I don’t want Star Wars or Mad Max. Both were Shakespearean and other classic conflicts stories rewrapped in a post-modern world of constant conflict. They only differ in the level of technological weaponry available. Modifying social/cultural norms is missing from our goals. We are trained to compete and vanquish opponents, not to achieve and share. We celebrate war…thank you for your service, soldier (for killing all those bad people)…while denigrating our teachers and nurses to the level of babysitters. Part of the mission needs to include programs to rekindle the spirit of life as a collaborative collective experience for mutual benefit. Without those values, we’ll remain in a zero-sum society where some have to lose so others can win. Include Peace Corp like programs in the mission, not to spread democracy and the American way, but to foster collaboration and shared human community, and wean us from acting like crabs in a barrel.
Jeremy Lent (https://jeremylent.substack.com) has a new book coming out about creating an Ecocivilization you might like to read. He draws from indigenous concepts like
windigo to describe capitalism. I've seen other authors writing about their studies on traditional cultures that worked collaboratively in various ways.
Greetings from the EU. The one part of the world that is applying something like the "Green New Deal" you feel so proud of. Well, reality check: it just so turns out to be an absolutely unworkable, psychotically delusional Kafkaesque nightmare of green tape. Far as its UN goals - all 17 - the entire framework was originally developed by the capable hands of one J. Epstein. Congratulations: just when I thought no one can even theoretically be even more delusional than the current US admin - here you are!
Offering the grandmother of all false choices: Star Trek vs. Mad Max. No dice. We got Star Trek already: the entire technbro accelerationism was inspired by it, and it shows. Apple design basically IS Star Trek. Far as the less pefect stuff: Look up "ds9 sanctuary cities early 21st century" on YT, then pick up your jaw from the ground. This world right now IS Star Trek, only it sure seems that in lieu of the Federation we rather got frigging Cardassia. And chances are we are nevertheless also getting a Mad Max on top of it all, sooner rather than later.
The entire robotized economy you envision is a pipe dream copied verbatim from some puerile 1950s SF. Have you ever even worked with robots? I have, in the car industry. They keep breaking down and require a veritable f..kton of maintenance. Which is then provided by (far cheaper) "bio-robots". AI still can't even count reliably. And the entire concept of the "carbon footprint" was originally developed by BP, also historically notorious as "the Big Oil company with more environmental citations than all the rest of Big Oil put together."
Regret to inform, your beautiful delusional ideas are only applicable in a nullentropy world. Please find something better to peddle. This simply will not do, alas. It can only wreak additional damage. I do not like it myself either, but that is how things are.
What happens when the millions of white-collar college graduates get fired by databanks? Drones are cheap, and the Ukrainians and Iranians have shown us what they can do to fixed, expensive installations.
I hope that serious long term effects are taken into account. I can't help but wonder, for instance, what will happen to the areas where there is now enough water, when that water is transferred to the southwest. Is there any plan to come up with technologies that don't continue to take from the planet? There is only so much available, and continuing to deplete what is in the earth will have long term consequences. If hydrogen is problematic, who is working on a different, safe, sustainable idea? what do we do with all of the vehicles that are currently running on oil? what do we do with all of the nuclear weapons? How do we shift the US consciousness away from the stupor created by the poppy field of convenience and consumerism? How do we shift toward what truly makes our lives worth living: Community connectedness, shared purpose, health, a sense of awe and gratitude, to name a few. I do like the idea of a mission and a blueprint for what we can do to turn the tide.
This is just more of the same neoliberalism. The fantasy that capital and corporate leaders would run the country better, and that salvation comes from more energy consumption.
The problems we are in are the natural consequence of capitalism. They will not be solved by more capitalism.
I'm not seeing where all of these jobs are going to come from, or exactly how workers will be paid for their labor (and by whom?). What "new infrastructure" will we be building? Will everyone be qualified to work in these new positions? How will this happen without destroying the environment? AI uses up huge portions of our land, water, and energy resources. Why would anyone think that's a good thing?
Do you have an example from history where this type of plan actually worked? We need more details in order to see how AI is going to benefit us as a society vs. destroy our ability to earn a living, maintain a level of privacy, etc.
I want to be optimistic about it, but do not see things as you do. Please enlighten us!
