I like it, let’s try it. I’m sure there are pitfalls but they can’t be worse than what we have now.

Sounds like you don’t have enough experience with modern automatics to hold such a strong opinion about them then. I love a manual transmission but modern automatics are usually very good. There was a time they were less efficient and less good at shifting at the right time but those days are pretty well gone. You do still sacrifice some fine control that you almost never need and they are less fun, but let’s not talk shit on them for issues that have been solved for years.

There is overwhelming scientific evidence that animals feel pain and are sentient like us, and despite the pop science articles to the contrary there is no scientific evidence that plants feel pain or have sentience at all. Plants respond to stimulus in very complicated ways, that’s what we have evidence for. Don’t pretend the two are equivalent. Stop getting your ideas from sensationalist pop science garbage and read the actual studies.

I think you’re almost at the right idea but you’re stuck on the conditioning that it takes some daddy authority figure to be the one enforcing behavior. That’s for babies. Adults should enforce good behavior in other adults. If you see an asshole taking up 4 seats it is your responsibility to tell them to act right. I used to be scared of doing it but the older I get and the more free of authoritarian conditioning I become the easier it is to call out bullshit. Just the other day some asshole in a Ferrari parked so close behind my busted up prius that I wasn’t going to be able to get out. He was still getting out of his car and I was able to say, “If you don’t move your car I’m just gonna hit it so I have enough space to get out.” Bro looked quite scared and I think it’s because of the complete lack of fucks I had left to give that day. Point being, just open your mouth and advocate for justice. Don’t pass that responsibility off to someone else because they don’t exist. If someone needs to get bounced and you don’t have the physique or training for it that’s a great time to ask for help from passersby. You aren’t alone in being pissed off at assholes acting entitled, plenty of people will help you if you get the ball rolling.

My [sister/brother/other] in [insert deity] have you forgotten that in almost every place on the globe food is purchased with money? And that money is also how you buy politicians? One billionaire absolutely could solve hunger through a combination of direct donation and political spending.