Each Celebration Society Requires Sovereignty

Following are some of the reasons why sovereignty is a prerequisite for starting a new society. In no particular order:

System of governance. The four-branch system of government we propose, while similar to that which existed in the Venetian Republic for hundreds of years, resembles no currently prevalent system. It eliminates the need for elections, while reposing all power in the Citizens as a body and preventing the rise of demagogues.

Visitors. The quality of life in this society is intended to become a showcase for a new kind of society, replicable elsewhere; a beacon for the world. Essential to that quality of life is a population level well-supported by the systems of systems. To assure this, the number of visitors must be strictly regulated, similarly to how theme parks and other destination venues do so.

Ambassadors. In today’s nations, ambassadors and their families enjoy immunity from the laws of the nations they visit. While this is intended to assure that such persons are not held hostage or otherwise used as pawns, it can lead to some serious abuses.

Therefore, we will offer to nations wishing to have formal relations a choice. They may assign ambassadors, with such persons and the nation assigning them consenting to either (a) such persons remaining in luxurious quarters established for them outside the city walls, or (b) waiving diplomatic immunity whenever they are within the walls of the city-state. Our ambassadors to such nations will accept similar treatment. (Aside: this may preclude formal relations with nations whose commitment to the rule of law is questionable, but we anticipate that most celebration societies will have limited interest in engagement with such nations.)

Taxation. We envision an entirely new system of taxation, based upon a flat transaction or sales tax, unobtrusive and conveniently paid immediately, with all money being electronic in order to avert tax evasion and support lower rates.

Immigration. Once a society has its full planned complement of Residents and Citizens, we foresee population change only through births, death, and the relocation of people to newly forming societies. Given that the heart of the society is an explicit Charter; a set of Principles which every person in the society is expected to uphold, immigration will be rare and qualified.

Refugees. While simple human decency requires temporary provision of food, water, shelter, and medical care for bona fide refugees, they must be maintained outside the city walls. This is incompatible with how most nations operate, but necessary to preserve the Charter and the culture.

For decades to come, following the establishment of the first society, there will be far more people desiring to live in celebration societies than room for them. Such persons will be supported in creating their own societies per our pay-it-forward principle.

Monetary systems. In addition to all money being electronic, each society may, alongside national fiat currency, institute complementary currencies in order to nudge behaviors in desired directions, without need for coercion.

Once any celebration society is fully functioning, I expect that it will make its systems of systems available to others for duplication elsewhere, with few limitations (e.g. security considerations). Others may or may not adopt this offering wholesale.

I expect that, in many cases, the offering will be viewed as more a “cafeteria plan” than a prescription. That is fine. However, in order to share in the Celebration Society brand and join the eventual League of such societies, each adopting society will need to embrace as its own the core Charter, which it may not restrict except at the level of a League decision.