by Paxus

Created on: October 26, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Writers and filmmakers have long struggled to give us their vision of a perfect world. In many cases, these worlds exist with lives of luxury and ease, free from disease and strife. In 1516 CE, Sir Thomas More gave us the basis for Utopia in a discussion of the perfect state. But because we do not live in a perfect world, humanity will always struggle against the outside environment and its inward nature. I would say that a perfect world exists more in the mastery of this inward nature and that this mastery can only be accomplished by providing humanity with greater levels of education, health, and standard of living.

This begins with access to a quality education. Educators will receive the highest levels of training, support and salaries with which to do their jobs. Our education systems are changed to maximize critical thinking and retention. Most importantly, students are given equal opportunity to attend good schools that encourage cultural diversity and dialogue. The student's courses consist not only of math and science, but philosophy and ethics. Students are also encouraged to participate in community volunteer activities.

A student's home life is helped through the redistribution and equalization of wages for their parents. The minimum wage is raised to make it easier for a family to survive, and caps on executive salaries will provide enough excess business capital to make up for the minimum wage increase. As workers make more money, they have more time for their families. A parent's attention can then refocus from work back to their children. Also, the government provides adult job training and continuing education courses to keep workers competitive and skilled as technology changes. Competition still drives the market, but laws are changed to make it a much more level playing field.

Finally, universal quality health care is provided with a focus on preventive medicine. Health and fitness will be an important part of the education and continuing education systems, and essential drug and therapy measures will be made affordable for those people who need them. Health facilities offering free gymnasiums, fitness classes, and consultations will be easily accessible by all citizens. As the population becomes healthier, learning and productivity will increase, thus making it easier and cheaper to provide education and medicine over time.

There will always be selfishness and adversity in the world. What moves us forward as a society is our constant struggle against them. Utopian doctrines never work because they rely on the perfect human to accomplish the perfect society. Because the perfect human will never exist, we must try our best to give normal human beings the opportunity and tools needed to fight our internal and external struggles. This can only be done by increasing our access to quality education, health care, and a decent standard of living. The world can come closer to becoming a utopia once human beings have healthier minds and bodies with which to struggle and excel.

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