what if...

[mellowtigger]

What if someone (an enterprising terrorist, say) created a virus that affected neurons (sort of like herpes or toxoplasmosis) but specific kinds of neurons. What if this virus caused infected cells to produce chemicals that inhibited the ability to lie. Or, even better, what if lying caused neurons to create a toxic byproduct so that habitual lying or complex lying would eventually kill the person doing it? Wouldn't that change politics and war and religion in profound ways? Would it make for a better world?

What if people with disability pensions (a permanent 'trickle' income) banded together in a community to create a special kind of co-op. This co-op could provide a kind of nature sanctuary where people could hold classes for the public on mental health and relaxation. This co-op could provide a permanent home to disabled pets as well. (Like Home For Life does for deaf Blueberry, blind Celeste and Ben, or incontinent Speedy.) It could experiment with teaching self-help skills, sharing with the public what techniques it found productive.  It could be what I imagine a religious sanctuary should be, but this would be without the overt religious involvement.

Comments

[joshuwain.livejournal.com]

I think that you should write a story with these ideas as premise. They are fascinating to contemplate and, really, you have a good insight into them.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

Only problem with that premise is that most of those people you name believe the untruths they propagate.