tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post7645952230322345235..comments2023-06-15T09:13:45.467-04:00Comments on Liberty's Torch: The Futurist And The Monetary VeilFrancis W. Porrettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-44881002384837841622017-12-01T11:27:09.315-05:002017-12-01T11:27:09.315-05:00Stewart: I would expect more of an Isaac Asimov Th...<b>Stewart:</b> I would expect more of an Isaac Asimov <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JHYRDQ/" rel="nofollow"><b><i>The Naked Sun</i></b></a> future. Specifically, the Solarian version.Francis W. Porrettohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-52629450362524294782017-12-01T10:54:21.577-05:002017-12-01T10:54:21.577-05:00I've been following this notion of a UBI for a...I've been following this notion of a UBI for a couple of years, and my basically libertarian economic brain rejects the entire notion as evil slavery.<br /><br />But, my science fiction brain still ponders what the future may bring. You state, accurately, that reduced incentive to produce, lowers production. But, imagine a (not too distant) future in which virtually all labor is performed by robots. To put it simply, in that scenario, who cares if production declines? In such a world, perhaps only 20% (or maybe as little as 5%) of people still have meaningful work to do.<br /><br />How does an economy work under those circumstances? How do you incentivize the 20%, while keeping the remaining 80% from causing too much trouble? How do you prevent the 20% from growing tyrannical, if not downright genocidal? You clearly, under those circumstances, cannot have anything like a functional "democracy", which would turn out worse that even today.<br /><br />The progressive-types look at such a prospect, and see a pleasant but ridiculous Star Trek future. I look at it and see more of a Blade Runner future. Given the choice, I would almost rather see a Canticle for Leibowitz future.Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03656341767881132741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-25160843260546933982017-11-30T12:22:22.596-05:002017-11-30T12:22:22.596-05:00Greetings Mr. Porretto.
I am reminded of somethin...Greetings Mr. Porretto.<br /><br />I am reminded of something Jerry Pournelle wrote in his Imperial Stars series.<br /><br />To paraphrase: We have a council of economic advisors. Very educated men who are constantly wrong. We'd do better to have a council of astrologers who read the intestines of animals because we'd be less likely to take them seriously.<br /><br /><br />It seems to me that the inflation in our country is not just monetary.<br /><br />The value of our money is being inflated away.<br />The value a a high school diploma has been inflated away.<br />The value of (many) college degrees is in the process of being inflated away.<br />The value of U.S. citizenship is being inflated away.<br /><br />How can we start to turn the tide?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-2186041682446848132017-11-29T15:54:14.523-05:002017-11-29T15:54:14.523-05:00As far as *I'm* concerned,
this whole "Un...As far as *I'm* concerned,<br />this whole "Universal Basic Income"<br />is the CARROT <br />for the STICK of <b>SLAVERY</b>.<br />(*not* a criticism of your evaluation, just throwing out my 2 bits)<br /><br />Luring the masses into taking "free money"<br />(the gov't already has its "Free Sh!t Army" with EBT cards, etc etc)<br />is EASY.<br /><br />Then, once ensnared a la "The Pig Trap",<br />remind those Idiocracy University Graduates<br />that, should they disobey, mis-speak or even have a thought-crime,<br />THEIR MONEY GOES *poof!*...and now, <br />they have NO RECOURSE, NO OTHER SOURCE for their "life blood."<br /><br />But it's too late and doesn't matter...as if their firearms had been confiscated.<br />And so, it finally dawns on them how royally ska-roowed they are.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00466167292501069288noreply@blogger.com