Stephen Monrad

My goal is to create an economic system that can meet everyone’s needs reliably. Is this a crazy, unrealistic goal? Am I wasting my time?

To start with, my goal may be unattainable. There is a distinct possibility that any system that attempts to organize production efforts of a very large number of people will be unstable. People are complex. Large groups of people are even more complicated. Maybe the best we can hope for is an economic system that meets the needs of most people most of the time. Perhaps some people will always fall through the cracks no matter what.

The risk that my goal is unattainable doesn’t actually bother me much. I believe that the benefits of the type of economic system I am trying to develop are worth the risk of failure. If it can’t be done, so be it. It’s still worth the chase.

The question I sometimes ask myself is “why am I taking on such a difficult task?” Am I seeking fame and fortune? If that’s my goal, there’s probably an easier path for me somewhere else. I’d make more money as an accountant or a lawyer. If I want fame, I could try running naked through the streets.

My motivations must run deeper than fame and fortune. I think I have a vision of what a better world could look like, and I want to do what I can to make it a reality. I like working on developing my ideas. I think it gives me a sense of identity.

Strangely, if lots of people were working on the ideas I am trying to develop, I’d probably go do something else. I think I like being on the edge of something new. I want to be different, perhaps even unique.

From the outside, much of what I am doing may seem impractical and of little value. I, however, get a lot of enjoyment from the work. So long as I am having fun with it, I don’t mind being a bit of an odd-ball.