I totally agree we need a blueprint for the future. It all still seems to be pie-in-the-sky, though, that we can survive without careers, income, une raison de vivre. Infrastructure needs capital to continue - hospitals (my first though only because that was my career), water treatment plants, energy production, court system, governments, retail, transportation and on and on. Without a tax structure how are these entities supported. I intend to read your treatise and hope I find the inspiration and detail that will give me assurances that we have this under control. And, I too agree, the deadwood in the Dem party must be jettisoned.
While I agree most of your premises, the “they’re incompetent “ negativity regarding the Democratic Party is fodder for the “tear it down republicans” to continue to their retro world of denying what’s going on. It’s amplifying the Fox propaganda. We need to encourage a larger context embrace of the realities of what is happening.
How about ‘they’re bought and paid for’ vs. incompetent. But who cares what is fodder for the GOP? Until the Dems clean their party of corporate tools, they will never create the working class coalition necessary for the change we need. The problem here is a liberal class more interested in bleating about evil Republicans than in opposing things like genocide and a corporate coup.
I hope you are supporting David Hogg's groups, he is doing excellent work supporting the election of young progressive candidates to elected office. the DNC made a HUGE mistake booting him from leadership.
I don’t support any ‘groups’, only individual candidates; the same way I support individual writers, not media outlets/platforms.
As an example, I support Green Party candidate Butch Ware in the CA governor’s race. Every Dem on the ballot in the jungle primary falls far short of Ware’s policy Rx, but clueless liberals will vote for Dems because they cowardly follow fallacious lesser evil strategery like lemmings.
Groups support candidates as well. Running for office takes money and with money can do things those without can’t, like promote themselves to the public. This is one reason why third party candidates usually don’t win.
Other things we can work for are Ranked Choice Voting and open primaries so we can actually support those candidates we WANT as opposed to those with a shot at winning.
Third party candidates don’t win because of duopoly, media, and judicial gatekeepers. Ware is currently not on the CA ballot because the Dem Secretary of State sued to kick him off, and a judge bought her fallacious argument.
The problem with liberal voters is exactly as you state; they vote based on what they perceive is electability, which is a propaganda narrative that only feeds the ratchet effect.
Eugene Debs: “I’d rather vote for something I want and don’t get it, than vote for something I don’t want and get it.”
@megindurti: “If you are someone who was able to overlook the genocide and cast a vote for Kamala Harris, then you already understand how a conservative was able to overlook Trump’s extremism to vote for him.”
that too, but we must work within the system we have to get the system we WANT...
BTW many of those who voted for Jill Stein don't seem to realize she's a Russian asset too (she's been photographed in Russia...)
we MUST keep trying to educate voters (and urge non voters to register), and keep informing everyone about all the ways voters are disenfranchised in multiple ways. GregPalast.com has documentaries on this subject and ElectionTruthAlliance.org has proof of Russian style manipulation (Russian Tail Hack) of swing state data during 2024 and 2020 and even back as far as 2016 similar to what's been documented in overseas elections with suspicious results. Elon Musk's StarLink has been used for tabulator machines, GOP megadonors have bought voting machine companies, voters of color and likely Democrats are always targets for illegal voter registration cancellation and yes, BOTH PARTIES CONSPIRED TO LIMIT THE ABILITY OF THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES TO BE HEARD.
so again, we must work wining the system we have (ie vote for progressive candidates) to get the system we WANT (one that is open to all ideas and candidates). This is how Mamdani became mayor - NYC has a Ranked Choice open primary system that allowed his messages to be heard by the voting public.
yes, the corporate Dems are not incompetent, just status quo. the REPUBLICANS however, are DELIBERATELY incompetent and I'd forgotten just how far back that rot goes until I started reading Andy Borowitz' book "Profiles in Ignorance" which both entertaining and horrifying.
More about the coming AI crisis? Sigh. Yes. More about Mission for America? Yah, you betcha! Hope in the dark (to steal a phrase) is always good, and you both provide it. Thank you.
I don’t want Star Wars or Mad Max. Both were Shakespearean and other classic conflicts stories rewrapped in a post-modern world of constant conflict. They only differ in the level of technological weaponry available. Modifying social/cultural norms is missing from our goals. We are trained to compete and vanquish opponents, not to achieve and share. We celebrate war…thank you for your service, soldier (for killing all those bad people)…while denigrating our teachers and nurses to the level of babysitters. Part of the mission needs to include programs to rekindle the spirit of life as a collaborative collective experience for mutual benefit. Without those values, we’ll remain in a zero-sum society where some have to lose so others can win. Include Peace Corp like programs in the mission, not to spread democracy and the American way, but to foster collaboration and shared human community, and wean us from acting like crabs in a barrel.
