2597. Need to be thoughtful

Freeman Dyson* argues persuasively that three facts will take us toward a new green civilization: solar energy, which falls fairly democratically on most of the world so distribution is an easier problem; genomic innovations which can create crops that otherwise would not grow, for example with moe efficient photosynthesis,  and the Internet which connects everyone and make knowledge of solar distribution and genomic innovations more widely available. When thinking about tech and Gardenworld we have to reflect on the possibility that, if we lose the grid for energy and communication, we might not have the tech to worry about. No chips, no computers, no Internet. by being born we signed up for needing to be thoughtful about how to live.  

Dyson does not touch on this issue of governance which will be of concern in Gardenworld communities. The tendency is toward centralization of wealth and power through the use of technology should not be allowed to dominate.. How inevitable is this? Are we locked into a move towards soft fascism, or is more democracy still a real possibility? Dyson’s argument is typical of technological enthusiasts: our solution, widely adopted, will solve the problems.  Note that these two words, solution and solve, come from old Latin meaning to dissolve. like solvent.  Making solutions requires not just appropriate construction but also needed deconstruction.

*https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CEREQ6/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_

Post is an excerpt from Chapter one., Gardenworld Politics.