Every day the world grows smaller. Slowly but steadily, it’s becoming easier to exchange opinions, ideas, and culture. Sure, there’s a strong argument for identity, economic growth, and security, but perhaps it is equally as important to recognise that we are all humans on the same team. Especially in light of the recent refugee crisis, are borders becoming redundant, and is the idea of a country really necessary?

I grew up in cities, but have lived in the provinces for over 20 years, and find it to be a refreshingly connected place to live. I rail against the snobbery of city folk towards ‘country folk’. We have just as many great ideas and cultural practises as cities do.

The huge increase in standard of living for two centuries has been driven, and is measured by, economic growth. To continue to progress without destroying the planet we need a replacement or significant morphing of growth.

Like, when there is more than one opinion at play… and our beliefs are based on what we feel to be intuitive truths, how the hell do we make a decision? Is it just power?

We have laws, law enforcement bodies, military defence resources, and humanitarian organisations sponsored by Government. Why don’t we just let them do their job without political meddling? If the public don’t agree, political parties can suggest change as part of an election platform and we can vote for it.

Most of us work because it facilitates us being paid, which affords us the ability to live. Some few people manage to pursue passions, vocations and the like. Others make different valuable contributions to society. What is necessary about working – is there a different model of enough where people can live well and contribute to a collective society without it being reduced to the *need* and *imperative* to have a job and be paid. What if there were other ways?

The answers will have little value if we can’t agree on some common principles of ethics

There is nothing more vile or polarising than an online conversation thread about feminism.

When I was a teenager I read something wonderful and it stayed with me, the author’s name however did not. The internet attributes this vacant place in my brain to Rebecca West.

“I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.”

People have great ideas all the time- how to help those in need, starting with providing water where there is none, sanitary and hygiene products where they are lacking, food and shelter to those without… but do politicians ever change? We keep electing and fostering a system where the greediest are given the role of decision makers… why is that?

I think laughter make unbearable subjects more bearable and encourages discussion. I think we are too politically correct and our social interaction is the poorer for it.

Because our individualism and increasing inequality is a huge concern

The is a unspoken assumption that questions require the mind to respond. We live in a world where the conceptual answer is no longer enough, rather the experiential or visceral response offers a different perspective .