When it comes to the design of social and societal systems...

When it comes to the design of social and societal systems of all kinds, it is the users, the people in the system who are the experts. Nobody has the right to design social systems for someone else. It is unethical to do so. Design cannot be legislated, it should not be bought from the expert, and it should not be copied from the design of others. If the privilege of and responsibility for design is "given away," others will take charge of designing our lives and our systems. They will shape our future.

Béla H. Bánáthy

p. 128; As quoted in: Roberto Joseph et al. (2002) "Banathy's Influence on the Guidance System for Transforming Education". World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution, 58(5/6) 379-394 - Designing Social Systems in a Changing World (1996)

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