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It's nice when a technical solution exists for a people problem, but as much respect as I have for both Sir Berners-Lee and Schneier, I don't think this is one
by benreesman 1y ago
It's nice when a technical solution exists for a people problem, but as much respect as I have for both Sir Berners-Lee and Schneier, I don't think this is one of those instances.
The rights of individuals come into conflict with the interests powerful organizations precisely at the points in which the great documents deem it necessary to enumerate them as rights: this is by construction.
Whether you are reading the Bill of Rights or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (or in a sense, the Magna Carts) the themes are around personal sovereignty, presumption of innocence, ownership and disposal of property, freedom from surveillance and coercion and other abuses of power. This is because absent such norms and their enforcement by principled leaders, the powerful in general find it in their interests to infringe the rights of the less powerful.
We are at such a moment today: the consolidation of power in the hands of unaccountable organizations and the capture of institutions by the unprincipled has met an explosion of activity and possibility in the digital realm, but it is not unique to it.
This is usually solved by violence, sometimes blessedly by negotiation, but it is always solved: once the wishes of ever smaller in number choke out the hope and dignity of the ever larger in number to sufficient degree: change happens as surely as winter turns to spring.
- refulgentis 1y agoThis really captures something important about how power operates across different eras you're drawing from some heavy hitting historical precedents. I'm curious about the full sweep of political philosophy (Magna Carta through UDHR), it feels like it has something to inform us about people problems vs. technical problems. That final image about seasons changing is quite evocative, really drives home the cyclical nature of these power struggles. A technical standard cannot prevent blood shorn for man's freedom.
- benreesman 1y agoVery kind of you to say, though I can't take credit for any of the ideas: they're all a lot older than I am. Important to keep them in circulation in my view.
- crabmusket 1y agoSincerely, I do not think blood is ever shorn?
- refulgentis 1y agoLol yeah you're right I shouldn't have leaned into how epic I felt without at least checking XD
- rockskon 1y agoSo your response is.... Schneier's solution is bad and violent revolution is most likely the answer? It's difficult to really parse your reply.
- bawolff 1y agoMy reading of their comment: A piece of paper (or bit in a computer) means nothing if the person who wants to take your property puts a gun in your face. I think this is a problem with most blockchain solutions. They purport to replace existing societal controls, but depend on them to actual enforce anything. So you are left in the situation where either traditional solutions work so why bother with a blockchain, or traditional solutions aren't working, in which case the blockchain isn't worth the imaginary paper its written on. Either way, the blockchain solution is worthless. Edit: i commented before i rtfa. Shameful i know. Appearently this is not a blockchain thing. I still think most of my comment applies.
- rockskon 1y agoCouldn't that argument be applied to just about anything? Policies that the powerful don't like can and do stay in place typically because of fait accompli - they waited too long to do anything about it and now it's too entrenched and changing it would be too difficult.
- keysdev 1y agoThe idea using technology to solve a political issue has never gone well in the long run. Look at the nuclear proliferation issues. It doesnt have to be violent, can also just be civil disobedience Gandi style and/or create parallel system as the parent article is recommending.
- benreesman 1y agoI notice you just blew right past my preferred outcome of negotiation: is it so unlikely that the current elite might negotiate to keep their position rather than lose it in bloodshed?
- pjmorris 1y ago> This is usually solved by violence, sometimes blessedly by negotiation, but it is always solved: once the wishes of ever smaller in number choke out the hope and dignity of the ever larger in number to sufficient degree: change happens as surely as winter turns to spring. A friend of mine urged me to read 'War and Peace and War', Peter Turchin, last year. It's essentially a book-length confirmation, with examples, of your final point.
- emptysongglass 1y agoWhy would you have respect for Berners-Lee? He sold out his own creation to corporate interests by supporting DRM.