Economic Lessons Everywhere
As our political class prides itself on past, current, and future exploits, the masses pay for monuments that will one day tumble into the mud. Hubris is one human attribute that never goes wanting, and it increases with power and prestige. Wars and carnivals, or guns and butter, destroy the capital needed to keep society progressing. Either we learn our lessons from the Romans or we will be the archaeological site of a subsequent generation. Trading Liberty, Freedom, and Property for a marble obelisk that will not weather the storms of the ages is no inheritance for our children, or our children's children. FULL ARTICLE
Comments (3)
In asmuchas I like reading articles about new whizbang technology, this article sort of keeps reminding me that if people stuck to family farms and quaint villages then all would be well. I remember reading a book that pointed out, like it or lump it, that most of the science over the ages has been concentrated into the military. Hence, in many times and places, the standard of living for the average schmoe might not have changed much at all over one thousand years or more. Yet the technology advance in the military over the millennia has usually continued without pause. In other words, any army could usually defeat another army from one hundred years ago.
Interestingly, a good argument I heard as to why if aliens ever did make contact with humans that they'd be peaceful is because the technology required to go from star system to star system could be easily re-engineered into an almighty weapon that'd probably wipe out a planet (well at least be peaceful with their own kind ;P).
Published: June 26, 2007 9:38 AM
Sam,
Unfortunately, the state is quite good at harnessing technology to extend its influence. Just don't confuse correlation with causation. Technology is the tool, not the cause.
Published: June 26, 2007 10:51 AM
8) The real "game" of politics is selling the notion that your ideals and philosophies are being represented by the "good side" while the other side merely plays around with rules and laws and such for their own benefit. Until people see that, in fact, all that ANY politician does is politics, and 99% of the time their actions are to push an aggressive philosophic policy many axiomatic steps removed from actually preserving life and property. And it is necessary for people, no matter how strongly the believe that their ways best, to not use force and aggression unless they are "clearly and presently" under a threat.
But the game still is what it is, making a specific subset of the population believe that you and they are fighting the same righteous cause, and so the politician's actions are sound and not mere crude "politics".
Published: June 26, 2007 3:58 PM