RE: WTC Insurance

From: Randy Smith (randysmith101@hotmail.com)
Date: Mon Sep 17 2001 - 12:30:27 MDT


>From: Adrian `Guru Zeb` Harper <guruzeb@blueyonder.co.uk>
>Reply-To: extropians@extropy.org
>To: extropians@extropy.org
>Subject: RE: WTC Insurance
>Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 16:08:03 +0100
>
>At 06:02 17/09/01, you wrote:
>>>From: "Sean Kenny" <seankenny@blueyonder.co.uk>
>>
>>>Funnily enough, the BBC just reported (not online yet) that there were
>>>massive share movements in Insurance companies just before the attacks.
>>>Bin
>>>Laden may be be an insane terrorist but he's also a Billionaire I
>>>understand, anyone know if that's inherited wealth or if he's just good
>>>at
>>>capitalistm?
>>
>>I heard he's more like a $300 millionaire. I do not believe he's a self
>>made man. Probably inherited from a rich daddy. Not sure though.
>
>Hmmmmm this brings me onto another topic, that many ppl on this list am
>sure
>would instinctively react against. But does the situation with Bin Laden
>show that
>it can be genuinely dangerous for too much financial power to be allowed to
>accrue
>in one persons control.

I suppose you could show that both good and bad for society might come great
personal wealth. But the main point is that society has the RIGHT to make
such decisions. Since the great majority of wealth in the world in held by a
few, then we may assume that great efforts will be expended to persuade
society that great personal wealth is a Good Thing.
That is b/c actions tend to be more effective when directed by a single
actor as opposed to being directed by a committee, etc. The motivation (to
persuade society) is certainly there--that's really inarguable. And
certainly, the means (to persuade society) is there. Heh, heh, in fact that
(in the hands of a few, relatively) is where the *means* is...

Now, I am the kinda person who likes to look at things in a cause and effect
way, and I see the world as a hodgepodge of force vectors, pointing in many
different directions, and of varying magnitudes.
Some vectors are big, some are small. Vectors may be organized together by
sentient creatures so as to accomplish some task. The more sentient beings
that attempt such organization, the less effective they are at accomplishing
the task. But since so much wealth is in the hands of a few, I would fully
expect that those few would be very effective at accomplishing tasks
undertaken jointly. Socialism/communism must surely be a foe to be fought
most tenaciously by those with great wealth. But where and how do they fight
this fight?

So, being the kind of guy I am, I see those massive force vectors, I see the
motivation for persuading the public that wealth accumulation is a Good
Thing, and I think...hmmm...that kind of force, wielded by so few, with such
high motivational factors, there must surely be some effect upon society
visible to me, Randy Smith. So, I go looking for it.
And everywhere I go I see, like bomb craters, the aftereffects of these
organized force vectors...your post, quoted above, is an aftereffect....
no offense....

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