[PLUG-TALK] Re: [PLUG] PLUG vs. PLUG

[gepr at tempusdictum.com]

Jeme A Brelin writes:
 > Every large-scale democratic organization has been systematically
 > disassembled by the existing power structures because of the obvious
 > threat posed.

Woohoo!!! I can finally jump in now that you took it off plug and 
onto plug-talk. [grin]

I have another slightly different proposition for why democratic
organizations are disassembled.

We humans (and our extended physiological artifacts like cars, 
computers, and governments) have a strong desire to discover and
exploit patterns in the ambient muck swirling around our bodies.
Democracy is one of the tools we use to begin exploiting 
patterns as soon as we start getting the vague signals that there
is order to be exploited.  It's a tool we use when there is a
large degree of uncertainty in the system we're trying to control.

As a system ages, the patterns become clearer and clearer.  Soon it
becomes obvious that it's inefficient to continue using democracy when
the patterns are clear and tighter control could be achieved with less
agile tools.  (Leave arguments about the reflective nature of the
pattern changing after democracy has begun working for later.)

As some people in power begin realizing that there are more efficient
tools available for specific problems (e.g. terrorism), democracy
begins to be replaced, piecewise until the whole system is no longer
democratic (though parts may still be democratic).  Some of these
people in power are Evil... But, most are well intentioned and think
they're doing a good thing.

Now, because the ambient muck really is ambient muck (just ask the 
string theorists) and doesn't really have any implicit patterns, 
those efficient systems eventually face a catastrophic hiccup in 
the world that they can't tolerate.  If the system is too rigid
at that point, then the system collapses.  If it's retained enough
dormant DNA of the more agile tools like democracy, then it suffers
for some transient and recovers.

So, there is always an equilibrium between fascism (not Nazism, 
mind you) and anarchy.  Sometimes we swing one way, other times
we swing the other.

p.s. I've unsubscribed from PDXLUG because people I know and respect
have enlightened me.  I have no experience with the group; but, since
society is run by networks and influence graphs, I follow the lead of
those I trust.  Thanks for having the open and public discussion.

-- 
glen e. p. ropella              =><=                           Hail Eris!
H: 503.630.4505                              http://www.ropella.net/~gepr
M: 971.219.3846                               http://www.tempusdictum.com