The legacy state is becoming a laser pointer. The centralized entity points, the decentralized actors shoot.
But this time it's DC that has the platform risk. They can use TikTok against Russia but not against China.
But this time it's DC that has the platform risk. They can use TikTok against Russia but not against China.
https://twitter.com/PatrickWStanley/status/1502897175755313154
The laser pointer state is neither traditionally totalitarian, nor calculatingly mercantilist, nor fully anarchic.
What's the closest historical analogy?
Perhaps the Wild West, except with social rather than financial rewards for action against enemies of the state.
What's the closest historical analogy?
Perhaps the Wild West, except with social rather than financial rewards for action against enemies of the state.
All the theory about actors on decentralized networks doesn't work if they run the same cognitive software, think the same thoughts. And developing a "cognitive OS", a moral culture, is even harder than writing an OS.
Hence, default to the moral culture of the legacy state.
Hence, default to the moral culture of the legacy state.
The laser spotter model has immense power today, but it has a few problems.
First, the principal agent problem. The decentralized agents in theory have a mind of their own (or could). Hence the attempt to centralize control via antitrust & censorship. But that erodes efficiency.
First, the principal agent problem. The decentralized agents in theory have a mind of their own (or could). Hence the attempt to centralize control via antitrust & censorship. But that erodes efficiency.
The second problem the laser spotter state faces is that it overcorrects up and down.
It's like cooperative binding in biochemistry. As social rewards rise, more people do something, causing more people to do it.
So you get "switch" behavior. It goes from 0% to 100% real fast.
It's like cooperative binding in biochemistry. As social rewards rise, more people do something, causing more people to do it.
So you get "switch" behavior. It goes from 0% to 100% real fast.
The third problem, related to the first, is that the laser spotter state is acting to reduce its own power.
The main power the legacy state has left is its digital power, its global tech giants. But by antitrusting them they'll be less globally dominant.
brinknews.com/is-us-antitrus…
The main power the legacy state has left is its digital power, its global tech giants. But by antitrusting them they'll be less globally dominant.
brinknews.com/is-us-antitrus…
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