Micro-proposals for The Institute for Wishful Thinking

For NOAA, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
http://www.noaa.gov/about-noaa.html

We propose the “Office of Collective Unconscious”, OCU, a new Line Office of NOAA for mapping and processing the collective unconsciousness of the United States of America through the deployment of psychospheric instruments.

We will develop a comprehensive multi-platform toolset to mine the deepest, most repressed motivations, shadow perceptions and collective blind-spots of the American System.

Specialized products will include daily unconsciousness forecasts, severe meme-storm and mind-storm warnings, and mass emotional climate monitoring. The OCU will produce original research and written reports for other government agencies, contractors, and the public.

The OCU will coordinate an additional program of climate distractions, including government seeded psychedelic cloud systems, whirlpools and pulse fronts, along with the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Media Bureau and Wireless Telecommunications offices of the FCC.

For the DOI, Department of the Interior (National Park Service)
http://www.doi.gov/index.cfm

We propose the Division of Contemporary Monuments, DOCM, a new branch of the National Park?Service for developing national monuments and memorials based on the work of contemporary artists, thinkers, architects and scientists. DOCM will explore new forms, settings, materials and themes for America’s monuments, such as cloud and laser-based designs, evolving, living and mutant architectures, mass underground tunnel systems, inverted pyramids, psychic aerial projections, social sculptures, retail readymades, cloaking technologies, hot air balloon transit systems, ocean floor landscaping, and unidentified flying memorials.

For the American People

We propose the Office of the Delegistator, OD, and the Office for Direct Democracy, ODD, the new forth and fifth branches of the federal government, working in coordination with the Federal Judiciary, the Legislative Branch, and the Executive Branch.

The OD will enable the public to remove prune, revoke and refurbish unconscionable laws. This includes legislation that is outdated, cruel, counter productive, destabilizing, irrelevant, frivolous, dangerous, ineffective, unsane or unlawful, or that in any way inhibits the national imaginary or the collective well-being of Americans. Coordinated divisions at the state and municipal levels will facilitate the removal of state and local laws.

For drafting future legislation, the ODD will coordinate the Federal, Legislative and OD Branches to oversee a direct democracy system based on the realization of the popular will. Utilizing an enhanced digital open source hierarchical thread-display mechanism of the sort used by reddit.com, the ODD will facilitate a real-time voting process whereby American citizens receive tax credits for voting and commenting on new legislation, legislative packages and legislative amendments. To enact a new law, lawmakers will post their ideas into the system, which will be visible to the public.  Lawmakers will be required to describe their proposals based on the reading proficiency standards of the ACT high school test so that stakeholders can clearly understand the ramifications of proposed changes. Americans will also be given the opportunity to craft new legislation based on their levels of “Karma” and “Upvotes”, (see Reddit.com for an explanation of terms.)

For the FCC
http://www.fcc.gov

We propose to launch a National Public Access Television Channel (N-SPAN). Modeled after existing local public access television channels, N-SPAN will provide a national audience for local voices such as disgruntled or quirky townies, spontaneous preachers, emerging religious spokespersons, student media producers, and self-identified visionaries. N-SPAN will provide training for all Americans to produce their own television shows. An affiliated 24-hour satellite network (E-SPAN) will broadcast the best federal public access programming to a global audience.

For the Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov

We propose the Educational Enhancement Department, EED, which through executive order will be granted the authority to transform America’s public schools into places of learning and inspiration so as to empower America’s youth.

The EED will have nine integrated areas of focus.:

1. The introduction of creative and cultural producing facilities and programs including art making and exhibition spaces, lounge systems and spaces for brainstorming and socializing, incubators and think-tanking spaces to help process complex ideas, public art labs, student learning centers staffed by pedagogical experts, expanded visual libraries and archives, and outdoor spaces for jumping, dancing, running, playing, and open air exploration.

2. An academic mentoring system that matches interested students with local business entrepreneurs, scientists, public servants, cultural leaders and innovators.

3. The formal programming of free time so students have the mental and temporal space as well as peace of mind to discover new curiosities, questions and passions at their own pace.

4. The refurbishing and elimination of testing and grading procedures that are known to be ineffective or degrading to students.

5. The redesign of school buildings and facilities by leading architects, designers and thinkers, in conjunction with participatory community working groups.

6. A national student leadership program designed to encourage students into leadership positions and the discovery of alternate decision making, consensus building and conflict resolution systems.

7. Experimental communications schemes for schools such as flyer posting boards, zines and newspapers, ambient tones, pulses and minimalist music, DIY radios stations and new spoken or signaled languages.

8. A student networking and network development scheme to enable student communities and initiatives to form between and among different schools.

9. School-based commissions made up of students and teachers who will evaluate, discuss and implement the best practices in place at private, experimental and parochial schools around the world. These commissions will conduct research and school-wide program evaluations every four years and will have the authority to implement changes to their school’s systems, rules and procedures based on the will, needs and desires of the student body, families, and the community.

Nsumi Collective, 2011