united nations

[jonathankaplan]

I have been thinking some about the next century, and, feeling like the USA is going more socialist, I have had a few thoughts about the way the old frameworks are going to change for the new. The only rule in life (I think) is that everything changes

Comments

[blueadept]

I think that you're right that most of the essential infrastructure will continue to be privatized. I believe this'll happen all over the world, and governments will find that they aren't able to pay people what the private sector can. Unless governments are willing to go in North Korea's direction, they will be far smaller in the future, and hopefully eventually be completely obsolete. I think the first step to this will be the rendering virtually unenforceable of legal tender laws because the boom in mobile technology will let people use cryptographic, untraceable, anonymous cash and thus avoid both inflation and taxation.

[jonathankaplan]

That was dead right, in my view. I am not sure that many in government finance see the risk coming to their revenue base.
Government obsolete....hmmm....their is an interesting thought.
THanks!

Re: Either we'll see

[jonathankaplan]

I'm with you. Just call us Schroedinger's Cat.
Thanks!

[selfishgene]

Nukes are not going away. Any nation with a few nukes cannot be coerced by the others. Leaders of smaller countries have seen very clearly that the US will not dare to mess with nations who have nukes. The current actions in Pakistan are not aimed at the national government. Nukes demand respect and there is every incentive to get some

[jonathankaplan]

"Allow more freedom"?
I don't see that happening. Either we take that freedom, or we won't have it. I know that is a semantic point, but you are right, politicians aren't going to let go willingly, as you say.
It will get ugly, just don't know how yet.
Thanks!

[jonathankaplan]

A real problem with Nukes is, once they exist, there they are. The power that controls them can be pacifist or unwilling, whatever, year after year doing the right thing and not using them, but then, after a million correct decisions to NOT use them, it only takes ONE INCORRECT decision, and all that is lost.
Amazing we haven't done hardly anything yet. Can't see that persisting forever....
Thanks!
(As an unrelated aside, I'll look closer, but I used to really like Alan Watts.)
Thanks, as always!