A new society - Education.
Considering what we have said so far, it seems to be evident that in a new society these pitfalls must be avoided if the society has any hope to remain democratic for a fairly long time.
Therefore, education should be oriented to develop in every Human being, since school age, the power of independent inquiring thinking
This is essential for a really democratic society.
Because of the continually increasing volume of information and knowledge, it has become impossible for any individual person to master all there is to know. It would be difficult for anyone to attempt to become a specialist in every field of knowledge.
Education from early age should be oriented, first of all, to develop the power of objective thinking and social consciousness through the study of Human history, social sciences, Arts, Cultures and Religions, and through a general basic knowledge of all other sciences and technology.
Every person should have the duty and should be encouraged to reach such level of education. This would promote wider contact and understanding between people, and should diminish one of the main causes for the existence of social classes - the difference in the level of education and culture.
The next role of education should be to provide specialisation, research and experimentation in every field of knowledge, in co-operation with the rest of the society and in harmony with its guiding principles.
Education, as one part of social life, should help to produce conscious healthy Human beings able to think for themselves. Next, it should provide the means and facilities for those who want to specialise in any field of knowledge.
A general principle should be that Humanity comes first, then technology at its service. For leadership, excellence in both fields should be the ideal.
It is my opinion that the great majority of Human beings have the potential to reach a high level of education and Human awareness. Some are slower than others, some develop sooner some later, but at the end, within the difference of a few years, all can reach a high level of understanding.
As it is today, children are already being separated into different social levels when they enter primary school. Coming from different backgrounds, compelled by an artificially set timetable and strict schedule, those who are slow are stunted for life. They are placed in lower categories and, by the time their intellect opens up and expands at a later stage, it is too late for them to catch up. They may already have acquired a sense of inferiority, and they may have developed mental blockages to protect their egos. Moreover, unless they come from a wealthy background, the timetable of their education cannot be extended. This is a personal tragedy for many young people, and a great loss of talent for the whole of society.
There should be no stigma or shame in being a slow learner; time can make up for slowness. In fact, some of the greatest geniuses were slow students; they succeeded because of exceptional circumstances or exceptional will power. How many young people with latent talents have been wasted because their intellect developed later, and they did not have the fortune of exceptional will power or favourable circumstances; How many of them are now intelligent criminals who, in a different society, could have been good and outstanding citizens?
For all these reasons Schools, Colleges, Universities etc. should be expanded and be readily available to anyone seeking to improve their education at any stage of their lives.
A new society the media.
The media and other means of information should complement the role of education, but they should be completely independent from any other influence
The reporting of news should be objective, and, for the sake of objectivity, the proportion of bad news to good news should be in relation to their proportion in real life and in relation to their importance.
As we do not know definitely how the Human brain works and is influenced, we should be very careful about the exaggerated dissemination of unnatural, putrid and gory news items which dull our sensitiveness even if for some reason they attract our morbid curiosity.
Today sensationalism is rampant because it boosts profits, and what otherwise would be extraordinary and unusual happenings becomes accepted as commonplace. Much is stored in our brain's memory banks, in our subconscious, to be activated later on in some uncontrollable situations.
In the same newspaper, T.V. station, etc. space for editorial comments and opinions should be allotted to all points of view, whether they represent the main trend or opposing ones.
In all Media information outlets the "Right of Reply" should be implemented: the reply should be in the same frame or page and format as the original statement.
A continuous dialogue and even argument about extreme opinions should go on in the media all the time within the same paper, T.V., etc. so that it would be difficult for any person to avoid being informed about all points of view.
The media should be completely independent from the interference of those in power, those who own it or those with executive positions in the society, but it should be responsible and motivated by high Human values.
I cannot say what kind of democratic mechanism should be devised in relation to the running of the media. It is my opinion that the media should act as the conscience of society, reflecting all its doubts and turmoil, investigating and looking in every dark corner and also should be a watchdog of democratic rights, rather than an instrument of propaganda for those who are in power.
In the new society, no point of view or new social movement should be suppressed in the media, as odd or different they may be from the existing trends. As a guarantee for progress and change, every new idea must be allowed to be expressed and debated. If it is good and promising it will gradually gain ground and develop, if it is no good it will not grow and it would fade away for lack of support.