Defining the Core

Before diving into the specifics of what truly constitutes our core social contract, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what “progress” even means. In my view, a progressive society is one that continuously advances humanity—intellectually, socially, and ethically—so that each generation starts off better than the one before it. The foundation of that progress? Knowledge.

Think about history’s greatest scientific minds—Newton, Einstein, Charles Babbage. They were undoubtedly brilliant, yet they weren’t necessarily the most intelligent people ever born. There could have been others with equal or greater potential who never had the chance to realize it—maybe a prodigy who was forced to work endless hours to support a family, a soldier whose life ended in conflict, or a child who simply had no access to education. Every unfulfilled promise of brilliance is a delay in humanity’s collective progress, and a delay in progress is a loss not just for an individual, but for all of us who might have benefited from that person’s discoveries or inventions.

If we want the best minds to flourish—whoever and wherever they are—we need to guarantee that they have the basics: an education, sufficient food and water, decent shelter, healthcare (including mental health), reliable communication, and the freedom to move about. Without these essentials, we risk losing the next great breakthrough, the next lifesaving idea, the next Einstein. So from an objective standpoint, these are not just “nice-to-haves” but Fundamental Human Rights that ensure each generation’s capacity to learn, innovate, and thrive.

It’s often said we must “save the planet,” but let’s be real: Earth itself will likely persist through cataclysms and mass extinctions, as it has many times before. What we’re truly worried about is saving humanity—our species, our civilizations, and the ecosystems on which we depend. If we treat the environment as expendable, we’re effectively destroying the conditions we need to survive. Life will go on, one way or another—it just might not include us.

That’s why environmental stewardship has to be woven into the fabric of our fundamental rights. If education secures our intellectual future, then a healthy planet secures our literal home. We cannot call ourselves progressive if we don’t protect the resources and natural cycles that nurture and sustain us.

Reimagining “employment” means broadening our definition of valuable contributions. Yes, certain tasks—like engineering, teaching, or medical services—will be salaried or compensated monetarily. But other employment, such as caregiving or studying, is no less vital to societal progress, even if it isn’t tied to a direct paycheck.

For instance, if raising a child were a salaried position, one could imagine opportunists having more children simply for income. That would not only be unsustainable but would also commodify child-rearing in ways that could harm families and communities. Instead, unsalaried employment needs its own form of societal support (e.g., guaranteed access to essential resources, priority in certain benefits, or other forms of assistance) that recognizes its crucial role without turning it into a financial incentive.

A new framework for participation should reflect that a person’s role and status can change over time. We rely on merit points to acknowledge contributions. Someone accumulating merit points through volunteering, studying, or other recognized roles gains priority in certain allocations—while everyone still retains a baseline of fundamental rights.

By carefully balancing merit-based incentives for certain roles with universal support for essential activities, we can ensure that every crucial human endeavor—whether nurturing a child or pioneering a scientific breakthrough—receives the recognition and resources it needs.

So as we define the Core of our new system:

1. Fundamental Human Rights ensure that every person can obtain the essentials—enabling them to learn, create, and participate.
2. Reimagined “Employment” acknowledges that, while certain jobs are salaried, others (like parenting or studying) merit societal support—even if they aren’t tied to direct monetary compensation.
3. Merit Points System encouraging all forms of contribution while guaranteeing that everyone has a baseline of rights.

By valuing knowledge, ensuring access to essentials, and safeguarding our environment, we create a foundation where the full spectrum of human potential—whether it’s found in a newborn in a remote village or a teen in an urban center—can unfold. That, to me, is what real progress looks like: maximizing our collective capacity to learn, adapt, and grow, while honoring our responsibilities to each other and the world that sustains us.