3 ms·

> At which point the megacorps will discover that governments command actual loyalty and a monopoly on force. Agreed, but only with the caveat that that is te

> At which point the megacorps will discover that governments command actual loyalty and a monopoly on force. Agreed, but only with the caveat that that is temporary. I think we are rapidly approaching the point that corporations will be able to sidestep the rug governments currently threaten to pull out from under them. I think that tipping point will be an interesting, if not horrifying inflection point in our history. Furthermore, much of (at least in the US's case) the "force" you speak of is now rooted in the military-industrial complex. What happens when defense contractors find that it might be more profitable to throw their hat in with a megacorp rather than the government? It's a scary thought.

azernik 8y ago
How, exactly, are we approaching that point? You think militaries and police are becoming less capable? That employees are becoming more loyal to their employers?
- Rooster61 8y ago
  > You think militaries and police are becoming less capable? What guarantees that they will always be on the side of governments? > That employees are becoming more loyal to their employers? No, but the common citizen is becoming that way. Right now, are people more likely to call up their representative to try to get something done, or post something to facebook related to their political leanings?
  - azernik 8y ago
    That's not a request to Facebook for help. It's a call to their fellow citizens, with Facebook being a (not very well respected) intermediary. Facebook can interfere with that means of communication, but it can't interfere with military/police chains of command, or physically stop a SWAT team from showing up at Zuckerberg's front door and at Facebook sysadmin's offices.
    - tsunamifury 8y ago
      That might apply to Facebook. But governments are loath to show a force like this which might destabilize markets. It’s not blockbuster action sequences it’s a slow transition of power.
  - ForHackernews 8y ago
    How many divisions does The Zuck have?
    - Rooster61 8y ago
      None, of course. As I said, I don't think we will see anything like this happen with Facebook, but that might not be the case if megacorp monopolies continue to garner political power.
  - busterarm 8y ago
    > What guarantees that they will always be on the side of governments? Most people who join militaries are not career military types and most also care greatly which side they're on. True mercenaries are extremely rare.
- philipov 8y ago
  Let loose the automatons. K-mode, engage!
- michaelt 8y ago
  Think of it less like the relationship between cops and robbers, and more like the relationship between tax authorities and users of shady offshore tax havens. No voters or politicians publicly come out in favour of offshore tax havens... and yet somehow, 20 years later they're still there.
  - rjsw 8y ago
    Very few tax havens have their own armed forces. The UK Prime Minister could phone up the head of any British Overseas Territory today and invite them to reform their tax reporting or else a Tomahawk will be fired at their office. Megacorps will find it hard to resist Gunboat Diplomacy.

azernik 8y ago

How, exactly, are we approaching that point? You think militaries and police are becoming less capable? That employees are becoming more loyal to their employers?

Rooster61 8y ago
> You think militaries and police are becoming less capable? What guarantees that they will always be on the side of governments? > That employees are becoming more loyal to their employers? No, but the common citizen is becoming that way. Right now, are people more likely to call up their representative to try to get something done, or post something to facebook related to their political leanings?
- azernik 8y ago
  That's not a request to Facebook for help. It's a call to their fellow citizens, with Facebook being a (not very well respected) intermediary. Facebook can interfere with that means of communication, but it can't interfere with military/police chains of command, or physically stop a SWAT team from showing up at Zuckerberg's front door and at Facebook sysadmin's offices.
  - tsunamifury 8y ago
    That might apply to Facebook. But governments are loath to show a force like this which might destabilize markets. It’s not blockbuster action sequences it’s a slow transition of power.
- ForHackernews 8y ago
  How many divisions does The Zuck have?
  - Rooster61 8y ago
    None, of course. As I said, I don't think we will see anything like this happen with Facebook, but that might not be the case if megacorp monopolies continue to garner political power.
- busterarm 8y ago
  > What guarantees that they will always be on the side of governments? Most people who join militaries are not career military types and most also care greatly which side they're on. True mercenaries are extremely rare.
philipov 8y ago
Let loose the automatons. K-mode, engage!
michaelt 8y ago
Think of it less like the relationship between cops and robbers, and more like the relationship between tax authorities and users of shady offshore tax havens. No voters or politicians publicly come out in favour of offshore tax havens... and yet somehow, 20 years later they're still there.
- rjsw 8y ago
  Very few tax havens have their own armed forces. The UK Prime Minister could phone up the head of any British Overseas Territory today and invite them to reform their tax reporting or else a Tomahawk will be fired at their office. Megacorps will find it hard to resist Gunboat Diplomacy.