Dem
47
GOP
53
Here is the question we put before readers last week:
S.B. in Winslow, ME, asks: What one aspect about humanity, if changed, would bring the greatest benefit to society and the natural world as a whole?
And here some of the answers we got in response:
K.H. in Scotch Plains, NJ: The ability to think long-term. Too few people have it.
J.N. in Durham, NC: An increase in humanity's curiosity would go a long way to improving life on Earth. Curiosity about how things work, which is the basis of the scientific method. This would lead to an understanding that science does not produce laws, but instead provides descriptions of our best understanding of how the world around us works. And that we update that understanding when we encounter new evidence. Denying reality is not a good long term way to live. Reality does not have a liberal bias; reality is just truth.
D.K. in Chicago, IL: In the spirit of a doctor who needs to get all the health information before making a diagnosis and prescribing a cure, I would say getting one's facts straight before opening our mouths. That would lead to less misunderstanding and misinformation, knee-jerk reactions and judgments. From there, we can debate the morality of solutions.
N.M. in Hudson Valley, NY: Although I was going to highlight the cause of conversion to non-combustion power generation, recalling something I saw on a recent trip to New York City came to mind.
It was about some research into a vaccine for pancreatic cancer (which killed Ruth Bader-Ginsburg for that matter, among millions of others) that was ongoing. Apparently they are very close to success.
The common thread between the two is the absolute necessity of research funding, which, of late, this current bunch is decimating. Stopping them and restoring the research ASAP (in hopes of not losing progress already made) is the best first step to improving humanity and planetary health. The only way we improve the world is by working towards that very goal.
J.A. in Monterey, CA: The Dunning-Kruger Effect. If we fixed this in humans, so that they didn't think they were experts in things they actually knew little about (and had some intellectual humility), they would likely make better decisions, including electing better leaders.
J.L. in Chicago, IL: I am going to go with the disappearance of cognitive biases. It is not going to happen, at least not on anything shorter than an evolutionary timeline, but I took the question to be theoretical, not necessarily achievable.
And for anyone whose mind quickly jumped to, "Yes, it would help so much if those MAGA folks (or whoever) could break free of their biases," you are not agreeing. You are demonstrating.
J.L. in Albany, NY: I'd change "tribalism," specifically the view that "my tribe deserves more than your tribe" or "my tribe deserves all the power and will label your tribe as dangerous."
Way back in the early days of humanity, this probably made sense. People from rival tribes could be a legitimate threat. Unfortunately, this has persisted into the modern day, when the legitimate threat is claimed, but is entirely imaginary. For example, some people claim "trans people are a threat," but most trans people just want to live their lives in peace. They aren't looking to attack or threaten cisgender folks like myself. Yet, they are labeled a threat because some see them as "part of a different tribe and therefore dangerous."
If we could get rid of tribalism, the world would be a more accepting and peaceful place.
B.B. in St. Louis, MO: The greatest benefit to humanity would be if individuals became unable to recognize "the other." Our civilization will not advance long as humans continue to divide the species into "we" and "they."
A.L. In Santa Cruz, CA: When humans stop seeing one another as competitors or enemies and truly learn cooperation and collaboration, all our problems are resolvable. There are no "others" on this delicate spaceship Earth that we call home, only "us."
C.V. in Chadron, NE: The one thing that I think would make the world a better place is if people were naturally more apologetic. The power of apology would go a long way in reducing conflict and bringing people together instead of conflict.
M.N. in Lake Ann, MI: What one aspect about humanity, if changed, would bring the greatest benefit to society and the world as a whole? That would have to be empathy. I sit here tonight stunned that my sleepy little corner of the world isn't so sleepy anymore, and is splashed across the world news because of a mass casualty event. One that saw one random person deliberately harm 11 other random people, with the up-close-and-personal method of stabbing. For what? When did our fellow human beings become invisible to us? It feels like humanity has looked around and decided that others are expendable, like "non-playable characters" from the gaming world. Our ability to put ourselves in others shoes and try to understand where they are coming from has disappeared.
I read with horror reports that so-called Christians are using phrases like "toxic empathy". "What Would Jesus Do?" has left the building, apparently. If we could all see ourselves in our fellow man and fellow creatures, the world would improve in so many ways. The current regime appears to DELIGHT in others suffering... that is the toxic thing. Not empathy. I'm going to cry myself to sleep tonight, for 11 people I don't even know. And probably even for the perpetrator, because you have to be pretty messed up to do this, and that is as sad as it is horrifying.
