<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Oct 23, 2015 at 5:04 PM, Anders Sandberg <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:anders@aleph.se" target="_blank">anders@aleph.se</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"><span class="">
<div>On 2015-10-23 21:35, spike wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As I read over some of the transcripts of
the congressional hearings about the attack on the US embassy
in Libya, a big question keeps coming to mind: why do we need
ambassadors? </p>
</div>
</blockquote></span>
Ever tried to get a US visa or citizenship?<br>
<br>
The US insists on people physically showing up for interviews in
order to prove that they are the people they claim to be, to have
biometrics taken, and respond to questions without coaching. <br>
<br>
Of course, embassies do much more. The Vienna Convention states:<br>
<blockquote type="cite"><span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:22.4px;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;display:inline!important;float:none;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">The functions of a diplomatic mission
consist, inter alia, in representing the sending State in the
receiving State; protecting in the receiving State the interests
of the sending State and of its nationals, within the limits
permitted by international law; negotiating with the Government
of the receiving State; ascertaining by all lawful means
conditions and developments in the receiving State, and
reporting thereon to the Government of the sending State;
promoting friendly relations between the sending State and the
receiving State, and developing their economic, cultural and
scientific relations.</span></blockquote>
Note the clause about protecting nationals within international law,
ascertaining and reporting on what is going on, as well as promoting
relations. Many embassies are nexuses of social activity of expats
and business.<br>
<br>
Sure, one could do this without a central office. But economies of
scale (and defence) apply.<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br>
<br>
<br>
<pre cols="72">--
Dr Anders Sandberg
Future of Humanity Institute
Oxford Martin School
Oxford University
</pre>
</font></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline">Why don't companies do selling and negotiations, and any other business by video conferences</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline">? Why must we fill the airplanes with business people? One reason is to make things personal (huge reason). Another is to be able to read emotional expressions and body language of your potential customers etc. (also a biggie).<br></div></blockquote><div><br><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline">bill wallace</div> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline"></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>
extropy-chat mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org">extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><br></div></div>