[ExI] far future

[BillK]

On Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 6:41 AM, Keith Henson wrote:
<snip>
> It runs into serious opposition, a lot of it from people of
> considerable influence who have decided that the not so distant future
> will include a massive die off of the human race back to one or two
> billion people. They tend not to talk about this belief, but when you
> mention that there might be an alternative where with lower energy
> cost, where people could be much better off, they get really hostile.
>
> Any thoughts on why people are fixated on this belief?  It's almost
> like an unspoken religion to them. Second, any thoughts on how to get
> around this resistance to good news?
>
>

If you have spent your life gaining power and riches, this means that
you have access to resources that the mass of the population don't
have. Giving cheap energy to everyone else devalues the assets that
you own and devalues your life spent gaining riches. People don't much
like being told their life's efforts have been cheapened.

To get round this resistance the rich should realise that billions of
people don't usually die off quietly. When death looms close, people
get violent and may well attack those with riches that could help them
survive. After all, they don't have much left to lose. Assisting those
in need might help to ensure the survival of the rich.


BillK