A Respectable And Pleasant Future Society Of Iran

- By Bahram Maskanian - June 11, 1998 - Edited, - September 13, 2000

I would like to thank you for taking the time and giving me an opportunity to discuss with you a few constructive ideas, which I hope will prove both stimulating and challenging.

I would like to talk about a Respectable And Pleasant Society. More specifically, I would like to discuss the economic and social aspects of a Respectable And Pleasant Society. What should it be like and what are the signs of such a society?

Let's take a closer look shall we…

• To construct a Respectable And Pleasant Society, among other things in such a society, we would want a stable and prosperous economy, one with full employment and living wages.
  
  
• We would want good and affordable housing, whether rental and or purchasing of a home.
  
  
• We would want a system of preventive health care accessible to everyone, regardless of economic circumstance.
  
  
• We would want generous provision for disability, maternity leave and retirement.
  
  
• We would want free access to education from kindergarten to college education and vocational training for any qualified applicant.
  
  
• We would want a healthy farming community, one, which favors small family farms over large greedy agribusiness Nation-Less Corporations.
  
  
• We would want the kind of public safety where one didn't have to live in gated communities to feel safe and secure. Where one could walk down the streets of any city at any time, day or night-without fear of being mugged, assaulted, or worse.
  
  
• We would want rigorous protection of the environment under a regime that is more concerned about the condition of our forests, our earth, our air and our waters, over and above corporate pollution driven profit and environment degradation caused by greed.
  
  
• These are some the things we would want - for every citizen of our good society.
  
  
• But sadly, today, we have NONE of the above conditions. Why is that? Do these expectations of a Respectable And Pleasant Society sound unreasonable?

I am sure you would agree that they are not - as is proven by the fact that there once was a society, which had all of these things and more.

UNEMPLOYMENT & THE ECONOMY

Our first and immediate challenge is Iran’s huge unemployment, as well as restoring Iran's ruined agriculture.

The problem is aggravated by the fact that the Iran economy despite all of its wealth is bankrupt. But Iranian skilled populations willing to work are the precious resources and true treasures of Iran.

The simple solution for Iran’s unemployment is a program of public works such as: wiring the entire country with fiber-optic cable, repairing and rebuilding private residences and constructing new ones, modern underground and above ground rail roads, underground sewers tunnels for carrying off sewage and rainwater, bridges, irrigation canals, and building port facilities, we can easily put millions back to work.

HOW WE GOING TO PAY FOR IT ALL?

What we can do is simply go around the international banks and create our own banking system, based-not on the gold standard or some other superfluous oil, or metal, but on the productivity of the Iranian people themselves and call it the work standard.

Here is how it is going to work. Let say for argument sake if the projected cost of the various public works programs is fixed at $10 billion dollars. An exact number of non-inflationary bills of exchange, called Labor Treasury Certificates, will be issued against that cost.

The Iranian workers are then paid with Labor Treasury Certificates and with their new purchasing power, they began to spend their earnings in shops and businesses across the country, which in turn enables more job creation and all over Iran.

With this as a stimulus, the Iran oil-base economy gradually is transformed to a self-sufficient and independent economy. Within a very short period of time the core unemployment problem will be solved, and the country will be back on its feet. Iranian economy base on a solid, stable currency and no debt or inflation.

At the same time while reviving Iran’s economy and putting millions back to work, we can also restore Iran’s crippled foreign trade and through a bartering system, in which equipment and commodities are exchanged directly with foreign entities and countries, we can circumvent the international banks.

For example, if Iran produces goods, which Argentina wanted, and Argentina had grain and or beef, which Iran wanted, the two countries would simply draw up a contract and swap goods without recourse to an international banks and or middleman. Again, the system of direct exchange of goods and services can occur without debt or trade deficit.

This, economic miracle will make all of Iran’s social programs possible, some of which I have already touched on.

THE FARMER

I mentioned the restoration of the Iranian farming community as a high priority of the Iranian National Government.

