[Top Gun]

Originally posted by CP5670
it looks like Schumpeter's prediction of the capitalist/republic system gradually being replaced by some form of socialism (and eventually a true communist system) over the centuries might turn out to be fairly accurate.

Can you get me a link to it please?

[Dark_4ce]

*Furiously cuts out a square of white cardboard and attaches it to a stick. Takes out some lovely colorful magic markers and begins to furiously scribble and draw on his sign. He draws several NO words and a rather uneven POLITICS word. Content with his sign, he picks it up and begins to ralley around in circles chanting 'No politics! No politics!'."

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by CP5670

Well, liberty by itself is pretty worthless in the end - it is only good as long as it boosts productivity - and nobody can have true liberty in that sense as long as they exist in reality anyway, since their "free wills" are shaped by their surroundings. (the "methods of control" can mostly be traced to this) But that is not important; regardless of whether individuals like it or not, it looks like Schumpeter's prediction of the capitalist/republic system gradually being replaced by some form of socialism (and eventually a true communist system) over the centuries might turn out to be fairly accurate.

You know, I think CP5670 is now moving ahead of anon in my 'most likely to be totalitarian banana republic dictator' race.

[CP5670]

Can you get me a link to it please?

This title has become quite famous over the years, so there are several editions of it out it there; a search on Amazon turned this up though. People will have freedom in the end, but not "freedom" in the traditional sense. (think Hegel's version of freedom)

You know, I think CP5670 is now moving ahead of anon in my 'most likely to be totalitarian banana republic dictator' race.

I'm not much of a front-line dictator actually; I am more the kind of person who works behind the scenes instead and indirectly influences the ones in power.

[Top Gun]

Originally posted by CP5670


This title has become quite famous over the years, so there are several editions of it out it there; a search on Amazon turned this up though. People will have freedom in the end, but not "freedom" in the traditional sense. (think Hegel's version of freedom)

I meant an online version (anyone who believes this is "piracy" should note that the guy has been dead for over 50 years).

[CP5670]

There is probably one around there somewhere if you look around a bit, but I have not seen an online copy yet.

[Nico]

what scares me most on this page is the result of the poll...

[WMCoolmon]

Poll?

[Nico]

on the page shown in the link.

[Top Gun]

There's a poll on the site where about 50% wouldn't even consider it, about another 25% would consider it and another 25% would embrace it.


25% is a huge proportion of the population to be in favour of such a horrific violation of a child's body, which he/she has no say over. They might as well tattoo a bar code accross their forehead and be done with it. The only calming thought is the fact that the poll was on the faux news site which is read and produced by authoritarian right wing toss pots.

[CP5670]

I don't support it as a consumer-market gadget either (might slow down the emergence of new ideas, which keep the civilization running), but it might be fine as a government surveillance system, although the government would need to be revamped first as well and preferably run by computers.

[Top Gun]

Ahh, computerized government, things are looking up unless someone invents one that accepts payola.

[CP5670]

It would be much better than a human-based one actually, since a computer could be designed to have no personal ambition (as far as controlling people goes), which is what all the flaws in today's governments stem from.

[Carl]

but we would have to wait a looong time before a computer could make moral and ethical desicions, which is what it would need to do in order to run a government.

[CP5670]

eh, that is exactly what we do not want it to do; humans can make bad decisions because they are encumbered by that limitation. The computer's only goal should be the general well-being of the people of the nation as a whole.

[Top Gun]

It's an Excellent Idea, as long as Microsoft aren't given the job of programming the software.

[JC Denton]

Sooo...hypothetical question:  Country "A" has a computerized government.  A also has a substantial military.  Country "X" is a human dictatorship combining the worst traits of Al Qaeda, and the USSR during the Cold War.  X hates A with a passion.

X launches a massive NBC attack on A, killing a sizable portion of the civilian population.  The citizenry beg to retaliate.  X threatens to launch another attack if A attacks.  What would the "CompGov" do?

Satisfy the mass appeal of a full-scale war?

or

Devote all resources to rebuilding society?

or

Something else?

[CP5670]

It's an Excellent Idea, as long as Microsoft aren't given the job of programming the software.

Or just make sure that all the other companies that hate MS look over the software first.

Satisfy the mass appeal of a full-scale war?
or
Devote all resources to rebuilding society?
or
Something else?

More information is needed to make a proper decision, but in most of the situations the best option would be the first one. Take them by surprise and wipe out everything as fast as possible so to make sure they cannot retaliate.

[beatspete]

Originally posted by CP5670
The computer's only goal should be the general well-being of the people of the nation as a whole.

Intresting... but a computer smart enough to make decisions that complex is probably going to need AI.  A computer with AI is dangerous enough.  A computer with AI and a sizeable army and country in its hands =


and on the general topic of this thread

Personal tracker chips would make our lives a lot safer, someone would always know where you are if you get into trouble... but you have to balance that with personal privacy.

[Kamikaze]

The thing that scares me most relating to these kinds of gadgets is the promotion/demotion of ideas and concepts by government and/or individuals. I would hate having parents forcefully "promote" religious beliefs into children, demoting the creation of creative thought...