Marshall Brain's Blog

In a single 24-hour period I came across three "new ideas." They are interesting to me for three reasons:

1. All three ideas are "outside the box."
2. All three ideas have been published in the hope that a groundswell of support might develop around the ideas.
3. They all seem like original ideas that approach problems from a different angle and may be better than the current "dominant" ideas that are out there (although none of them are perfect).

Let's look at them and you will see what I mean.

The Hubble idea

The first new idea involves the Hubble space telescope. If you've been following the Hubble saga, then you know that the existing Hubble needs a repair mission soon or it will fail. The two ideas out there are: 1) send a manned shuttle repair mission, or 2) send a repair robot. Option 1 is a problem because there is no way to rescue the astronauts if something goes wrong with the shuttle. Option 2 is a problem because it will cost a gazillion dollars.

The new idea is simple -- build and launch a brand new version of the existing Hubble telescope using spare parts and plans that already exist. The cost would probably be less than $1B, and you get a better mirror and better computers than the existing Hubble has. Click here for details. The existing Hubble becomes disposable, like most other products today.

It is cheaper and safer than repair, plus we get a better telescope to boot. What a great idea.

The social security idea

The second new idea is trying to come up with a better way to solve social security. It is being floated by Paul O'Neill, former treasury secretary in the Bush administration. If you have been following the social security saga, you know that it is a messy system that will, at some point, run out of money. The way the system was originally designed cannot handle the baby boomers because there are so many of them.

O'Neill's idea is simple and elegant. Set up an account for every new child in America. Put $2,000 in each account every year. Invest that money in index funds in the stock market. Let the returns compound. Worst case, after 65 years each kid will have more than $1 million, which will then fund the kid's retirement. Total cost for this solution is about $150 billion per year. click here for details.

It is a great idea because of its simplicity. Plus it gives each child a private account, which seems to be the current goal of most reformers. It has a problem -- we have to figure something out in the middle of the 65-year span. His best line in the article is this one:

Some may say, "This is a terrible idea because more illegal immigrants will come here to get this benefit for their children." I say hogwash. The question suggests we should make our country a less desirable place in order to reduce illegal immigration. The proposition is absurd.

If you are interested in other outside-the-box ideas to fix SS, see also Robotic Freedom

The 10 commandments idea

The third new idea is trying to find some kind of compromise around the 10 commandments. The idea is floated by Gregg Easterbrook in the Wall Street Journal. If you have been following the 10 commandments saga, then you know that: 1) some Americans want the 10 commandments displayed everywhere, while 2) some Americans want the 10 commandments erased from public display.

Easterbrook's idea is interesting because it comes out of the blue. What Easterbrook noticed is that, in the New Testament, Jesus refers to a stripped down version of the commandments -- the 6 commandments:

1. Don't murder
2. Don't commit adultery
3. Don't steal
4. Do not bear false witness
5. Honor your father and mother
6. Love your neighbor as yourself

His point is that these are hard for anyone to argue with. Who is going to argue, for example, with "Don't murder?" Click here for details.

The most interesting of these is #6 - "Love your neighbor as yourself." It would be fun to see members of Congress argue over the meaning of that!

Here's another take on the 10 commandments -- the nine "core principles" from the Australia Project. They are:

1. Everyone is equal
   
2. Everything is reused
   
3. Nothing is anonymous
   
4. Nothing is owned
   
5. Tell the truth
   
6. Do no harm
   
7. Obey the rules
   
8. Live your life
   
9. Better and better

Click here for details (toward the bottom of the page).

Have you seen any outside-the-box ideas recently? If so, please mail them to me or put them in the comments:



Thanks!