[extropy-chat] Socialism versus Transhumanism

[Brett Paatsch]

Jose Cordeiro wrote: 
To: wta-talk at transhumanism.org ; max at maxmore.com 

> ...We should oppose this misuse of the name democracy
> meaning socialism as proposed by leftists. For a long time, I 
> have been making the same critique about James Hughes's 
> paper, which should be called "socialist" transhumanism as
> opposed to "democratic" transhumanism.
 
Jose, can you provide a link to the paper you are talking about?

> Words are important. 

On that I agree with you.
 
> I am a believer in democracy and libertarian ideas, which are 
> perfectly compatible, and I strongly oppose the "stealing" of
> the term democracy by leftists to cover up their socialist plot.

Oh good. Another true "believer". We've been really needing
one of them ;-)  

> Socialism has been always a disgrace wherever it has been
> tried. 

So why worry ?

> My concern about socialists is that they will want to restrict
> liberties, as they always do, and stop the free rise of 
> transhumanism. 

You mean as opposed to folk like Kass? 

>....people will decide what to do with their lifes, minds
> and bodies.

Then again I ask why worry?

If there is no chance of "socialism" working why would you
want to exert effort to oppose it? There is an opportunity cost
to opposing something. You don't have the time to oppose 
something else. Something like Kass's great vision of the world.

There is no global democracy under any meaning of the term 
"democracy" - never has been. Nor has there been a global
"socialism". Perhaps it would be more extropic to have a
global democracy of a form - perhaps not. I have an open
mind on that - because it is not something I see as likely to
happen anytime soon. First one would have to make a 
convincing case for it and second (short of a global 
revolution) one would have to sell that case to the American
voter. The American voter is no stupider than any other variety
of voter - but nor is the American voter much brighter. They 
are not going to vote in the aggregate to give up the preferential
benefits as they see it to them any time soon. This is not a slur.
Romans would not have voted in the aggregate to make all the 
world Roman's and Australian's will not vote in the aggregate to 
allow everyone to enter Australia who would like to come
here. I add the last because I am Australian and I don't want
people to think I am being party political or nationalistic. 

> The main opposition will be coming from socialists, 
> and communists, facists, Sharia Islamists and other groups that 
> "know better" what is good for you.

That looks like pretty divided opposition to me. 

Regards,
Brett