggression.
- GOVERNMENTS ARE CREATED BY PEOPLE.
Our government derives its limited powers from a Constitution ordained by citizens who have the unalienable rights of reformation and revolution. Laws established for practical governance should be few, simple, widely known, and equally applied. They should protect rather than harm our unalienable rights. They should ensure that political power remains uncorrupted by venal influence.