a tech bro launched a company that’s basically uber-but-private-security. I don’t think it’s cool or stupid. I don’t think it’s good or bad. But I do think it’ signal.

what broadcast is that signal producing? what question is it making me ask? something like this: as Things become more productized, while simultaneously the public sector gets gutted, where is the line going to be between the Those Who Have and Those Who Do Not Have? who’s responsibility it is to maintain that line? with what means will they do so?

this is the fundamental clash of power in every society ever. what is the balance between those who call shots, and those who have their shots called.

how does one balance the power dynamics of the socialspehere — both in individual interactions i.e. ordering a coffee, and communal engagement i.e. participating in HOA meetings — to ensure the counterparty is satisfied without having to secede too much of their own ground?

simply put: how do I make sure the opposition is satisfied, but only such that I don’t have to sacrifice a significant portion of my own leverage?

this is the line that creates the friction at the core of all social abrasions between The People In Charge and The People Doing The Work.

of course, there’s also this problem: if you give people too much autonomy, the do stupid things. they make poor choices. bad things happen.

ok, so how do you reconcile these things? people obviously want to be the deciders of their own fate, but also, they have a penchant for picking shitty fates.

I DON’T KNOW. I’M JUST ASKING QUESTIONS.

(but if I had to guess, it would probably look ironically a lot like structured religion, erring on the side of conformity under the threat of divine punishment rather than abusing free will and making a mockery of life.

what oh what are we going to do about this issue of free will?)