(no subject)

[ineffabelle]

recommended blog:
Heartland Of Darkness by Boris The Student

also syndicated for LJ on http://syndicated.livejournal.com/heartlanddark/profile

...got any for me?

Comments

[postrodent.livejournal.com]

OK... but tell me how that's not going to subject us to a pitiless Darwinian winnowing? I think there are answers to that one, but so far I don't *feel* them. And I realize that feeling is the psychological fallout from my upbringing, but I still need the answer. :)

the simplistic version

[ineffabelle]

because when the giants die, life becomes much easier for the small...
I'm glossing over the mechanics, but basically the reason why life is so hard for the small time operators is because the giants have made it so.

Re: the simplistic version

[postrodent.livejournal.com]

That makes sense to me. I guess my next question is, Has this happened before, and were we smart enough then to allot out the newly freed resources vaguely equitably, or did we fight among ourselves over who would start getting a majority of those resources?

If we weren't smart enough, are we smarter now?

Re: the simplistic version

[ineffabelle]

Eventually the spiral pulls itself tight... but to be less historically mystic about it, I'd say we really have to take that shot each time.
There's no other way. There's no such thing as benevolent centralized power, well, not for long. It either loses benevolence or fails or (more likely) both.
Crushing robotic bureaucracy is more dangerous than competition, because people are altuistic by nature.
It's not ayn rand's idea of a market, but it's much more realistic.

Re: the simplistic version

[postrodent.livejournal.com]

You lost me with the spiral. I am about as mystic as a plastic cup (wait, that's quite mystical, innit)

Anyway, I guess there IS no other way than to try... The thing is, while I make that try, I want to have the means of my defense on me. Why should I trust all these people again? Any of them could decide they want to be a government, the sneaky fucks.

It's taken me some time to realize that you're correct about the benevolent centralized power... growing up white and middle class in Canada, your experience is a lot more velvet glove than iron fist. Of course I later saw where the fist got applied, but some irrational part of me still takes convincing.