Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Centralization v. Decentralization

One thing that you may get with solar and wind is a decentralization of energy sources.  This could be profound, because it could lead to the decentralization of society as well.

But the left requires centralization, so this is a contradiction.  The same goes with the right:  nuclear power is by definition centralized.  It has to be centralized because of its nature.  So, if nuclear power is developed, the society remains centralized and may become even more so.  This too, is a contradiction.

What to do?

I think both.  People should never lose touch with their "primitive" side, while developing newer and better ways of doing things that are considered primitive.

Consider a world in which machines can do all of our work for us.  Would we really want such a society?  On the other hand, consider a world that devolves back to an earlier level of development.  Would we want such a society like that, either?  I don't think we should.

So, for people who cannot work in a modern high tech society, we could have the more "primitive" ways of being---growing your own food and living off the land.  For those who can work in the new modernized world, let them keep doing so.  This could lead to a bifurcated society, and perhaps it could lead to some conflicts along the way, but that is for a different discussion.  To me, it would be better to continue our long progress from the "swamps to the stars", as Ronald Reagan once said.  By the same token, we should never forget our heritage and who we are.  There's a danger that this may happen if this transhumanism goes too far---as it might in a high tech society that depends too much upon their own inventions.


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