This kind of hyper specialization and reliance on supply chains also carries the risk of disaster even where there are no bad actors. Obligatory reference to E.M. Forster's "The Machine Stops."
Leonard Read history reminded me of Thomas Thwaites trying to build a toaster from scratch going after all the 400 necessary components and material neeeded to make it, in this strife he concluded that "it takes a civilization to build a toaster"
And the globalization with its division of labor? Alienation Marx talked about on steroids. And then some people from the sunny California think that more technology will save us all.. the chinese too, they have embraced the high tech utopia, and is advancing ever since Mao:
"We cannot use the “natural rights of man” nor the “theory of evolution.”
We can only use Western technology"
Without any doubt this is something that need be stopped, be it a war or collapse, because EROI, may EROI bring some Eros again after unleashing some Thanatos on the cattle/cybernetic anthill.
As always, a bracing response! The question of China and its vision of technology and globalisation is the most intriguing aspect of all this, and probably the most consequential.
It's possible that revolts can spread there (organically or backed by Washington/ROC), China is not so streamlined as it seems. It's billions! There's divisions there we can't even imagine. And always has been, historically speaking. Culturally speaking too. Shanzhai!.. and the Dao.
So, Wessie, this morning a very important policy lawyer in Washington D.C., who knows my work in security, emails me your piece, with the remark "so true." You're reaching folks! Bravo.
This is a nightmare waiting to happen. Neither technology or capital by themselves produce social trust, and are often a solvent for it. Faith in everything around us ultimately depends on trust in the political institutions to police distributed supply chains and approximate them to a high trust society. Christians' benign "order of creation we cannot comprehend" looks less like the mysterious hand of ineluctable transcendent powers, and more like the universalised projection of high-trust homogenous societies. The Amish look more and more precient.
This kind of hyper specialization and reliance on supply chains also carries the risk of disaster even where there are no bad actors. Obligatory reference to E.M. Forster's "The Machine Stops."
Don't know it – I must take a look!
Leonard Read history reminded me of Thomas Thwaites trying to build a toaster from scratch going after all the 400 necessary components and material neeeded to make it, in this strife he concluded that "it takes a civilization to build a toaster"
And the globalization with its division of labor? Alienation Marx talked about on steroids. And then some people from the sunny California think that more technology will save us all.. the chinese too, they have embraced the high tech utopia, and is advancing ever since Mao:
"We cannot use the “natural rights of man” nor the “theory of evolution.”
We can only use Western technology"
Without any doubt this is something that need be stopped, be it a war or collapse, because EROI, may EROI bring some Eros again after unleashing some Thanatos on the cattle/cybernetic anthill.
As always, a bracing response! The question of China and its vision of technology and globalisation is the most intriguing aspect of all this, and probably the most consequential.
Yes, for example, they take surveillance to another level.
Coincindetally I'm reading this now
https://energyskeptic.com/2024/book-review-of-surveillance-state/
It's possible that revolts can spread there (organically or backed by Washington/ROC), China is not so streamlined as it seems. It's billions! There's divisions there we can't even imagine. And always has been, historically speaking. Culturally speaking too. Shanzhai!.. and the Dao.
So, Wessie, this morning a very important policy lawyer in Washington D.C., who knows my work in security, emails me your piece, with the remark "so true." You're reaching folks! Bravo.
Terrific, I'm so glad to hear that. Thanks for letting me know!
This is a nightmare waiting to happen. Neither technology or capital by themselves produce social trust, and are often a solvent for it. Faith in everything around us ultimately depends on trust in the political institutions to police distributed supply chains and approximate them to a high trust society. Christians' benign "order of creation we cannot comprehend" looks less like the mysterious hand of ineluctable transcendent powers, and more like the universalised projection of high-trust homogenous societies. The Amish look more and more precient.
I agree entirely. You've said a great deal of what I wanted to say, and more, better than I could have. Thank you.