great take from the jacksons on the current billionaire era we're living in. the jacksons seem to have a way more humane view on the token/taxes debate than most people (and politicians) lately! wish the solution could be as simple as this. thanks for sharing! :)
Brilliant stuff. I wonder, however, if the honourable economist would agree that the problems go deeper than the current token system? We know from history that radical attempts to transform this token system completely created way more oppressive conditions. Perhaps inequality is inscribed in the Terran nature? Just a question for Mr. Jackson.
Adomas, yeah your comment hits the nail on the head, the Jacksons are still trying to figure out humans, and economics is one of the many themes they struggle with.
This is an extra chapter from this world where it all takes place. In the book they discuss many other topics, but ultimately they are trying to get their minds to understand what those humans are, and why they do what they do.
You can probably see the link for the book on Goodreads where, in the comments section, there are many discussions going around. They are confused about the ways humans behave in all sorts of ways.
The observers don't mention a few things that I believe are profoundly important:
1. The top accumulators are often also the individuals with the biggest capacity to innovate and drive progress. Plugging them for consumption could kill innovation and revert the species backwards.
2. The top accumulators predominantly don't stop innovating or working when they reach a certain level of tokens. The one with the most tokes does not even own shelter and keep working insane hour-schedules. Several others are not as extreme but show similarities leading to the assumption that they don't mind work even though the majority of Terrans does. (they even claim it's not work but satisfying the urge to push to overcome boundaries and fulfill exciting visions. i.e. establishing a city on Mars)
3. Terrans appear to have reached a level of technological innovation that will soon allow them to abolish work. Some of this is needed to address the demographic development in some subsets, especially a region they call Asia. They name the replacement of work "Robots" and are developing to be replicas of humans with a capacity to use all available knowledge and collectively learn from each other. As any "Robot" masters a new task, the ability and skills required is transmitted to teh network. It is currently totally unclear how the majority of Terrans will react to lack of a need to work. The top successful Terran calls this "The Age of Abundance", without providing any insides how this will look in practical terms for Terrans.
4. The described unequal distribution of tokens as well as core assets will create an unequal distribution of these Robots initially but similar to other technologies it can be anticipated that ultimately all Terrans will have access.
Terrans are at a crossroads in their development. Rather than interrupting it or even going as afar as plugging the top 1% for consumption, we should exercise patience and let the current development mature. There is a chance that large number of Terrans get bored in an age of abundance and be willing subjects for our consumptions.
If we position ourselves in the role of celestial beings Terrans tend to worship - they call it cult or religion - they have a history of sacrificing themselves to the celestial beings and we can just collect them. We have waited so long, a few more decades will not really make a big difference.
This short story, I consider, is a much timely post, that it might be will help the ordinary middle class people realize what we are going through at this very moment.
I hope, the Jacksons’ perspective will shed a light!
I wonder, was the Earthling author inspired by the Earthling economist Gary Stevenson when he was choosing a name for a Jackson economist? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxgI1q-prus
Oh Gary, Gary, you hover as a true academic able to glide over the critical point. Tokens are but a symbol, no longer tied to what each Terran must have. As a means of utility exchange they are efficient and so desirable, their accumulation inevitable given the Terran fear of lack, but Gary, Gary, don’t you see. The tokens no longer relate to anything real. The rent system you describe and the banks, you judiciously avoided mentioning the banks, they just create tokens on a whim. There are now way more tokens in the system than could ever be effectively exchanged for what this tiny planet could produce. The laws of the universe are immutable on all planets, Gary. We should eat all the Terrans now and move on before their token system collapses.
Excellent point, I feel sure the author will progress to talk about carrying capacity and how the Jacksons society ensures that they will operate within their own limits.
Many Americans are caught in a web woven thousands of years ago by herder warriors who would fight each other over the freshly grown pastures needed to sustain their way of life.
The comforting shawl, warp of patriarchy, weft of the concept of sin, was seized upon by Constatine of Rome to supplant Greek religoius constructs so to further enhance his grip on his citizens and their world.
The wave and wash of our American history has imbedded this belief in many of our minds, which has contributed much to today's malaise, and which is being used in ways very similar to those of Constatine.
Have you read Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond's or Ishmael by Daniel Quinn? Both touch on many of the topics in your reply. I read both in my late teens and early 20s, and they are still 2 of my favorite books.
Hmm, this certainly made the entire issue of the top 1% a little more entertaining to ponder. Too bad we can't get it figured out in our dimension. Thx for sharing. You are my 235th bedtime story in this story circle.
great take from the jacksons on the current billionaire era we're living in. the jacksons seem to have a way more humane view on the token/taxes debate than most people (and politicians) lately! wish the solution could be as simple as this. thanks for sharing! :)
Brilliant stuff. I wonder, however, if the honourable economist would agree that the problems go deeper than the current token system? We know from history that radical attempts to transform this token system completely created way more oppressive conditions. Perhaps inequality is inscribed in the Terran nature? Just a question for Mr. Jackson.
