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Pretty hostile response. If you're angry, then the post arethuza made is a fine example of a response. The parent to your post didn't propose going about estab

by cturner 16y ago

Pretty hostile response. If you're angry, then the post arethuza made is a fine example of a response. The parent to your post didn't propose going about establishing them, he was just pointing out the advantages. Whatever the side effects may have turned out to be, the British empire certainly did not set out to "empower ordinary individuals who will create new and unforeseen technologies out of old ones." Good intentions have a poor record in politics and public policy, and are probably a weak place to start to make a point.

revorad 16y ago
I'm sorry about the hostile tone. But honestly, it's how I felt. he was just pointing out the advantages. Maybe, but he did so without even a hint of how those advantages could be achieved in an alternate way or any mention of the disadvantages. To me, it sounded like he was implying establishing decentralized imperial republics.
- anamax 16y ago
  > Maybe, but he did so without even a hint of how those advantages could be achieved in an alternate way He pointed out that other attempts haven't worked as well. Maybe he's wrong, or maybe there is something new that would work better, but that's a very different complaint. > or any mention of the disadvantages. he said that they existed. > To me, it sounded like he was implying establishing decentralized imperial republics. implying->recommending ? There are two ways to evaluate decentralized imperial republics, on an absolute scale and on a relative scale. On an absolute scale, they're bad. On a relative scale, they seem to work better than the alternatives. You seem to think that "they're bad" is the end of things. Unless you've got something better, it isn't.
revorad 16y ago
Good intentions have a poor record in politics and public policy But how else does one start? With bad intentions? If we are talking about ways to "produce healthy, growing, prosperous, safe societies", good intentions are a given. The question is how one uses available data to steer ourselves in the direction of achieving those good intentions.
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- Retric 16y ago
  I suspect ignoring morality and optimizing for long term productive output is probably more effective than focusing on morality. Everything has diminishing returns but a good mix of education, healthcare, research and infrastructure spending is required to optimize long term productivity. Corruption and protected industry's are harmful so you eliminate them. A simple tax system that focuses on maximizing revenue outperforms other approaches while limiting enforcement costs. etc. PS: At some point further investment will have diminishing returns but the US is still well below that threshold with our current technology and we are constantly innovating. And a light hand reduces the tendency for revolution.
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by cturner 16y ago

revorad 16y ago

I'm sorry about the hostile tone. But honestly, it's how I felt. he was just pointing out the advantages. Maybe, but he did so without even a hint of how those advantages could be achieved in an alternate way or any mention of the disadvantages. To me, it sounded like he was implying establishing decentralized imperial republics.

anamax 16y ago
> Maybe, but he did so without even a hint of how those advantages could be achieved in an alternate way He pointed out that other attempts haven't worked as well. Maybe he's wrong, or maybe there is something new that would work better, but that's a very different complaint. > or any mention of the disadvantages. he said that they existed. > To me, it sounded like he was implying establishing decentralized imperial republics. implying->recommending ? There are two ways to evaluate decentralized imperial republics, on an absolute scale and on a relative scale. On an absolute scale, they're bad. On a relative scale, they seem to work better than the alternatives. You seem to think that "they're bad" is the end of things. Unless you've got something better, it isn't.

revorad 16y ago

Good intentions have a poor record in politics and public policy But how else does one start? With bad intentions? If we are talking about ways to "produce healthy, growing, prosperous, safe societies", good intentions are a given. The question is how one uses available data to steer ourselves in the direction of achieving those good intentions.

deleted 16y ago
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Retric 16y ago
I suspect ignoring morality and optimizing for long term productive output is probably more effective than focusing on morality. Everything has diminishing returns but a good mix of education, healthcare, research and infrastructure spending is required to optimize long term productivity. Corruption and protected industry's are harmful so you eliminate them. A simple tax system that focuses on maximizing revenue outperforms other approaches while limiting enforcement costs. etc. PS: At some point further investment will have diminishing returns but the US is still well below that threshold with our current technology and we are constantly innovating. And a light hand reduces the tendency for revolution.
- deleted 16y ago
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