Had a really inspiring conversation yesterday in an inspiring place (Monticello).  The gist is summarized by this post’s title. What does it mean though to be good, not less bad?  The difference is similar to local optimization versus global optimization.  We spend too much of our time (as individuals, companies, countries) at making small changes to systems that are fundamentally flawed or broken.  

We need to be more willing to start with values that help us rethink what good would be and then design new systems based on those values.  The Declaration of Independence does just that. It sets out values:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”

And then declares a new system of independence required to achieve the values:

“That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.”

We have reached a time when we need more of that.