[ExI] What surveillance solution is best - Orwellian, David Brin's, or ...?

[A B]

Yeah, the cost will continue to get lower; but before
today, the cost would still have been pretty
significant. Placing and monitoring a "bug" in
millions of homes is gonna cost some cheddar. And
dictators often don't rule the richest of countries.
Another thing that reduces the "benefit" side is that
any conspirators could easily leave the
house/equipment in order to plot. Another factor is
that foreign countries like the U.S. exert external
influence (I'm not judging merit here, just stating a
fact). Definitely the important point though is that
surveillance tech is only going to get cheaper and
easier, and the Cost:Benefit will continue to look
more attractive to certain rulers. 

IMO, the "best" solution to this whole conundrum is to
get as many rational (and otherwise) people as
possible, off this damn rock. Although gov's have
strong influence here too, of course. What's the
feasibility of creating a new self-supporting nation
outside of this planet? I'm being serious. Will this
ever be realistic or even possible? 

And also build a Friendly AI or a "Friendly" B.C.I.,
ASAP.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Herrlich

 
--- Stathis Papaioannou <stathisp at gmail.com> wrote:

> On 27/06/07, A B <austriaaugust at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > "Why?"
> >
> > Cost. Cost:Benefit is too high. If you have enough
> big
> > guns and big bodyguards, then it doesn't really
> matter
> > if most of your impoverished population doesn't
> like
> > you.
> 
> Surely bugging every house wouldn't be either more
> difficult or more
> expensive than, say, a space program. I think the
> reason no-one has
> tried it is evidence that there are some things
> which even dictators
> fear would be too unpopular.
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Stathis Papaioannou
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>
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> 



 
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