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This describe much of the western world at this snapshot in time, if to differing degrees. In Canada for example, it seems many people are treating real estate
by mistermann 5y ago
This describe much of the western world at this snapshot in time, if to differing degrees.
In Canada for example, it seems many people are treating real estate like the lady in the story treats cans of tuna: buy as much as you can afford. And, our government seems similarly disinterested in the problem.
It's very tempting to conclude that this is all by design (this sentiment is picking up a lot of steam in Canada, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is partially true), but I think what's more realistic is that this is simply emergence in action: a system such as the one we live in (Earth, humanity, etc) combined with particular forms of governance (representative democracy) eventually produces the phenomenon we are now seeing more or less globally: concentration of wealth and power, at a constantly increasing rate.
I think it's possible for leadership to change this, but I do not personally believe that representative democracy is necessarily capable of discovering such a leader and allowing them to advance through the ranks. Perhaps in anomalous situations someone could slip through, but my intuition is that anyone with righteous populist goals (maximizing well being for all people) would make it through the many sophisticated filters that exist, one of the main ones being the media.
- Geee 5y agoThe actual reason why this happens is that when someone controls the money supply, they will eventually start creating more money for their own benefit, or the benefit of those who vote for them. It's almost as whole societies get high on 'free money', while stripping capital away from productive activities. This has always happened in human history, and it's the actual reason for almost all societal collapses and wars. Centralized monetary systems have this inherent flaw, and it can't be fixed. The only solution for this is Bitcoin, which is incorruptible and can't be inflated by anyone.
- mistermann 5y agoAgreed, but if we had a more sophisticated form of democracy, we could do things like enforce transparency and documentation (and therefore honesty)....as it is, I think it is safe to assume that the various people in positions of power are happy to coordinate their talking points and documentation to minimize personal harm when something goes wrong. It's bizarre how carefully we design relatively minor systems on this planet, but arguably the most important system of them all is a giant mess of bugs...and hardly anyone seems to notice or care.
- Geee 5y agoWell, the issue is that there can't be real democracy when money is cheap. Whoever promises the most stimmies will always win. There are no hard limits on bad decisions. Real politics and real democracy starts when there is no cheap money and people have to make actual decisions and compromises. After that, maybe all the governance structures and methods will face pressure to innovate.
- mistermann 5y agoI believe a system could be designed that would be resilient to these and other problems. If we don't even try, we will never know what is possible.
- 1270018080 5y agoI think this is just late stage capitalism. The ideology will have to die off for this momentum to stop.