Adomas, yeah your comment hits the nail on the head, the Jacksons are still trying to figure out humans, and economics is one of the many themes they struggle with.
This is an extra chapter from this world where it all takes place. In the book they discuss many other topics, but ultimately they are trying to get their minds to understand what those humans are, and why they do what they do.
You can probably see the link for the book on Goodreads where, in the comments section, there are many discussions going around. They are confused about the ways humans behave in all sorts of ways.
Thanks for sharing. Well written
The whole book is thought provoking and great to read!
The observers don't mention a few things that I believe are profoundly important:
1. The top accumulators are often also the individuals with the biggest capacity to innovate and drive progress. Plugging them for consumption could kill innovation and revert the species backwards.
2. The top accumulators predominantly don't stop innovating or working when they reach a certain level of tokens. The one with the most tokes does not even own shelter and keep working insane hour-schedules. Several others are not as extreme but show similarities leading to the assumption that they don't mind work even though the majority of Terrans does. (they even claim it's not work but satisfying the urge to push to overcome boundaries and fulfill exciting visions. i.e. establishing a city on Mars)
3. Terrans appear to have reached a level of technological innovation that will soon allow them to abolish work. Some of this is needed to address the demographic development in some subsets, especially a region they call Asia. They name the replacement of work "Robots" and are developing to be replicas of humans with a capacity to use all available knowledge and collectively learn from each other. As any "Robot" masters a new task, the ability and skills required is transmitted to teh network. It is currently totally unclear how the majority of Terrans will react to lack of a need to work. The top successful Terran calls this "The Age of Abundance", without providing any insides how this will look in practical terms for Terrans.
4. The described unequal distribution of tokens as well as core assets will create an unequal distribution of these Robots initially but similar to other technologies it can be anticipated that ultimately all Terrans will have access.
Terrans are at a crossroads in their development. Rather than interrupting it or even going as afar as plugging the top 1% for consumption, we should exercise patience and let the current development mature. There is a chance that large number of Terrans get bored in an age of abundance and be willing subjects for our consumptions.
If we position ourselves in the role of celestial beings Terrans tend to worship - they call it cult or religion - they have a history of sacrificing themselves to the celestial beings and we can just collect them. We have waited so long, a few more decades will not really make a big difference.
This really makes me think about how money and work shape our lives and the world around us. Thanks for the post!
New life goal: be abducted by the Jacksons for economic commentary, not meatball harvest.
ahaha meatball harvest might be interesting too
This short story, I consider, is a much timely post, that it might be will help the ordinary middle class people realize what we are going through at this very moment.
I hope, the Jacksons’ perspective will shed a light!
💯
Just a few days ago, I was watching an episode of Some More News on these same issues.
https://youtu.be/4ixalL7EcFs?si=tgkvF4Dm49bTYnpW
Thank you for sharing!
I wonder, was the Earthling author inspired by the Earthling economist Gary Stevenson when he was choosing a name for a Jackson economist? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxgI1q-prus
For sure!!
This was an amazing analysis of what most of us have known for a long time, but few speak up about it. Brilliant work.
Oh Gary, Gary, you hover as a true academic able to glide over the critical point. Tokens are but a symbol, no longer tied to what each Terran must have. As a means of utility exchange they are efficient and so desirable, their accumulation inevitable given the Terran fear of lack, but Gary, Gary, don’t you see. The tokens no longer relate to anything real. The rent system you describe and the banks, you judiciously avoided mentioning the banks, they just create tokens on a whim. There are now way more tokens in the system than could ever be effectively exchanged for what this tiny planet could produce. The laws of the universe are immutable on all planets, Gary. We should eat all the Terrans now and move on before their token system collapses.
Excellent point, I feel sure the author will progress to talk about carrying capacity and how the Jacksons society ensures that they will operate within their own limits.
Or maybe their biology is similar and, in fact, DNA is the basis of all life in the universe 😳
Indeed, the debate may turn in that direction as well...
Bah, meatballs 😀
Thank you so much with deep equations just woe catch and grab it before it dissolve peace and love to you
History basically consists of clashes between herders and farmers, hence all those western movies.
Many Americans are caught in a web woven thousands of years ago by herder warriors who would fight each other over the freshly grown pastures needed to sustain their way of life.
The comforting shawl, warp of patriarchy, weft of the concept of sin, was seized upon by Constatine of Rome to supplant Greek religoius constructs so to further enhance his grip on his citizens and their world.
The wave and wash of our American history has imbedded this belief in many of our minds, which has contributed much to today's malaise, and which is being used in ways very similar to those of Constatine.
Have you read Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond's or Ishmael by Daniel Quinn? Both touch on many of the topics in your reply. I read both in my late teens and early 20s, and they are still 2 of my favorite books.
Haven' read them but read some discussions of the contents.
Hmm, this certainly made the entire issue of the top 1% a little more entertaining to ponder. Too bad we can't get it figured out in our dimension. Thx for sharing. You are my 235th bedtime story in this story circle.
Yes! Eat those billionaires 🤠