Sustainable Altruistic Global Egalitaration Politics (SAGE)

My friends and I will vote for you and support you, and our grandchildren will thank you, if you have the courage to

- not short-term, selfish, provincial, or chauvinist. Have the courage to THINK BIG in time, space, culture and ethics!

At the same time, address the most urgent issues at the next level:

Promote sustainable global security (e.g. Oxford Research Group; my ppt); e.g. reduce the Iranian nuclear threat by strengthening and enforcing global disarmament treaties and promoting economic and cultural exchange between Iran, neigboring countries, Israel and the West (just estimate the astronomical cost of a possible war and spend a fraction on preventive measures)
Combat racism (e.g. in media) - because racism and xenophobia generally contribute to international conflicts and hinder international cooperation
Oppose extreme politics (clarifying the limits of freedom of speech) on both sides of the political spectrum (communism is not the answer, either)
Sustainably reduce CO₂ emissions (e.g. low-carbon economy, low-meat cuisine, free public transport, energy-efficient housing); since industrialised countries are primarily responsible, they must adequately compensate developing countries, which will be much more expensive in the future than preventive measures now

And for the long term:

Promote intercultural understanding in theory and practice as a prerequisite for global cooperation to solve global problems
For the next generation, promote school teaching of global (intercultural) morality/ethics and religion

Why sustainable? We want our children's children to enjoy our world and our natural environment, just as we do. To ensure this, we have to think in the long term. What will the world be like in a century from now? Most politicians are elected for fixed terms of a few years. But their policies increasingly have long-term consequences.
Why altruistic? Conservatives argue that humans are naturally selfish. ("It's ok to be selfish, it's natural! Therefore it is also ok to reject wealth taxes and transaction taxes. Just get richer and ignore all those poor people, it's their fault for being lazy??!!") But on that basis it is also ok to be violent. This is kind of logic is called the "naturalist fallacy". In fact, humans can choose. We can choose to accept some parts of our animal nature and reject other parts. Violence and greed are natural, but we can also consistently reject them. On the positive side, altruism is also "natural" (evolutionary psychologists recognize it as a part of "human nature"). Today, altruism is becoming increasingly necessary for the survival of our species. We have no choice but to promote and celebrate altruism.
Why global? Most politicians are elected within countries. But their policies increasingly have global consequences. Since economic processes are increasingly globalised, we must increasingly globalise the democratic regulation of economic processes (e.g. taxation systems).
Why egalitarian? Discrimination is not only unjust - it can also be an obstacle to peace and development. Racism fuels violence and perpetuates poverty. Sexist traditions in developing countries prevent girls from being educated with widespread consequences including unsustainable birth rates. Most major religions including Christianity, Islam and Judaism have fundamentalist traditions that are discriminatory and threaten global security. We must keep religion out of politics (laïcité) while at the same time promoting freedom of religious expression.

So what's wrong with the Greens? In many countries since about the 1980s, Green parties have represented and promoted the ideals of sustainability (environmental, economic, social, cultural), altruism (people who geniunely vote for the interests of other people - yes we do exist!), globalism (or the balance between global and local), and egalitarianism (antidiscrimination, equal opportunity, promotion of minorities), at multiple levels. But the Greens have been increasingly diverted by short-term, culture-specific issues and the selfish wishes of bourgeois, consumerist supporters. The Greens are great, but we need more wisdom. We need SAGE.

Can we realistically expect solutions to the world's biggest problems? Sometimes it seems people are just too dumb.
Einstein once commented that "Two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity. As for the universe, I am not sure yet." Well that was a funny joke, but the truth is everyone at any age can learn new things and change behavior and attitudes. If you don't believe it, the neuropsychologists will show you how the brain changes (plasticity). It is true that older people learn and adapt more slowly than younger people, but with the right motivation they are still flexible. History can teach us a similar lesson: the French revolution, the abolition of (most) slavery, voting rights for women, the universal declaration of human rights, the Kyoto accord - in all cases the human race made significant progress, and we can expect further such milestones in the future.

Can I really do something? I am just one of millions of people.
Social change is always brought about by groups of people and often anonymous individuals play an important role. It may seem uncool these days to quote President John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address, 1961 in which he famously said "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country", but when you think about it, what other alternative is there to consumerist selfishness? If you belong to the lucky half of the world (healthy, educated, housed, clothed, fed, watered) you will have some spare time and energy to help other half. And in a globalised world, there is little difference between helping your country and helping the world.

How can I help a world that tends to reward selfishness and punish altruism?
That's a good question. If you devote a lot of time and energy to the solution of major global problems you sometimes feel like your effort is wasted. People may listen for a while, but soon they are back to their old tricks. At that point many give up. But it does not take much time and energy to vote for the best politicians and to talk to your friends about the issues. Nobel prizewinner Wangari Maathai gave the following tip in her autobiography Unbowed (London: Heinemann, p. 70): "I emerged as a person who believed that society is inherently good and that people generally act for the best. To me, a general orientation toward trusting people and a positive attitude toward life and fellow human beings in healthy - not only for one's peace of mind but also to bring about change."

Austrians trust the Dalai Lama more than the Pope. What did the Dalai Lama say, actually?
The following is the closest to universal wisdom that I can find: "Universal responsibility is the real key to human survival ... Altruism is the basis of peace and happiness ... If you want altruism you must control hate and you must practise patience ... It is our enemies who provide us with the challenge we need to develop the qualities of tolerance, patience, and compassion ... First we have to try inner disarmament - reducing our own anger and hatred while increasing mutual trust and human affection ... When you encounter some problems, if you point your finger at yourself and not at others, this gives control over yourself and calmness in a situation, where otherwise self control becomes problematic" (cited from "Words of Wisdom", Margaret Gee Publishing, 1992). It's all very fine to talk about these things, but the real challenge and the real reward comes when we try to implement them.