Gyroscopic Investing

Kriegsspiel wrote: ↑Sat Feb 20, 2021 9:14 am
Stumbled on this article today. I like the term Ward Paternalism.

Why, though, would anyone support Ward Paternalism? Top two reasons:

1. While irresponsibility is not the sole cause of desperation, it is plainly a major cause. The very fact that you’re asking for government help therefore raises serious doubts about your own prudence. And it makes sense to focus paternalistic energy on you.

2. The standard moral constraint to leave others alone does not apply. “Leave me alone, I don’t want your help” has great force. “Help me, but don’t presume to tell me how to live my life” has little.

link

That was a great read. My sister and I are currently providing for our mom - and she is pushing back on some of the restrictions we have put on her. She's not a fan of losing her independence. Well... guess what? She lost it years ago when we had to start supporting her...

Xan wrote: ↑Sat Feb 20, 2021 9:59 am If we are indeed headed for a world of abundance provided by automation, with the masses fed by UBI, then this idea leads to complete government control of everyone's lives.

I think an abundant world, or lack of scarcity, or hell, even a world of scarcity but where robots do most/all of the labor... I don't know if the current paradigm will hold true. Then again, maybe everything stays the same as it's always been, even when economics is turned on its head. I'm sure I'm not the only one who could imagine a future where your fusion-powered personal robot/replicator could synthesize food out of air and clean up the dishes afterwards... but you'd still want to get together with your tribe and conquer your neighbors that have nicer beaches.

It's kind of fun to think about, especially the scarcity-with-robots one.