Word of interest: Governance record Governance Indicators
- As we document all our ideas into a single machine, the machine may know all about us but it remains nothing more than a historical record. Accessing this record by connecting every bit of it's information is the current challenge. What direction will we take as we see ideas tested in various countries? I see some people choosing the best of the best results and applying them locally to improve their lot. "Think globally, act locally" still holds up.
- If you aren't doing something with all this information, rest assured someone is.
- Sadly, most people have yet to place a phone call, let alone use the web and so find themselves struggling with the most basic survival issues. They will remain there since there is no world mechanism designed to improve their lot. They will continue to eek out a living, waiting for too few opportunities, engaged in an endless war to underbid each other until they are virtually paying for the privilege of working (illegal imigrants?).
- I find myself wondering if we shouldn't place limits the boundless capitalism that seems to be fuelled by boundless greed of the richer individuals of this planet. Once you have enough it should be made very difficult to engage masses of individuals in bidding wars to work for you at sub-survival rates.
When I see the absurd contracts poor workers enter into when working in extremely rich countries; I dispair at the limitless greed of some and their ability to prey on those living in missmanaged countries. Isn't it illegal to overcharge for water just because of local disaster? Isn't it illegal to underpay someone just because his local government is a disaster? - Many countries have managed to create economies where a social safety net prevents destitution by redistributing some of the wealth; while most are still run on the basis of greed and tribalism. We know how to build better countries, why can't we remove the right to "bad governance" from governments that are obviously bad for their own citizens. (Sudan, Haiti, the usual suspects.)
- A "country" has become an economic unit; some permanently wealthy thanks to the rights they have granted themselves over other countries; some permanently poor due to their inability to manage themselves consistently. Others teetering on the edge (Argentina?)
Life in the future will be wonderful for some, horrible for most; just as it is today. If you are reading this, your life is not horrible. Access to the full-text of this article will depend on your personal or institutional entitlements.
Steve
