I have been thinking about the state of the world a lot lately and it seems to me that we are in an apocalypse, a time when the world is ending. Or, perhaps I should say we are in a time when this world is ending, because it also seems to me that a new world is at least being born if it is not already well into it's infancy. I know this sounds a little bit strange, but what if there really are two worlds existing at the same time? One in it's genesis and the other at its terminus, their existences overlapping eachother. 

This is an idea that's fun to play with because a post-apocalypse era is typically thought of as a point in history where rebuilding and relearning has to take place on account of everything being destroyed. However, in our scenario (which I believe is the one we are currently in), the new world is there to take the place of the old world and accomplish everything it used to with new methods and ideas, making for a post-apocalypse era that is full of growth and a thriving humanity. Could that be the kind of era we are headed for?

I also mentioned at the end of the last blog that I would address the question: Is humanity ready, as a global population, for true freedom and democracy? This is a deep question with many trails and implications, but I think it applies directly to our scenario because one of the major distinctions of the new world I see coming, is how the pressure of governing is distributed throughout its framework. Under our current hierarchical framework, where the burden is concentrated at the top, this question is nothing more than a philosophical musing because true freedom and democracy are out of the question. But with the coming of the new world that will, if I am correct, evenly distribute this burden throughout its framework and thereby ensure true freedom and democracy, I think this could very well be the most important question we could ask. 

Now, I think this new world is evident and easy to see in the change of the last few decades and how it has come at breakneck speed, with the whole lifecycles of data mediums, communication protocols and giant business' being run through like the behavioral phases of a toddler. The rapidity with which these changes have swept in as well as that of their growth has, I think, left not insignificant percentages of our population in a bit of a shock and, probably even more accurately, completely behind in the dust.

The only ones that are really grasping it en masse are the newer generations, and it really seems like that's due to the fact that they're born into the changed world. The older generations seem to have an operating system (if you'll allow me to use such a term for people) that is completely incompatible with these changes and I think here is evidence of the separation between the old world and the new. One is dying out, one is just starting and for this brief period of time they co-exist. 

When put in those terms, what I'm describing could easily be discounted as a normal change in generation. But this is more than just a transition from one generation to the other, this is a change in era as well as a change of the age. Changes in generation usually happen on the social level and sometimes on a technical, artistic or even religious level. I think the changes we have coming will strike out at every level of our lives, removing and rebuilding every piece of the system, not just a few parameters. 

Now, as I've said, I think this rebuilding process would evenly distribute the burden of governing throughout the framework and what I mean by this is that freedom would be thrust upon us, along with the burden of working together to manage our world. Whether this happens as the outcome of our intentional actions or simply because it's the inevitable result of these changes and connectedness I don't know, but real freedom it would be. And we're going to realize something if freedom does come.

We're going to realize that what governments rely on is what I might call a human preterition and others might call a blatant deception from our rulers. Whatever you call it, what they're relying on is the assumption that they are the only option for governance and protection. That without a central authority to make decisions the world will fall into chaos, because you can't trust other people not to fuck up your shit unless there's an authoritative, intermediary institution with the very real ability to enforce its laws.

But if I'm right about all of this then not only are we going to realize that they are far from the only option for governance, we are also going to realize that we now have the tools and the framework to govern ourselves. Either way, I really don't think these changes and realizations are going to allow the question of whether or not this is something we as a global population are ready for, to sit back as an interesting philosophical musing. And as they continue to progress I think they're going to force us to answer the question by uniting the globe in a true and free democracy and letting the dice roll. 

This is where freedom's rubber will meet life's highway, because in a true and free democracy everybody connected to the framework is a governing force. There will be no one to blame but ourselves for whatever outcomes we bring about. We will no longer be able to shift the responsibility for our global actions to corrupt governments and rotten corporations. We will realize that we are totally accountable for the world we live in and always have been, we just handed that responsibility off to governments to take care of. Can we handle taking it back?

There's only one way to find the answer to this question. We have to find ourselves in a situation that thrusts freedom upon us, like the one I propose we are currently in, and if we improve and harness our potential for our extraordinary brand of consummation then we answer resoundingly: "Yes!" And yet the nature of freedom is such that we might scream "No!!" and spiral down into the darkest collapse we've yet known. 

I don't think the point is worrying about which it will be though. I think the point is knowing that it's up to each individual to embrace freedom with a real understanding of what it is. To undertake it's challenges and strive to be worthy of them and worthy of a world full of free people doing the same. If we can do this or at least the majority of us can do this, and I think we can, then we'll be well on our way to the most amazing period in known human history.