Jeremy Lent (https://jeremylent.substack.com) has a new book coming out about creating an Ecocivilization you might like to read. He draws from indigenous concepts like
windigo to describe capitalism. I've seen other authors writing about their studies on traditional cultures that worked collaboratively in various ways.
I definitely would prefer Star Trek over mad max. Maybe throw in a little Jetsons too for some fun.
Update typo free!
Greetings from the EU. The one part of the world that is applying something like the "Green New Deal" you feel so proud of. Well, reality check: it just so turns out to be an absolutely unworkable, psychotically delusional Kafkaesque nightmare of green tape. Far as its UN goals - all 17 - the entire framework was originally developed by the capable hands of one J. Epstein. Congratulations: just when I thought no one can even theoretically be even more delusional than the current US admin - here you are!
Offering the grandmother of all false choices: Star Trek vs. Mad Max. No dice. We got Star Trek already: the entire technbro accelerationism was inspired by it, and it shows. Apple design basically IS Star Trek. Far as the less pefect stuff: Look up "ds9 sanctuary cities early 21st century" on YT, then pick up your jaw from the ground. This world right now IS Star Trek, only it sure seems that in lieu of the Federation we rather got frigging Cardassia. And chances are we are nevertheless also getting a Mad Max on top of it all, sooner rather than later.
The entire robotized economy you envision is a pipe dream copied verbatim from some puerile 1950s SF. Have you ever even worked with robots? I have, in the car industry. They keep breaking down and require a veritable f..kton of maintenance. Which is then provided by (far cheaper) "bio-robots". AI still can't even count reliably. And the entire concept of the "carbon footprint" was originally developed by BP, also historically notorious as "the Big Oil company with more environmental citations than all the rest of Big Oil put together."
Regret to inform, your beautiful delusional ideas are only applicable in a nullentropy world. Please find something better to peddle. This simply will not do, alas. It can only wreak additional damage. I do not like it myself either, but that is how things are.
What happens when the millions of white-collar college graduates get fired by databanks? Drones are cheap, and the Ukrainians and Iranians have shown us what they can do to fixed, expensive installations.
You need someone to edit this piece. Are you intending to be mysterious about the what?
Where are we going to get the water to run AI? I'm curious about your thoughts on that. I don't see how AI doesn't lead to desertification.
It's laid out pretty darn well in this: https://www.saikat.us/assets/policy/ai-vision-statement.pdf
typo: "In the context of We’re systematically going.."
sorry, I recently proofread my ex hubby's book (still looking for a publisher, on the dangers of AI, and it's already of of date...)
I hope that serious long term effects are taken into account. I can't help but wonder, for instance, what will happen to the areas where there is now enough water, when that water is transferred to the southwest. Is there any plan to come up with technologies that don't continue to take from the planet? There is only so much available, and continuing to deplete what is in the earth will have long term consequences. If hydrogen is problematic, who is working on a different, safe, sustainable idea? what do we do with all of the vehicles that are currently running on oil? what do we do with all of the nuclear weapons? How do we shift the US consciousness away from the stupor created by the poppy field of convenience and consumerism? How do we shift toward what truly makes our lives worth living: Community connectedness, shared purpose, health, a sense of awe and gratitude, to name a few. I do like the idea of a mission and a blueprint for what we can do to turn the tide.
This is just more of the same neoliberalism. The fantasy that capital and corporate leaders would run the country better, and that salvation comes from more energy consumption.
The problems we are in are the natural consequence of capitalism. They will not be solved by more capitalism.
There isn't any evidence that corporate leaders would run anything well left to their own devices. I like this approach. https://www.saikat.us/assets/policy/ai-vision-statement.pdf
I'm not seeing where all of these jobs are going to come from, or exactly how workers will be paid for their labor (and by whom?). What "new infrastructure" will we be building? Will everyone be qualified to work in these new positions? How will this happen without destroying the environment? AI uses up huge portions of our land, water, and energy resources. Why would anyone think that's a good thing?
Do you have an example from history where this type of plan actually worked? We need more details in order to see how AI is going to benefit us as a society vs. destroy our ability to earn a living, maintain a level of privacy, etc.