This is more than a matter of mere economics. A nation can prosper only if it has a sound rural population. The traditional family farm is regarded as of prime importance, because it concerns a way of life whose moral and spiritual values are vital to the health and well-being of society as a whole.

During these hard times in Iran, many farmers saw their lives ruined by falling commodity prices, exorbitant interest payments, and foreclosure to unscrupulous criminal mullahs and land speculators. One can imagine the desperation of these farmers, as they saw the loss of their farms-many of which had been in the family for hundreds of years-and they, too, were now forced to join the ranks of the unemployed.

We must be determined to put an end to this misery and injustice. We must restore the farms back to their rightful owners, but at the same time help to make them productive and self-sustaining. Through a creation of Iranian National Food Estate, a public corporation which includes not only the farmer, but everyone else connected with the production, processing and distribution of food, such as: canners, the millers, the bakers and middlemen, as well as the local grocer.

The Food Estate guarantees the farmer a market for his product at a reasonable fixed price-high enough to cover farmer’s costs of production and prepare for the next harvest season, but low enough, so the customer could always count on a fair price.

By adjusting supply to consumer demand and allowing for individual initiative and competition, but excluding speculation in commodities, the food corporation will be able to create a stable market, which assures a dependable supply of food, upon which all parties-producer and consumer-could rely.

THE WORKER

Concerning the Iranian workers, as a common day laborer, I can understand well the problems of the ordinary workingman and workingwoman.

We must consider the Iranian men and women to be more than disposable economic workers. I must believe in the idea of the whole person, as a productive and creative member of the Iranian society, fully entitled to have meaningful work and job security; and that she / he should be treated with dignity and respect at all times.

I do believe that work should not be a drudge but rather a creative effort, a source of fulfillment and personal pride, and that the dignity and honor of every workingman and woman should be respected. Accordingly, one of the first things must do after establishing a democratic system of government in Iran is too clean up of Iran’s factories.

Public Strength Through Joy Program, we must replace the dull, dreary plant yards and abandon fields with parks, swimming pools and other amenities designed to humanize surroundings by providing a bright, clean, cheerful environment, with plenty of sunshine and fresh air.

The idea behind Public Strength Through Joy Program is that those who work hard and produce should be rewarded, not only with a decent salary, but also with special amenities that make life more pleasant and allow one to recharge one's batteries.

Under Public Strength Through Joy Program, ordinary workingmen, women and their families are given special access to the arts, culture, popular entertainment and sport. Above all, they are given the opportunity to travel, not only around their own country but also overseas.

THE ENVIRONMENT

We the Iranians, as an ancient nation who believes fervently in the laws of Nature, must introduce the first comprehensive measures to protect the environment, including so-called scrubbers to eliminate pollution emissions from petroleum and coal-burning plants using renewable energy only.

PUBLIC HOUSING

We the Iranian people; must build affordable housing, especially for young married couples using renewable energy for lighting and heat, sturdy houses, with garden space and children playground around them, which they could then purchase at a very low price with no interest and minuscule monthly payments. These affordable housing must be built to form self-sufficient communities, that includes schools, clinics, individual shops, theater and community centers.

Family Friendly Home Ownership; is a plan to reduce stress and encourage healthy family environment. Under such plan the quarter of the couple’s mortgage will be canceled with the birth of their each child, therefore after their fourth child is born the couple will become homeowners. Older homes and apartments must be refurbished and upgrade, thereby no slums shall ever come to existence.

PUBLIC HEALTH CARE

Universal Preventive Healthcare; we the Iranian people, should never have to worry about medical expenses of getting sick or injured. Under Universal Preventive Healthcare system all Iranians are cover at no cost, the health and well-being of Iranian / Persian citizens must always be the government’s top priority. - Iranian medical universities and hospitals must offer the finest care utilizing the best modern equipment. Patients have the right to choose their own doctors and hospital, all Iranians / Persians are assured full medical treatment. Patients if need be can stay in the hospital with a special financial allowance to provide for their family. If patients are suffering from incurable illnesses, they must remain under the public health support for the remainder of their natural life, with no limits.

