[extropy-chat] Enlightenment and the election

[Gregory Cartwright]

Dear Hal:

     I agree with the general proposition that different systems can yield 
different results from which to choose.  But why do we suppose that space 
stations, islands, or virtual worlds would behave much differently than the 
political systems and choices we have today.

   Can't be transaction costs. (eg cheaper optiont to move to another system 
would increase more violitility/choice). It's hard to believe that it would 
be more cost effective for me to emigrate to a space colony than it would be 
for me to move to Canada. Indeed, Mexico is about a 20 minute drive from 
here.   (I am not sure that human behavior will be much different because 
the people are located off planet.  Any thoughts?

    BTW, one tool I like to use to compare different systems is culling 
through the data at  www.nationmaster.com It always yields interesting 
results.

Kind Regards,
Greg


----- Original Message ----- 
From: ""Hal Finney"" <hal at finney.org>
To: <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 4:49 PM
Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Enlightenment and the election


> Brent Neal writes:
>> If you aren't literate, you don't deserve to vote. Sorry. That might
>> be heresy here, but I am a firm believer that the right to vote is one
>> that should be earned. If you are not able to fill out a ballot, one can
>> only assume that you are also not capable of gathering enough information
>> on your own to make an informed choice and the use of that capability is
>> the responsibility that balances the right. However much you rant, rave,
>> and wail about how some of us exercise those critical thinking skills,
>> any republic or democracy requires the exercise thereof for stability.
>
> I suggest that a good way to think about this is to imagine that in the
> future you will be able to move to a space station or virtual world, where
> the different worlds have different forms of government.  Ask yourself
> whether you would rather move to a station where everyone could vote
> irregardless of ability or knowledge, vs a station where voters had to
> pass some kind of test.  You'd choose based on which system seemed to
> produce the most favorable results.
>
> This kind of approach bypasses arguments based on natural rights by
> allowing people to focus on which systems would produce outcomes they
> prefer.  Hopefully in the future we will have enough diversity that
> people will be able to voluntarily choose their form of government in
> some way along these lines.
>
> Hal
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