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Never seen a starker illustration of the idea that poverty anywhere eventually makes itself everyone's problem. Dude just wanted affordable internet access, and
by bsanr2 6y ago
Never seen a starker illustration of the idea that poverty anywhere eventually makes itself everyone's problem. Dude just wanted affordable internet access, and that was enough of an incentive for him to do something that accidentally caused billions of dollars in losses around the world.
Here's a fun thought: was that cheaper to the global community than whatever infrastructural improvements that would have allowed de Guzman stable-enough internet access to not seek out his infamous solution? What other situations like this are there waiting in the wings, and would fixing them cost more or less than the alternative of letting those situations play out as they may? Think how 9/11, terrorist attacks in general, are spurred on by groups aggrieved by socioeconomic or cultural conditions; what would it cost to placate them? Do we not because it would ultimately be more onerous?
- burlesona 6y agoThat’s an interesting though. Serious question: how do you quantify inequalities that represents a systemic risk versus ones that do not? I ask because perfectly equal wealth distribution or maybe even desirable (see many attempts at communism ending badly). Further, there are parts of the world where people have very different cultures and “standards of living” and are happy, which is not dangerous even as it is not “equal.” So how do you best quantify and anticipate which “infrastructure differences” are fine and maybe even locally optimal, versus which ones are going to lead to harm?
- bsanr2 6y agoAsk people what they want, and then listen when they tell you? Therein lies another problem: the perceived cost of improvements is modified by the perceptions of "deservedness" on the part of the people paying. Compare post-WWII to post-WOT investment. The Marshall Plan et al. were correctly perceived as being less expensive than the alternative of letting wounds fester and courting another war, but I'd argue that this relatively clear-eyed approach was influenced by who the investment was going to (Westerners, European, white people) and what it was to be used for (returning Europe to its former glory after utter destruction). There has been no talk of that kind of investment in Iraq/Syria/Afghanistan/Libya, whatever their people may desire.
- acheron 6y ago> what would it cost to placate them? You’ve only to pay ‘em the Danegeld and then you’ll get rid of the Dane!
- bryanrasmussen 6y agoAs a Dane I support this sentiment!