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The US already has all the infrastructure for "total tyranny". If private consumer information databases already know everyone in america and their spending hab

The US already has all the infrastructure for "total tyranny". If private consumer information databases already know everyone in america and their spending habits, then the Feds have that and then some. It is what makes presidential elections scarier each year: all it takes is one president with a false flag attack (or maybe not even that). Bush had the opportunity, but not really the means or the motive. Obama had the means, but not really the opportunity or the motive. Trump had the motive and means, but not the opportunity. In a more ideal world, the "social karma" would be a good thing: crypto and such tracking could enable actually effective environmental regulation and rewards. It could enable penalizing previous revenues/profits/gains for economic activity that turned out to be deleterious. For example, I would very much like to be able to reduce the value of all profits from oil by 90% historically, if I had such powers as god-emperor treehugger. Crypto could provide such powers. Of course they won't be used properly, and tyranny. But it is theoretically possible.

asabjorn 5y ago
Yes. That’s exactly why you want a system where the means are not there to institute tyranny, and there is a separation of power where multiple powerful hierarchies check each other. My point isn’t that some of this can’t be done now, but that this tech is a force multiplier as evidenced with how China use this kind of tech for social control Systems like this that are marketed assuming an enlightened selfless group control it fails to take human nature into account. It never worked before and with the means we have no it will fail spectacularly. Certainly the WEF and it’s Young Global Leaders haven’t shown selfless restraint so far. Eg Boris Johnson, Trudeau, Markel all were caught partying while forcing everyone else to do the opposite. They all become wealthy while in power.

asabjorn 5y ago

Yes. That’s exactly why you want a system where the means are not there to institute tyranny, and there is a separation of power where multiple powerful hierarchies check each other. My point isn’t that some of this can’t be done now, but that this tech is a force multiplier as evidenced with how China use this kind of tech for social control Systems like this that are marketed assuming an enlightened selfless group control it fails to take human nature into account. It never worked before and with the means we have no it will fail spectacularly. Certainly the WEF and it’s Young Global Leaders haven’t shown selfless restraint so far. Eg Boris Johnson, Trudeau, Markel all were caught partying while forcing everyone else to do the opposite. They all become wealthy while in power.