RE: PRACTICAL THINKING. — Collective action problems in a society. ... [ Word Count: 2.900 ~ 12 PAGES | Revised: 2018.6.30]
It is very important to consider the practical realities of governance as you do here, and I wish more people did so.
I observe that technology inevitably increases the power of individuals more than institutions and groups, such as states. I reckon this is primarily the reason behind much of the regulatory impact on what technology is permitted, such as personal arms.
However, this fact leads to the eventual demise of the state, and politics. Fifty years ago not even the greatest of kings had a cell phone, no matter how vast their wealth and imperial might. Today many a mother has handed their toddler a phone to distract them long enough to juggle the pasta and sauce, or whatever multitask she faced at the moment.
From being a prize beyond the reach of the most powerful and avaricious emperor, to being a toy suitable to distract children momentarily, in fifty years, cell phones illustrate well the principle that technology increases the power of individuals, and becomes dispersed to saturation in society over time.
This leads to the inevitability of the end of tyranny, as the power of individuals grows beyond the ability of gangs to oppress. Since states are no more than gangs, as the technological advantage of individuals grows, either the states suppress technology (demonstrably happening presently) or lose power.
We see states growing in power today, but this at the cost of technological advance that kings require to improve their quality of life. The laws of physics potentiate technology, and despite the suppression of relevant advances, discovery is impossible to prevent, and thus suppression is time limited. Eventually the fact of physics will produce technological advance that will preclude tyranny.
We don't need to yell at politicians. As you point out, it's useless to wave placards at passing limousines bearing corrupt overlords.
What we need to do is print personal drones at home that effect our personal security, so that we can just ignore the corrupt and avaricious until they go away. As the balance of power between gangs of thugs and individuals continues to tip in favor of sovereign individuals, politicians will lose the ability to field gangs to oppress us, and...
We.Will.Be.Free.
Thanks!
Oh wow, I think it's the first time I read something by you that I fully agree with! :-)
Yes - thanks to technology, politicians will have to up their game, governments will have to improve, budgets will need to be balanced, there will be no wiggle room anymore.
I am glad that even despite our disagreements, we can agree yet on important things.
Excellent comment.
``I reckon this is primarily the reason behind much of the regulatory impact on what technology is permitted": Agreed.
``As the technological advantage of individuals grows, either the states suppress technology (demonstrably happening presently) or lose power..." Yes, this is exactly what is happening. And trying to get the leading actors in states excited about technology that benefits individuals more than themselves is highly unlikely. The leading in actors in states, just like the lobbies that largely determine what they do, have what Mancur Olson called "narrow" interest.
A more free society consists of individuals who are capable of outproducing their unfree counterparts, and in the mode permission was never really asked. In the mode: if permission had to be asked, it was not granted. Individuals asking had no recourse to being told No, and had no bargaining power, and nothing changed. That's primarily what's shown by economic history.
Somehow I think I missed this comment, and I wish I'd seen it earlier.
As to permission, I have been told often that it is better to ask forgiveness than permission. Dunno that I agree in interpersonal context, but certainly do when dealing with government.
Thanks!
That's what my project manager told me ... "I see you are the kind of guy who prefers asking forgiveness than permission" :-)