[extropy-chat] Extropy and libertarianism - a search for meaning...

Jack Parkinson isthatyoujack at icqmail.com
Fri Sep 9 03:24:46 UTC 2005


Hi, I'm Jack.

I have been reading the posts to this forum for some time with somewhat
mixed emotions regarding the political point-scoring. As I see it, the
extropian viewpoint has no precise congruence with any political system -
rather it subsumes them all (or should do so) with a philosophical view
point which is flexible enough to allow for any kind of government - but
should enshrine some core human values to dictate (or at least privede 
guidance benchmarks on) the way any government
conducts its affairs.

Some OED political definition should be enough to demonstrate that political
words per se carry no stigma (I'm not denying the cultural/semantic
baggage that sticks to buzzwords over time - I'm just trying to drill down
to core meanings):
1. Socialism: a society in which things are held or used in common
2. Liberal: Free in bestowing; bountiful, generous, open-hearted. 
Originally,
the distinctive epithet of those arts or sciences that were considered
worthy of a free man; opposed to servile or mechanical. In later use, of
condition, pursuits, occupations: Pertaining to or suitable to persons of
superior social station; becoming a gentleman...
3. Libertarian: One who holds the doctrine of the freedom of the will, as
opposed to that of necessity.

These are ALL wonderful ideas - each born of the very best of motives - each
idealistically promoted as a (often 'THE!") universal panacea. But ideology
and actual practice are two wildly different things: Socialism often breeds
apathy, wishy-washy liberalism inspires contempt, libertarian free markets
are - at least potentially - just a playground for amoral rich kids...

These comments are not meant to be offensive to the well-meaning proponents
of these systems in their ideal forms. There is no such thing as a bad
political system - there are only bad politicians.  Capitalism is
wonderful - if you control capital, or at least make it possible for someone
of reasonable intelligence to 'make good'. It is just a form of slavery - 
with all mod-cons - for those perpetually in hock and struggling to survive.

A benign dictatorship is probably the most effective political system -
and the cheapest and most efficient as well... Problem is - the power
ultimately devolves to the dictator's inbred off-spring - who have none of
the original ideals, but all the egocentric rapacity of indulged
privilege...

I would like to submit the following brief critique of political doctrine in
general: By way of explanation, I live currently in southeastern China, and
my ideas are tinged somewhat with my interpretations of Daoist ideas of
totality.

True wisdom, Daoist style, means adopting the big picture view. This in turn
means accepting that one must always take into account the limitations of
conventional wisdom and its assumptions. 'Conventional wisdom' is used here
as a generic term to include all the prevalent beliefs and ideas that
motivate individuals, organisations and governments - all the 'isms'.

Conventional wisdom is cyclic; it fosters 'theories' and 'solutions' (the
'isms') that gain widespread popular support and acceptance - for a while.
Some of the propositions may be quite good and some quite bad. What
differentiates and separates these passing conceptions from 'true' wisdom 
(and
from the Daoist ideal of wholeness) is their ambit. Without exception the
fashionable trends in 'conventional' thought fail to be holistic - they
invariably propose action based on some innovative analysis of what is
always only a subset of the available data.

It is often fashionably trendy to speak of thinking 'laterally' and to
consider 'innovative solutions - to have thoughts that are 'outside the
square' and by inference 'big picture.' But it only takes a quick glance at
governmental and corporate/organisational policies anywhere and everywhere 
throughout recorded history to see that shortsighted, Band-Aid solutions 
are -
everywhere - generally the order of the day.

It may be that we expect and hope that humanity will be around for
millennia - but our forward planning rarely extends much further than the
next local election. With rare exceptions (major natural disasters, well
publicised tragedies...), 'caring' stops at a clearly defined local border,
and few would argue that despite much talk of 'global community' the nations
that make up that community represent a fragmented 'whole' that is a very
long way from any reconciliation and always includes some elements in bitter
opposition to each other.

Measured against any philosophic/political vision of harmony and wholeness -
we (humanity) suffer critical failures of community. The modern Daoist
vision (ok my interpretation) is of an integrated vision of totality. And
this totality is something that ALL conventional wisdom in practical
application generally lacks the necessary scope to tackle. Conventional
wisdom (aka a political system) is usually for the benefit of privileged
interest groups - and is never fully comprehensive in tackling the real
needs of the people. Like the medicine given to terminally ill patients, it
eases the immediate pain - but provides no prospect of curing the malaise.
In treating symptoms rather than causes, conventional wisdom is always
eventually found lacking - there is short-term gain, but usually at someone
else's expense - there is no integrated big picture solution, that addresses
all the criteria of need.

This sounds a little esoteric and woolly, so consider for a moment one
contemporary example of the type of conventional wisdom that apparently
offers big-picture solutions for society at large - the much-promoted and
much-implemented cleverness of 'the market economy.' That is, regulation of
society based wholly on considerations of market forces and driven by profit
and loss forecasting. This model of capitalist society employs a limited
subset of those attributes that make us human (ie: what is currently defined
as logical/rational) - but then seeks to impose the 'economic' model on
every aspect of our lives. The healing of the sick, the acquisition of
knowledge, the dispensing of justice - all become contingent on
considerations of profit.

Could this kind of niche thinking really embody some universally applicable
truth? I think that a good Daoist would frown, walk away quietly and
have nothing further to do with this inferior idea.

By deliberating excluding and denying the legitimacy of any other
consideration of people's needs, wants and feelings - by packing everything
into a box marked 'commerce' the bigger human picture is forever excluded
and the whole thereby denied. There is no fulfillment for anyone for whom 'the economic model' has no particular resonance - and the Dao ideal remains unattainable...

If we really want free trade - we don't need ANY government. Anyone could set up shop, do what they like - market forces rule, zero trade barriers...
The true purpose of human is not commerce! This is something we do, not something we are...
True community is surely not difficult to grasp. From time immemorial people have huddled together for protection. Safety in numbers. The community can
temporarily compensate for an individuals inability to cope with sickness,
childbirth, infirmity...

Old age is not really a marketing opportunity. Disease is not a treasure
chest for big pharma, the poor are not consumables to be forced to labor
below the poverty line until they expire. We are not a market! We are a
people!

With this in mind shouldn't the first concern be to draft a manifesto of
individual liberties which will admit of any kind of political system - but
will curb the tendency of elite groups to gather all resources and
prerogatives to themselves?

Sorry this is such a long initial post! But I view governments the same way
you might view AI - we create them, but we don't neccessarily control them.
If they are unfriendly, they are powerful enough to destroy us or enslave
us. A good first step might be to make politicians personally accountable
for their errors...

Jack


                        Jack Parkinson  EF - English First
                        Qunzhong Donglu 35
                        Fuzhou, Peoples Republic of China.  
                        isthatyoujack at icqmail.com
                        jack.parkinson at englishfirst.com.cn  tel: 
                              fax: 
                              mobile:  +86 591-83399808 (China)
                              +86 591-83399908 (China)
                              +86 13055419794 (China)  
                       
                 
            
     
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