[extropy-chat] Futures Politics

[Greg Burch]

[I wish I knew how to insert comments INTO an html mail message, but I
don't...]

Below, you say, "Item 2 - If by left/right is meant community/individual
focus then it will never be transcended."   Here's the problem with
"left/right" from my perspective (and that of many other people, although
they may not be able to identify why that particular dichotomy irks them
so): The origin of left/right was, as we all know, the accident of how
proponents of the French Revolution and those of the ancien regime sorted
their seating out in the Estates General.  As a political reality of that
particular point in time and space, the description made sense and carried
useful political meaning.  Unfortunately, from that day forward there has
been a tension between two axes of meaning: 1)Conservatism vs. Progressivism
and 2) Individualism vs. Collectivism.  It is this tension that has caused
me to utterly reject the left/right dichotomy for over twenty years, which
leads to an almost constant misunderstanding of my own political views by
people in the political mainstream who accept the left/right concept as
something with continuing meaning.  For instance, the mainstream "right" in
America tends to be a mish-mash of conservative and individualist elements
that are deeply inconsistent on the level of principles and, likelwise, the
"left" in America has become increasingly conservative in its collectivist
approach to things like race relations.  Thus it is common for me to have
people on the "left" think of me as being on the "right" and visa versa.

Natasha is, in my opinion, exactly right in strongly rejecting this
one-dimensional approach to politics.

GB
  -----Original Message-----
  From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org
[mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org]On Behalf Of Dirk Bruere
  Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 3:40 PM
  To: ExI chat list
  Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Futures Politics





  On 11/2/05, Natasha Vita-More <natasha at natasha.cc> wrote:
    Since I will be asked my political views this coming weekend in an
interview with a French film on the future, I have outlined my futures
politics as 4 points:

    1.  Nonpartisan.  I believe that no political party today advocates
solutions for the world's most immediate issues.

    2.  Neither right nor left, but "forward."  Drawing a hard line between
conservatives and liberals is ineffective and looking ahead is the best
position to take when addressing what the world needs to focus on in the
coming decades.

    3.  Futures Strategy.  Designing strategic analysis of issues that
society faces and producing alternative "futures" for society to review
before voting.  The Futures Strategy would provide the means for people -
anywhere and at anytime - to learn about issues, possible options for
dealing with and solving problems, and to voice their own opinions through a
time-efficient and cost-effective P2P architecture.

    4. Encouragement of critical thinking.  In order to understand issues
society needs to be skilled at critical thinking.

    Thoughts?

  Item 1 is a non starter.
  As long as different people have conflicting interests, or wish to solve a
particular problem using different methods, there will be partisan politics.

  Item 2 - If by left/right is meant community/individual focus then it will
never be transcended.
  Item 3 - This only works if there is a true meritocracy - not democracy.
OTOH people can voice their opinions now, except nobody is obliged to
listen.
  Item 4 - A lot more than critical thinking is required. Educational
standards in general must rise significantly.

  Dirk




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