G.K. in Blue Island, IL: Empathy. Greater empathy. More than better "candidate quality", more than having a better information ecosystem, more than even fostering better education and critical thinking, if humanity could just turn away from a binary "Us" vs. "Them" framing of every political or sociological topic—or at least learn to distrust those who would frame things in such a manner—humanity in general would not only be better off but (probably) be pointed toward a brighter future.
I haven't the foggiest idea how to accomplish this. Religion used to be able to address this somewhat, but the dominant faith in the U.S. has been co-opted by those who openly despise empathy. Public education used to at least provide a level playing field of sorts, where basic people skills and commonly-accepted virtues (like tolerance) were taught along with the three Rs, but that is actively be tarred now with the "woke" brush.
B.T.M. in Arlington, MA: I would ask the gods to reduce the level of testosterone in all humans just a smidge. I think it would calm everybody down without fatally losing our aspirations for creativity and prosperity.
M.D.H. in Coralville, IA: A cure for "testosterone poisoning," the tendency for offended male ego to create conflict and block cognition.
J.M. in Portland, OR : It's very simple, really: Put women in charge of everything. Sure, some women can be as bad as any man but on the whole the world would be a much better place.
S.S. in Toronto, ON, Canada: I think the ONE aspect that needs to be developed—not only to benefit society and the natural world, but to ensure our very survival—is trustworthiness. I think there has been a severe loss of trustworthiness in today's world, and without that, absolutely nothing can function effectively. It is, as the Baha'i teachings say, the "foundation of all human virtues."
A.G. in Plano, TX: I'm going to get a lot of blowback for this, I'm sure, but humanity worldwide would benefit exponentially if religion ceased to exist. Religion to this day—ALL of them—seeks nothing but control and offers nothing but vengeful judgment. Religion actively dehumanizes anyone who dares to question it and is used as the justification for countless acts of cruelty, suffering and murder. As George Carlin aptly observed, more people have been killed in the name of God in human history than for any other reason.
Humanity is long overdue to move past the need for religion.
D.D. in Hollywood, FL: To quote John Lennon: "...and no religion, too." Religion, in many forms, has long served as a catalyst for division, conflict, and irrational decision-making, often rooted in superstition rather than logic or the common good.
Much like in Star Trek's "A Taste of Armageddon," where Captain Kirk ends a senseless, sanitized war by destroying the simulation and forcing people to face the reality of their actions, humanity would benefit from dismantling the "fig leaf" that religion so often provides to justify our worst behavior. For centuries, it has served as a convenient excuse—justifying war, oppression, and policy decisions based not on reason or collective benefit, but on obedience to a so-called "higher power," often interpreted to suit individual or political agendas.
I include all religions, past and present, across all cultures. Despite their moral claims, I see little enduring good that outweighs the harm. Religion has certainly not made America—or the world—any greater.
M.P. in Scotts Valley, CA: The elimination of every person in the world with more than $1B in assets.
M.M. in Leonardtown, MD: The obvious "big picture" answers (bigotry, exploitation, greed, hypocrisy, war, etc.) all seem to stem from the notion that all success is zero-sum, that someone else must lose in order for us to win. So let's get rid of that notion.
(Partial credit for this idea goes to the YouTube channel Veritasium, which I highly recommend for anyone needing an algorithm cleanse. The particular video that I immediately thought of when reading this question, having watched it about 3 days before, dealt with game theory. Spoiler alert, the video proves that cooperation/collaboration produces superior long-term outcomes, despite rational self-interest being the optimal choice for each individual decision.)
J.D. in Greensboro NC: It is too easy to give greed as an answer, so I'm going to give an example instead.
Many years ago I watched a movie called The Gods Must Be Crazy. One part of the plot (there are two) involves a remote African village where the residents are busy with their everyday lives of simple existence, basically living from day to day without luxuries. Then a man in a small plane throws his coke bottle out his window and it falls to the village where it is retrieved by a child and shown to the village members. They wonder why the gods have sent them this "thing." But soon they see the utility of it, using it to grind grain or playing it like a musical instrument and eventually they become obsessed with possessing it. The thing has turned them against each other. One incident finally brings them to their senses and a certain villager is tasked with traveling to the end of the world to throw it away.
Of course, this is just a story and life is more complicated. But we all could benefit by the insight this story and others give us and be open to their lessons.
Here is the question for next week:
N.M.D. in Duluth, MN, asks: What are some good places to visit in Europe that have historical connections to World War II and the Holocaust?
Submit your answers to comments@electoral-vote.com, preferably with subject line "We Shall Return"!