"Fairness is worth fighting for." Exactly.

I've not read Utopia and have it on my list but I'll be honest, it's a long list. The beauty of any book is that it is there for others to take in and glean ideas from.

I do have a bit of a giggle that Utopia was written by a man who had direct involvement with the imprisonment and burning of religious heretics. But, to sum it up with a ridiculously short phrase: 'that was the times and he was a very religious man'. He was progressive in seeing to it that his daughters received an education equal to that of his sons. (And I'll also give him street credit that he could sling a vehement insult with the best of them.) Also, being beheaded is an awful end.

To have a communal society that could thrive and was free from the pitfalls of greed, laziness, overbearing regulation and the stifling of individualism would be wonderful. There are some good ideas within Utopia to build upon, taking lessons from the past to achieve something akin to a better life for all involved. Keeping a balance of work and pleasure is something that I strongly support (speaking as one who has more of the former than the latter).

Nice piece, Felix!