War, terrorism, drug wars, crimes, gangs, violence, etc., are tremendous negative energy waste of resources in our world. Trillions of dollars are spent on these downward-spiral feedback loops. Imagine how much is spent across all these sectors. How much is spent on justice systems, court systems, police, military, ICE, and all other enforcement mechanisms around the world? Imagine if we took all of the resources in the reactionary and put them towards the holistic preventative. I’m not suggesting we remove essential emergency responders, but I do propose shifting significant resources toward our ideal future. Military law, courts, corrections, and reactive law enforcement are increasingly focused on restorative approaches and comprehensive guidance. Imagine focusing on more loving, caring, sharing, giving, forgiving, and genuinely kind striving to bring about conditions of comfort, joy, love, hope, unity, equity, and sustainable striving happiness. If these foundational elements were considered of the utmost importance, we would be able to prevent most of the negative energy, not to mention the tragedies and the lives lost. Imagine how much healthier everyone would be.
As we survey the landscape of planetary challenges, it becomes apparent how much of our collective energy and resources are consumed by a perpetual cycle of reaction and perpetual conflict. The relentless focus on combating symptoms rather than addressing root causes in areas such as conflict, crime, and social unrest perpetuates a ‘downward spiral feedback loop,’ siphoning trillions of dollars annually from our global economy. Consider the staggering sums allocated to maintaining complex justice systems, extensive court infrastructures, vast police forces, military operations, and myriad other enforcement mechanisms worldwide. This represents an enormous opportunity cost lost on more positive energy endeavors.
Imagine, then, a radical reallocation of these resources. What if the monumental investments currently directed towards reactive measures were instead channeled into a comprehensive, holistic preventative framework? This would mean prioritizing upstream interventions: robust educational systems, accessible, holistic healthcare, mental health services, community development initiatives, conflict resolution programs, creative, contributive empowerment, and sustainable environmental justice systems. Imagine if these foundations were considered value, energy, and benefits contributions from people first. Imagine all the effort that is allocated in the current condition.
To be clear, this vision does not advocate for dismantling our essential emergency response and safety nets. Instead, it calls for a profound strategic shift, redirecting substantial funding and focusing on cultivating a more stable, equitable, and resilient planetary society, as well as all associated stakeholders and communities, within our collective ‘desired future conditions.’ This requires a significant amount of needs assessment and relative prioritization.
In this reimagined future, the very institutions we rely on for order and security could evolve significantly. The role of national defense, for instance, could expand beyond traditional military engagements to encompass proactive diplomacy, robust peacekeeping missions, humanitarian aid, restoration university, disaster preparedness, and holistic investment. Our legal and judicial systems, currently often punitive, could transform into engines of restorative justice and holistic prescription advice. This would involve prioritizing mediation, rehabilitation, victim-offender dialogue, and addressing the underlying socio-economic factors that contribute to criminal behavior, moving away from simple retribution towards genuine restoration. Correctional facilities could serve as centers for education, vocational training, mental health support, hospitals, and reintegration programs, thereby preparing individuals for a productive return to society rather than merely warehousing them. Similarly, law enforcement agencies could pivot from reactive policing to community-centric models. Officers would be empowered as facilitators of peace, working collaboratively with social workers, educators, and mental health professionals to provide ‘holistic prescription advice identifying and resolving community challenges before they escalate into crime, war, and disorder.
Such a paradigm shift would transition the ‘downward spiral feedback loop’ into an upward trajectory of human flourishing. It’s an investment not just in avoiding harm, but in actively building a world where peace, equity, and well-being are the norm, not the exception.
Richard Thomas Simmons