Why does a population of 9 billion allow itself to be enslaved by a handful of tyrannical despots?
As we hurtle collectively towards oblivion, the saner among us might plan a happier and safer future – just in case the world doesn’t end anytime soon.
Nothing short of revolution is needed. Not the typical bloody violence which has always led to domination by vicious Brobdingnagians – but a measured, just and peaceful regime change which ensures equality and that humanity can no longer be dominated by monsters.
The first change I would recommend is that we agree to drastically reduce the world population by encouraging a lower rate of human reproduction. Not that such a reduction will reduce tyranny – but it may well deal a much needed death blow to the hideous bloat of capitalism and consumerism and at least ensure a return to a world of natural beauty and a balanced ecology.
Capitalism ( or at least the evil it has created) is far from new. It is merely the latest incarnation of human greed and domination spawned by the industrial revolution. Prior to capitalism we had economic and political systems every bit as beastly as we have today – its just that they did not thrive by shoving useless junk down our throats. Think back over history and you will find the same scenario repeated infinitely and repetitively over time. Domination by the minority who have the energy, enthusiasm and malign desire to grab power and or wealth (or even better both) by robbery and violence.
The so-called nobility and royalty of nations and states throughout the world have been led by thugs out to enrich themselves. Same for chieftains – a lesser species of noble. Remember the kindly African chieftains who sold their people to the slave trade. Yes, it is true that order was often created where chaos had previously existed (a claim often made for empires of the past) but order does not have to come from despotism or a ruling class.
An entirely new system of governance and economy needs putting into place where the concept of equality is put harmoniously into practice. Democracy as it stands seems to need a fair bit of amending – perhaps a more decentralised model allowing all subjects to vote on more matters of concern – as in Switzerland. Rather than a small cadre of representatives voting on our behalf in a narrow two party system.
As for the economy, control of resources should pass to the population as a whole rather than allow it to be amassed into a few hands controlling everything.
Resources in the broadest sense. Land, air, water, transport, money.
Super-intelligence may perhaps usher in an era of super abundance but if it remains under the control of a small band of self important tech “barons”, the benefit will remain mostly theirs. And the vast majority may find themselves in a worse position than ever before.
Of course, I do not mean in this brief essay to set out any blueprint. Merely broad principles. Human society sucks for the underdog and always has.
Time for profound and lasting change.
Weltanschauung 
The author Kim Stanley Robinson would seem to agree with you. In her near-future novel, The Ministry for the Future, she describes how many of these shifts are enabled over a few decades from now, sufficient to prevent the worst of climate change destroying humanity.
Whilst that gave me hope, some of the underlying issues affecting our species (that is, the disconnect of which you often write and with which I whole-heartedly agree), Kim felt would still be present. If she is right, and her book feels very realistic, climate change is a minor problem compared to encouraging and enabling humanity to become more flowing, more in tune with cosmic consciousness …
In this fascinating work of fiction, CO2 levels can be bought under control by geoengineering and changing financial systems. But none of this really addresses the underlying cause of climate change and many of humanities other crises: that we allow our thinking mind to rule over our heart and soul, that we have to reason out and justify everything … rather than doing what we know is right.
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Thank you, fascinating. I have never come across him but have just looked him up in Wikipedia. Sounds right up my street!
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From what I’ve read, the population is projected to start leveling off and then decreasing by the end of the century. This is an extrapolation of what’s already happening in developed economies, notably as women get better rights and options. There are pro-natalists already freaking out about this, but in the long term it seems like a trend we shouldn’t resist until the population is a lot lower than it is now.
I’m a lot more cautious in thinking about what I’d like to see changed with governance and the economy. History seems to show that the law of unforeseen consequences is something to keep in mind. The politics in my country is a nightmare at the moment, but I still prefer it to the politics of China or Russia.
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I do quite agree with you about governance and the economy – I have no real idea what would be beneficial and what, as is all too usual, would lead to dystopia. All I really know is that I feel deeply and strongly about poverty and inequality. As well of course about the rule of the few over the many. The problem , as you so rightly indicate, is not to make it worse. On America, my real fear is that that ghastly fool and his supporters will turn the US into a far right tyranny. Hey ho!
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Could there be hope in machines? Could they do any worse than those in power right now?
Watched a fascinating podcast yesterday with Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer at Google, who explained how and when the world will change with the advent of AI/AGI used in the right way and not for war – with the possibility of utopia (after a difficult and much needed transition following the collapse of capitalism).
Whilst the interviewer is rather cretinous, it is a worthy watch.
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Many thanks I will watch the video with interest. I do think AI needs to be nationalised or open sourced so that the benefits don’t remain in the hands of a few grasping barons!
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“AI is a tool, much like a hammer. In the right hands one can build something beautiful, in the wrong hands it can be used for murder”
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I have recently been thinking of the dark triad (psychopathy, narcissistic personality disorder, machiavellianism) characterised by an almost complete lack of empathy. Reading your article, I realized that the three evil men causing much of the world’s current descent into authoritarianism fit this triad nicely. Putin – Psychopath, Trump – Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Xi Jinping – Machiavellianism. Though of course many of their behaviours overlap.The dark triad (perhaps somewhere up to 10% of the population) tend to rise to positions of power in the political, business and other power structures, not least religions.
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Totally agree. And the rest of us suffer the consequences. The bible got it totally wrong – the meek most certainly do NOT inherit the earth. Currently, I can not envisage any possible change to a situation which has existed as long as we humans have.
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Very interested in your estimate of 10%. I have absolutely no evidence supporting that figure but it sounds intuitively correct. I wonder if that includes the violent criminal types who tend to fill some of the more serious jails? Or whether they must be counted additionally. I remember chatting to a gas service man who came to service our boiler down in Kent. His wife has worked as a medic at a high security prison on the Isle Of Sheppey for very violent offenders. It was so distressing she gave it up. I can’t remember the exact details but the final straw was when one gang hung another man up by a wire coat hanger through the neck. Or something like that. How in god’s name can we ever improve our species?
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