4 ms·

I think we don't know the long term effects of the things we are doing. But the usual cure people propose, a massive expansion of government, is worse than the

I think we don't know the long term effects of the things we are doing. But the usual cure people propose, a massive expansion of government, is worse than the disease. It will ultimately lead to more wars and an end to dealing with threats to our existence. But doing nothing is not viable either. We need to get control of the planet. We simply cannot just let the next ice age or global warming occur. This sort of thing is the ultimate "tragedy of the commons". And some of those most familiar with that concept seem the least likely to apply it the effects of technology.

saraid216 14y ago
Last I checked, we haven't had a civil war in a while. If we had a decently sized "massive expansion of government" on, say, a planetary scale (for a planet-sized problem), wouldn't that therefore lead to less wars?
- stretchwithme 14y ago
  Since government is creating massive problems already, such as the global debt crisis, I really don't think all encompassing planetary government is a good idea at all. People seem to think nothing could ever go wrong with such a concept. But history tells another story about government. We've had some very bad totalitarian governments. I'd rather not trust any single organization that will never face any competition. I'm not saying its a bad idea to coordinate with other countries on specific issues. That's what treaties are for. Even there, some pretty bad ideas can be agreed upon. At least countries can leave a treaty that proves to be a disaster.
  - saraid216 14y ago
    > I'd rather not trust any single organization that will never face any competition. Neither would I. That would be silly. Can you tell me what government is? In my experience, people who are afraid of governments becoming totalitarian cannot seem to grasp what the government itself is. Would you be an exception to this trend?
    - stretchwithme 14y ago
      A sovereign government is a monopoly on the use of force over a given territory. I would hate to have no ability to escape a government if it became tyrannical. A global government makes escape impossible.
      - saraid216 14y ago
        What does "monopoly" mean, in this case? Where's the line between "I can punch your nose" and "I can shoot you dead" and "This is a military"? I assume joining an underground resistance is unpalatable?

saraid216 14y ago

Last I checked, we haven't had a civil war in a while. If we had a decently sized "massive expansion of government" on, say, a planetary scale (for a planet-sized problem), wouldn't that therefore lead to less wars?

stretchwithme 14y ago
Since government is creating massive problems already, such as the global debt crisis, I really don't think all encompassing planetary government is a good idea at all. People seem to think nothing could ever go wrong with such a concept. But history tells another story about government. We've had some very bad totalitarian governments. I'd rather not trust any single organization that will never face any competition. I'm not saying its a bad idea to coordinate with other countries on specific issues. That's what treaties are for. Even there, some pretty bad ideas can be agreed upon. At least countries can leave a treaty that proves to be a disaster.
- saraid216 14y ago
  > I'd rather not trust any single organization that will never face any competition. Neither would I. That would be silly. Can you tell me what government is? In my experience, people who are afraid of governments becoming totalitarian cannot seem to grasp what the government itself is. Would you be an exception to this trend?
  - stretchwithme 14y ago
    A sovereign government is a monopoly on the use of force over a given territory. I would hate to have no ability to escape a government if it became tyrannical. A global government makes escape impossible.
    - saraid216 14y ago
      What does "monopoly" mean, in this case? Where's the line between "I can punch your nose" and "I can shoot you dead" and "This is a military"? I assume joining an underground resistance is unpalatable?