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Re:Libra, 2 Weeks In by api on Tuesday July 09, 2019 @08:07AM (#20390951)
There has never in all of history been totalitarianism like what is possible now. We are building the technical infrastructure for our own total enslavement.

Of course it makes me wonder if this is just history repeating in some sense. People came to the new world in part to flee European monarchist tyrannies. Now people will go to space to flee the Earth technocracy.

Re:Libra, 2 Weeks In by ravenstine on Tuesday July 09, 2019 @09:49AM (#20391687)
> There has never in all of history been totalitarianism like what is possible now. We are building the technical infrastructure for our own total enslavement.

This is one of the primary reasons that I'm planning an exit from software development. I see most of what we do as being a useless waste, and at worst we're building our own enslavement. I'm fortunate to be working on something harmlessly entertaining, but I want to exit all together and start a business that will actually help people.

The unbounding optimism of technologists is pretty disturbing. We can see for ourselves how tyrannical those at the top of our industry can get, yet we are easily chatteled into helping them because of the paycheck and the prestige. It should become less socially acceptable for us to assist tech zealots who want to involve data warehousing technology and AI into every single problem and facet the world is facing.

Re:Libra, 2 Weeks In by ehnto on Tuesday July 09, 2019 @09:22AM (#20391404)
How would you get to space without the help of industry, which would be controlled? Underwater is much more likely. Even on the water.

International waters have already seen a lot of creative uses to avoid governments.

Re:Libra, 2 Weeks In by swift532 on Tuesday July 09, 2019 @08:52AM (#20391197)
Only it's a bit easier and cheaper (en masse) to go to the New World instead of space which will likely be quite exclusive.
Re:Libra, 2 Weeks In by api on Tuesday July 09, 2019 @03:20PM (#20395579)
Getting to America in the 1500s and 1600s was very expensive and came with a high risk of death. I'm not sure how it would compare to a ride on SpaceX's upcoming Starship but it was definitely tough. People found all kinds of ways to finagle or mortgage (e.g. indenture) a voyage. Eventually the price dropped of course.