I want to be optimistic about it, but do not see things as you do. Please enlighten us!
I totally agree we need a blueprint for the future. It all still seems to be pie-in-the-sky, though, that we can survive without careers, income, une raison de vivre. Infrastructure needs capital to continue - hospitals (my first though only because that was my career), water treatment plants, energy production, court system, governments, retail, transportation and on and on. Without a tax structure how are these entities supported. I intend to read your treatise and hope I find the inspiration and detail that will give me assurances that we have this under control. And, I too agree, the deadwood in the Dem party must be jettisoned.
While I agree most of your premises, the “they’re incompetent “ negativity regarding the Democratic Party is fodder for the “tear it down republicans” to continue to their retro world of denying what’s going on. It’s amplifying the Fox propaganda. We need to encourage a larger context embrace of the realities of what is happening.
How about ‘they’re bought and paid for’ vs. incompetent. But who cares what is fodder for the GOP? Until the Dems clean their party of corporate tools, they will never create the working class coalition necessary for the change we need. The problem here is a liberal class more interested in bleating about evil Republicans than in opposing things like genocide and a corporate coup.
I hope you are supporting David Hogg's groups, he is doing excellent work supporting the election of young progressive candidates to elected office. the DNC made a HUGE mistake booting him from leadership.
I don’t support any ‘groups’, only individual candidates; the same way I support individual writers, not media outlets/platforms.
As an example, I support Green Party candidate Butch Ware in the CA governor’s race. Every Dem on the ballot in the jungle primary falls far short of Ware’s policy Rx, but clueless liberals will vote for Dems because they cowardly follow fallacious lesser evil strategery like lemmings.
Groups support candidates as well. Running for office takes money and with money can do things those without can’t, like promote themselves to the public. This is one reason why third party candidates usually don’t win.
Other things we can work for are Ranked Choice Voting and open primaries so we can actually support those candidates we WANT as opposed to those with a shot at winning.
Third party candidates don’t win because of duopoly, media, and judicial gatekeepers. Ware is currently not on the CA ballot because the Dem Secretary of State sued to kick him off, and a judge bought her fallacious argument.
The problem with liberal voters is exactly as you state; they vote based on what they perceive is electability, which is a propaganda narrative that only feeds the ratchet effect.
Eugene Debs: “I’d rather vote for something I want and don’t get it, than vote for something I don’t want and get it.”
@megindurti: “If you are someone who was able to overlook the genocide and cast a vote for Kamala Harris, then you already understand how a conservative was able to overlook Trump’s extremism to vote for him.”
that too, but we must work within the system we have to get the system we WANT...
BTW many of those who voted for Jill Stein don't seem to realize she's a Russian asset too (she's been photographed in Russia...)
we MUST keep trying to educate voters (and urge non voters to register), and keep informing everyone about all the ways voters are disenfranchised in multiple ways. GregPalast.com has documentaries on this subject and ElectionTruthAlliance.org has proof of Russian style manipulation (Russian Tail Hack) of swing state data during 2024 and 2020 and even back as far as 2016 similar to what's been documented in overseas elections with suspicious results. Elon Musk's StarLink has been used for tabulator machines, GOP megadonors have bought voting machine companies, voters of color and likely Democrats are always targets for illegal voter registration cancellation and yes, BOTH PARTIES CONSPIRED TO LIMIT THE ABILITY OF THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES TO BE HEARD.
so again, we must work wining the system we have (ie vote for progressive candidates) to get the system we WANT (one that is open to all ideas and candidates). This is how Mamdani became mayor - NYC has a Ranked Choice open primary system that allowed his messages to be heard by the voting public.
yes, the corporate Dems are not incompetent, just status quo. the REPUBLICANS however, are DELIBERATELY incompetent and I'd forgotten just how far back that rot goes until I started reading Andy Borowitz' book "Profiles in Ignorance" which both entertaining and horrifying.
More about the coming AI crisis? Sigh. Yes. More about Mission for America? Yah, you betcha! Hope in the dark (to steal a phrase) is always good, and you both provide it. Thank you.
Cleaning up the national Democratic Party is Job 1. Til progressives run it, nothing we want or need is going to happen.
Ignoring that reality is dishonest. Wrong, too. An energy and focus-sapping tease.
And yes, it’s that simple.
https://theblackswanfiles.substack.com/p/black-swan-destroys-the-data-center?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=541tcf