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Waldemar Ingdahl wrote on Thursday, June 29, 2000 10:49 PM:
> Remember the basic principles of the welfare state: people are too
> stupid, weak and evil to decide for themselves. It is better if a
> technocratic elite does it in their place. Really, if something is
> an opposition to
> transhumanism it is the welfare and the attitudes it spread in the
> population.
I disagree. While that may be the case in regards to Extropianism, I
see nothing in transhumanism in general that is at odds with the
concepts of central planning, wealth redistribution, and the Welfare
State as we know it.
> In the welfare state
> you don't have the economic resources to be innovative, people in
> the welfare states are poor- the government is rich.
I've always been interested in the perceived dichotomy among
libertarians between the government and the people. Surely the people
are the ones who make up the government? And I take issue with the
notion that all innovation comes from individuals; groups (whether
they be private associations, corporations, or the government) are
just as capable of technological and social innovation as
individuals. Moreso; because they have the ability to concentrate
resources in a rational manner to achieve a specific goal. If you
want to get from point A to point B, better one sled team moving as a
unit than a pack of wild dogs roaming willy-nilly.
> You'll be just as innovative as other people tell you to be (its
> not for you to decide, you don't have the means). But being
> innovative isn't really all transhumanism is about. A nazi can
> "play a bit with computers".
> Transhumanism is a much greater stream of ideas that touch all
> aspects of life. Transhumanism has to interest itself in politics.
I agree completely. Transhumanism in general, and transhumanist
sub-groups in particular, must interest itself in politics. We should
be working to ensure that it is we who have our hands on the levers
of political power, if only to prevent the ignorant and the greedy
from interfering with our achieving our transformative goals.
Joseph 1
http://www.goldenfuture.net/neohuman
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