SOCIAL SECURITY

The same went for retirement. Iranian citizens do not have to worry about a Social Security system going broke or their retirement accounts disappearing. All pensions are kept and guaranteed by the National Government.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

Education from kindergarten to college, and graduate school must be free, regardless of financial circumstance or family background. The same applies to all vocational and technical schools. Students must not have to worry about tuition or loan repayments.

PUBLIC SAFETY

The Iranian people should never be concern about their safety and rampant crime, such as what we have today in the United States of Nation-Less Corporations. One should be able to walk the streets of any Iranian city or town at any time, day or night, without fear of being knocked in the head, killed or raped.

This is a brief snapshot of a Respectable And Pleasant Society, which could stands as a model for what a well-run, progressive and orderly society should look like.

GLOBALIZATION - AND - PRIVATIZATION - Vs. - LOCALIZATION

The word - Globalization - means: the intent of greedy criminal business and government officials of the United States of Nation-Less Corporations and the European Union of Nation-Less Corporations wanting to own the world, the GLOBE. Globalize Nation-Less businesses are inherently, destructive, shortsighted, greedy, corrupt and criminal.

Globalization and privatization are intended to mislead the public under the banner of a better life and favorable trade conditions, making the poor much poorer and the super rich even richer by placing them in charge of public life and welfare, thus leading into a massive transfer of wealth and power from the public to the corporate goons.

Privatization of public property is in reality, legalized robbery of public resources and assets, stealing from the ordinary citizens and giving the loots to the greedy criminal executives and CEO’s of the United States of Nation-Less Corporations and the European Union of Nation-Less Corporations.

Privatization of government services also means globalization of the services and wealth they generate, contracted and handed over on a silver platter to the Nation-Less Corporations. Privatizing government services is as corrupt and evil as privatizing local natural resources of any community. The government is supposed to be formed by the people for the people to provide specific services for the citizens of the society from which its authority and existence stems from.

Large Nation-Less businesses that invade communities such as by taking over the community’s municipal water, electricity, sewage systems or opening up a giant Wal-Mart type store in a small town, will eventually and quickly lead to the bankruptcy of all small businesses. Consequently, the owners and workers of those small businesses become minimum wage laborers for the giant corporations. Globalization and privatization offers absolutely no benefit to any community it invades. The absolute consequence of privatization and globalization is the destruction of local communities’ natural resources and assets.

Unlike globalization and privatization, localization is a desired political and economic system, which encourages and supports local self-sufficiency and the growth of small businesses. Localized individual capitalism is made up of small business owners who will always be good faithful patriots. Small businesses are always dependable compatriots for the obvious fact that they are formed by local private citizens who care for their community and the sustainability of their community and resources. Individual capitalism, made up of small business owners and operators, is eighty (80%) to ninety (90%) percent of the supportive economic forces and resources of many countries.

IN THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Every creature born on Earth must immediately begin to learn first the basic survival skills and techniques. From the moment humankind newborn's umbilical cord is severed the child is forced by Mother Nature to learn. First thing the newborn must learn is to inhale and exhale air; to breathe.

Patterns set by Mother Nature and life are clearly guiding humankind towards gaining knowledge and evolving into a more intelligent being. Also, due to the laws of nature for every force there is an opposing force and for any action there is a reaction, which means we must learn how to deal with medieval backwardness; the opposing and hostile forces to evolution, knowledge and wisdom.

In reality humankinds are students in the university of life taking mandatory courses. The failure or success of every single one of us, students of life directly depends upon our own actions and behaviors.

Peace of mind and true happiness are by-products of knowledge and wisdom, which naturally will lead to the development of a visionary and utopian life on Earth.

On the other hand mindless pursuit of happiness will lead to violence, greedy materialistic and consumerism lifestyle, causing enormous environmental and social degradation.

Mindless and frivolous pursuit of happiness is an excuse to encourage and engage the whole of the society in one of the oldest deceptive and destructive exercises, which is the search for a superior moral justification for greed and selfishness, at all costs.