You may have heard the popular stat about peer production, which is that only a small percentage of users get involved.

What's the biggest obstacle to more people getting involved?

In a word: Fear.

Afraid of looking dumb, afraid of being wrong, afraid of angering someone, afraid of being rejected....one can be afraid of anything if that is the way one wants it.

Why won't people talk about Google censoring political films on Google Video, or Bush publicly declaring himself dictator in the event of a catastrophe (thus setting the stage for problem-reaction-solution)?

Fear.

Can we, the collective humanity, break the cycle of fear?

Fear not, for we will. According to the Mayan calendar (as discussed in The Mayan Calendar and the Transformation of Consciousness), our current phase of consciousness will end in December of 2012 (October of 2011 is cited as a key point as well).

A rise in consciousness correlates to a greater awareness of "the Life Source" (God, as often described in religious terms). This translates to a greater respect for mankind, as it allows us to more readily see the consciousness in them. It also translates to less fear, as we are aware of our fundamental connection to the source of our collective consciousness.

In the next phase of consciousness -- the 2013 and beyond phase -- there will be less fear. And so, there will be more peer-production.