dfilppi

Nuclear (hopefully fusion at some point) is the only plausible way to meet energy needs in the future (that we currently know of). Fear of nuclear waste isn't irrational, but highly overblown because catastrophic events are more emotionally compelling than the slow degradation of either living standards and/or environment caused by competing technology.

Apparently they can declare anything and people will obey

Nope. Setting aside resistance to government, there is home defense, which is more practical.

I suspect that any advanced species would abandon life as soon as possible. E.g. become non-biological and immortal. Then interstellar travel is trivial.

Perhaps. But we're not talking about individuals.

The "social contract" is not a contract, but the word "contract" is used to infer some kind of responsibility or "norm". In reality it refers to what ever equilibrium has been reach in a certain market context between business owners and everybody else. It is a fiction.

Trickle down doesn't "work", because "work" has been defined a certain way. Define "work" another way, and it does "work". It also presumes that the government somehow has first dibs on what people earn, which is absurd.

Humanity hasnt. Brazil has

Yes but if Santa Claus exists, how can you explain the Easter bunny?

In the plus side at least the government doesnt get the money

Using nuclear energy doesnt require the overthrow of capitalism.

That is acceptable

The inevitable rise of Skynet

California has an ocean. Desalinated. Not brain surgery.

You switched from income to wealth

The cost of imprisoning them is borne by taxpayers, but the imprisoned arenl responsible. So add that to their income.

Mars needs more gravity and raw materials (nitrogen). I suggest a large impactor or impactors to solve both. Now how to get them there...

Yes it is theirs even if the world depends on it.

Or at least the Brazilians, who are actually responsible

We dont know. But not knowing isnt the same as knowing not.

Drug laws dont create gangs. People create gangs.

Far from it

No he didnt basically say that

A government with that power would be far worse than any AI could be

Yes. And voting is the judgement

Well "intelligence" does imply reasoning, which has never been delivered.

This combined with the mirage of multitasking are effectiveness killers

This technique is the basis for politics

Being double taxed is never a nice problem.

Sounds like a feature request for MSFT