Chapter 1: We Can All Be Happier, Healthier, and Wealthier

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We are all aware that the world is a challenging place. Disease, wild weather patterns, financial difficulties, income inequality, racism and more. The world is also a changing place. New technologies, opportunities, and ideas provide solutions to many of our problems. Humans have always had the ability to adapt and move forward.

But lately, it feels like our leaders have run out of good solutions. They use old ideas to try and solve new problems and then don’t understand why they don’t work. They repeat the same arguments over and over again. Our political and media systems amplify the most extreme and ignore other ideas. Discussion is about scoring points instead of doing what’s best for all of us.

Ascendance presents a new, modern way of looking at the world. It presents answers that have been shown to solve humanity’s worst problems. And it offers a vision of the future that is positive, which uplifts the human condition, and prepares us to meet our destiny as a sentient species.

What is Ascendance?

Ascendance has as its central belief that humans are a powerful force in the universe and humanity’s mission is to one day expand beyond our planet. In fact, the science is clear. Without any intelligent intervention, the sun at the center of our solar system will start to expand in the next 300 million years and within one to two billion years extinguish all life on earth. That’s if a myriad of other dangers like an asteroid hit, a solar flare, or a supervolcano eruption don’t finish us off first. So, if humans are to be consequential, if your life is to have meaning in the future, then we as a species must progress and evolve, learn to control our environment, and eventually navigate the stars. But that’s a long way off.

Before any of this can happen, we must create a country and then a world where its citizens are secure, healthy, happy, and productive. Where the human spirit is unleashed to dream and create, and where any person can be the next Einstein or Bach. And even if we are not all geniuses, we have the ability to contribute to something larger than ourselves and take satisfaction in this. The spirit and power of the Enlightenment and American Revolution has already brought the world unprecedented gains in lifespan, fertility, sustenance, transportation, and communication. Ascendance is the next step in human growth,

We are believers that humans have a unique capacity to innovate and that we solve problems by moving forward, not by retreating.

Ascendance’s first goal is to strengthen the United States. It is not aligned with any existing political party and does not consider itself of the right, left, or center. It is something new, something distinct, something ABOVE what already exists. The existing political philosophies have had their chance in the last several decades and have shown a lack of energy or vision to remedy the problems of the country and help it reach its true potential.

Ascendance recognizes the incredible power and tools put at our disposal via freedom, science, and the Enlightenment and how these can serve the citizens of the United States. At the same time, Ascendance is not limited by borders. The world will be a better place for everyone if the whole world becomes Ascendant.

Ascendance believes in science and the scientific method as an engine of progress, but also recognizes that the arts, humanities, and religion are needed as balancing forces.

Ascendance is not hostile to religion. If religion provides you with meaning, inspiration, and solace, then it is a force for good in your life. We welcome all.

Parts of the world have already started to become Ascendant although misguided ideologies and leaders often try to put the process in reverse. By reinforcing our path and rededicating our lives to its principles, we can together create a nation and a world that is happier, healthier, more prosperous, more peaceful, and ready to secure humanity's positive impact into the future.

How will Ascendance do this?

Ascendance starts with three key ingredients that are essential for long-term progress. They are:

Knowledge creation through the scientific method
The United States Constitution and other democratic systems for governing and organizing society.
A market-based, capitalist economy that both funds more knowledge creation and takes knowledge and efficiently converts it into products and services.

Although they sit at the core, these three ingredients are not enough. A meal must have spice to reach its full potential. Ascendance takes these three core beliefs and surrounds them with seven additional ones to create a philosophy that combines religion, the scientific method, science, ethics, economics, and justice. Taken together, these tenets provide a new way of understanding humanity's past and our future.

Ten Central Tenets

All of the pieces together are:

Knowledge creation is the key to human progress.
Humans are a powerful force in the universe.
We need everyone to participate in order to achieve our goals.
Knowledge creation through the scientific method.
The United States Constitution and other democratic systems for governing and organizing society.
A market-based, capitalist economy that both funds more knowledge creation and takes knowledge and efficiently converts it into products and services..
Decisions should be made as close to the knowledge as possible.
Compromise is essential to progress.
Service and sacrifice must be harnessed and awoken.
The truth must come from data and evidence.

Key Outcomes

Ascendance embraces a set of actions that are designed to create an order of magnitude leap in the standard of living of all Americans. Since the end of the Industrial Revolution, Americans and humanity as a whole have seen their condition advance at an unprecedented rate. Ascendence will enable this progress to continue in a way that empowers everyone and ensures that no one is left behind. We need every mind, every hand, every thought if we are to achieve bold outcomes. Our goal is to allow people to live longer, more fulfilling lives; feel peace and security; and to leave their planet in better shape for posterity.

We can confidently say that Ascendance will provide you with:

A longer life
A higher standard of living
A cleaner, more pleasant environment
A sense of dignity and security
A sustainable system that can continue to improve and get better
A chance to help make your country stronger and a true world leader again
The opportunity to create a better future for children and your future descendents

This is not fantastic rhetoric. Four hundred years ago, our forefathers could not have fathomed the progress we have made in curing disease, alleviating hunger, and exploring the mysteries of the universe. And if we embrace the right principles and work together, this is just the beginning of an incredible journey that will allow humanity to expand knowledge throughout the universe and alter the fabric of reality itself.

Submitted: June 12, 2023

Non-Fiction politics philosophy future capitalism ascendance

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Comments

Mr. Numi Who

Good start, nice principles, but they are all still very vague, and you genuflect to religion (the powers that be, even Newton and Einstein did it to stay safe), which is not a good thing. If you stopped here, nothing would work, it is too weak. I will read on...

Fri, July 19th, 2024 7:53pm

Eraser

I like where you're going. Maga is crazy and Dems are pathetic. I feel like there is a need for a new way to think about our politics and the world. I'm interested in learning more.

Wed, February 5th, 2025 4:04am

Cobber

Both parties are crap. It's time for something new and this could very well be it. I like how you start off big picture and drill it down to the implications for the world and the US. Makes sense to me. Where do I sign up?

Fri, February 7th, 2025 4:27pm