We are never as inventive or productive as when we are at war. Ingenuity blossoms. We invent all kinds of new offensive or defensive systems. We mass produce in incredible numbers.
But why? Because we put individual or corporate wants aside and concentrate on the need of the nation? Because we all pool our resources together? Because most of us only take out what we need and give what we can? Because during a war most nations effectively become working communist systems?
The way I see it the main problem with communism are
1) A lack of incentives.
2) Poor mechanisms for eliminating greed.
During a war both of these are fixed. The incentive is to not lose the war. And war profiteering isn't accepted. At least not openly.
Can we bring about this kind of creativity and productivity without a war? Without the war communism doesn't work. Neither does capitalism. None of them are able to control human greed at all. How can we amplify the need of the society without the impending doom of losing a war? Any ideas?
Invention is an extreme cost item, if it weren't risked by the gov, no private org would take the risk.
SvarSlettAt least not on the scales needed. I agree, Albert Gordon.
SvarSlettWill climate changes be able to bring forth deep cooperation? If so, how bad must it get?
SvarSlettThere are many interesting discussions to be had...
SvarSlettWorking for a common good has often worked well in smaller societies where the common good is a substantial thing.
In large societies the common good gets diluted. When you don't see any effects of working for a common good and you see other ways to spend your energy that affects your local community or your family... Isn't that what happened in the soviet union? Ordinary people would rather spend their extra time on back yard farming than actually taking part in governance. And they left power to the wrong kind of people.
The same thing is happening in the US where the 100-200 richest persons now control the majority of funding for political campaigns. Guess how many politicians who get anywhere will be able to touch the rich ones? So greed has taken over the system in the US just as efficiently as it did in the soviet union. It's not capitalism or free market anymore when the wealthiest can use politicians to change the rules.
Does the internet offer any solution? It brings us closer together, in increasingly meningful societies. Perhaps at least some of us can find a reason to work for a common good in those groups. But I fear that isn't enough to boost creativity to the levels needed.
One prime example of what we need was the moon program. We put a man on the moon, not because of a war, but because of two massive states competing. Almost war (as the fear of the tactical advantages of space was a large part of it), but without the killing. Is that what it takes? Whip up a frenzy to have the US, russia, china, europe and india compete to reach interplanetary and interstellar space travel, the great ocean depths... But how do we whip up that frenzy without a cold war?
The problem in any system is not EDUCATING people to be what we should be (not greedy; cooperative; respectful), and avoid the ones in power to be bloody bastards, greedy morons, unfair egocentrics, that allow injustice and impunity to rampage. I repeat: in ALL political systems this can/do happen/s.
SvarSlettGonzalo Velasco C. regulating greed is what i see as the biggest challenge for any form of government. It is the big problem that killed the soviet union. It is killing the USA, and it is doing its best in china as well.
SvarSlettI wish education could be enough. But I don't believe it. Not for a second. The people who should be in power are the ones who do not want the power.
That is were religion is not th eopium of the people, but another way of helping us to show the better side... IMHO!
SvarSlettReligious and politic ideologies are ideologies! What's new?
SvarSlett