3 ms·

The solution of "let's just have smart and benevolent rulers" to the old "Who will guard the guards?" question doesn't have the greatest track record.

toomuchtodo 4y ago
Does the need for constant vigilance suck? Yes. Is it necessary because humans will be humans? Also yes. If change is inevitable, as is turnover in governance and those who participate in it, than naturally systems and underlying mechanisms must be maintained to ensure stability. People problems demand people solutions. I know, it’s a bummer. No tech saved Kansas abortion rights earlier this week. Overwhelming constituent turnout to vote did (voter registration is up 1000% in Kansas). (Used only as an example for my thesis)
- cowtools 4y ago
  What you are suggesting is that all societal problems are "people problems". So we should just give up trying long-term solutions and just engage in partisan politics all the time. You are making the perfect the enemy of the good. This is not about fixing everything all the time. This is about giving individuals in general leverage against their institutions. The goal is to put systems in place that make the individual battles (for liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness) easier. I think your failure to identify the nature of this situation is emblematic of a failure of common liberal/leftist thought. P.S. We still live in a time of great prosperity and freedom. That's largely due to technological progress. Technology can be the difference between feasible and impossible regulation. Technology changes the very landscape on which the political battles occur. To ignore the influence of technology on politics is to go into battle blindfolded.
- BurningFrog 4y ago
  The existence of cash demonstrates that there is a well functioning vigilance free payment system.
  - imtringued 4y ago
    That is a good argument in favour of building a digital equivalent.
chii 4y ago
have a paper-scissors-rock style guard - the separation of powers and checks and balances. Institution1 holds regulatory powers, and institution2 is the guard/police for institution1. Then another institution3 guards institution2, and institution1 also has a responsibility to oversea institution3.
- Teever 4y ago
  We're about to see a total breakdown of that threeway check and balance in the US as soon as the republicans take the executive branch again. This system does not work. We need something better

toomuchtodo 4y ago

Does the need for constant vigilance suck? Yes. Is it necessary because humans will be humans? Also yes. If change is inevitable, as is turnover in governance and those who participate in it, than naturally systems and underlying mechanisms must be maintained to ensure stability. People problems demand people solutions. I know, it’s a bummer. No tech saved Kansas abortion rights earlier this week. Overwhelming constituent turnout to vote did (voter registration is up 1000% in Kansas). (Used only as an example for my thesis)

cowtools 4y ago
What you are suggesting is that all societal problems are "people problems". So we should just give up trying long-term solutions and just engage in partisan politics all the time. You are making the perfect the enemy of the good. This is not about fixing everything all the time. This is about giving individuals in general leverage against their institutions. The goal is to put systems in place that make the individual battles (for liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness) easier. I think your failure to identify the nature of this situation is emblematic of a failure of common liberal/leftist thought. P.S. We still live in a time of great prosperity and freedom. That's largely due to technological progress. Technology can be the difference between feasible and impossible regulation. Technology changes the very landscape on which the political battles occur. To ignore the influence of technology on politics is to go into battle blindfolded.
BurningFrog 4y ago
The existence of cash demonstrates that there is a well functioning vigilance free payment system.
- imtringued 4y ago
  That is a good argument in favour of building a digital equivalent.

chii 4y ago

have a paper-scissors-rock style guard - the separation of powers and checks and balances. Institution1 holds regulatory powers, and institution2 is the guard/police for institution1. Then another institution3 guards institution2, and institution1 also has a responsibility to oversea institution3.

Teever 4y ago
We're about to see a total breakdown of that threeway check and balance in the US as soon as the republicans take the executive branch again. This system does not work. We need something better