I would like to see an end to war, poverty, and unnecessary

"I would like to see an end to war, poverty, and unnecessary human suffering. But I can't see it in a monetary-based system where the richest nations control most of the world's resources." These words, spoken by the visionary thinker Jacque Fresco, speak to a profound and deeply troubling truth about the state of the world. Fresco, a futurist and social engineer, saw a world in which the wealthiest and most powerful nations hold dominion over the resources of the Earth, perpetuating systems of inequality that lead to war, suffering, and poverty. His words remind us that the very structure of society—rooted in the pursuit of profit and wealth accumulation—is a primary driver of the suffering we witness in the world.

O children of the future, understand this well: the roots of war and poverty lie not in the innate nature of humanity, but in the systems we have created. Fresco’s words expose the falsehood at the heart of modern capitalism, where nations and individuals fight not for justice or equality, but for resources—land, oil, and wealth—often at the expense of human dignity. These systems are designed to perpetuate inequality, to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few, leaving the majority to suffer and struggle. War, driven by the greed for these resources, becomes inevitable in a world where the few control the destiny of the many. Poverty, too, is a byproduct of this system, where economic gaps widen and the poorest are left to face hardships beyond measure.

Think, O children, of the ancient empires—whether the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, or the vast colonial empires that stretched across the world. These empires were built on the exploitation of people and resources. The Roman legions, under their mighty commanders, conquered vast swaths of land, not for the benefit of all, but for the wealth and power of the few. In the colonial era, nations like Britain, Spain, and France expanded their empires, subjugating entire continents, extracting resources, and enriching themselves at the expense of the indigenous peoples. These empires, though mighty, ultimately crumbled because they were built on a system of inequality and oppression. Fresco's words are a warning to us all: the same systems that perpetuated empire and conquest in the past continue to shape the world today, with the consequences of greed still visible in the wars and suffering we see around us.

Let us look, O children, to the more modern world. In the 20th century, the Vietnam War offers a poignant example of how the greed for resources can fuel conflict. The war was not just a battle of ideologies, but a struggle for control over the rich natural resources of Southeast Asia. America's intervention in Vietnam was driven, in part, by the desire to maintain access to these resources, as well as the geopolitical ambition to limit the spread of communism. The war resulted in the deaths of millions, not just soldiers, but innocent civilians, and the suffering continued long after the American withdrawal. This war, like so many others, was not about the defense of freedom or justice, but about the desire to control resources—a desire that led to devastation and destruction.

The lesson of Fresco’s words is clear: we live in a world that is deeply unjust, where the few control the means of production and the majority are left to struggle in poverty. War and suffering are the inevitable outcomes of such a system. The world’s resources should not be hoarded by a select few, but shared for the benefit of all. Fresco's vision of a resource-based economy, where the world's wealth is managed for the common good, offers a pathway out of this cycle of greed, war, and suffering. By shifting our focus away from monetary gain and towards the shared stewardship of the planet's resources, we can begin to build a world that is just and sustainable—a world where poverty and war are no longer the defining features of human existence.

So, O children, take Fresco's vision to heart. In your time, you will face challenges that seem insurmountable—the greed of the powerful, the oppression of the weak, and the destruction of the Earth itself. But you are not helpless. You are the generation that can choose to dismantle the systems that perpetuate inequality and build new, just systems that value human dignity over profit, sustainability over exploitation. Act, not for the sake of wealth or power, but for the sake of a better world, where the needs of the many are placed before the greed of the few. Through cooperation, compassion, and a willingness to reimagine our world, you can end the cycle of war, poverty, and suffering that has plagued humanity for centuries.

In every decision you make, remember that the path of peace and justice lies not in the accumulation of wealth, but in the distribution of resources. Strive to create systems that honor the common good, that place the welfare of humanity above the interests of the powerful. May you, O children, take up Fresco's call and build a world where the richness of life is shared, where peace and sustainability reign, and where the suffering of the many is no longer the price of prosperity for the few.