points by andriy_koval 3 days ago | 0 comments
there is no absolute system. Even in today's world military and cops can turn against government any moment as other commenter said. In some cases system converges to stable state, in some not (endless coups and civil wars). The goal is to have more stable state, with security team to have enough incentives to not challenge leader and enjoy what they have.
[–] overfeed 2 days ago
[–] andriy_koval 2 days ago
Sure, he won't be billionaire anymore, but just one of racers to become warlord. He will have significant advantage: being in bunker, controlling small or large army of drones, and be able to pre-select team base on loyalty. I don't see why he shouldn't prepare and try this scenario.
[–] overfeed 2 days ago
> I don't see why he shouldn't prepare and try this scenario.
I suppose the bunkers are just go-bags for the ultra-rich bastards, except I don't delude myself into thinking I can hang onto my go bag against a handful of people who desperately want it, after civilization collapses. The other difference is I don't think my neighbors will go feral on me and fight me for my supplies, but the billionaire have no faith in humanity - I suppose they deduce that everyone will act as they would act.
[–] andriy_koval 1 day ago
> The other difference is I don't think my neighbors will go feral on me and fight me for my supplies
they(some/most) absolutely will do once experience real hunger and suffering.
[–] jacquesm 1 day ago
They have no faith in humanity because they think humanity consists of psychopaths like themselves.
[–] andriy_koval 1 day ago
> They have no faith in humanity because they think humanity consists of psychopaths like themselves.
it could be true. You can think about how much say avg American cares about life quality of people in Bangladesh.
The post-apocalyptic stable-state doesn't require a billionaire at the top; without the threat of state violence, I posit that the most stable configuration is the people who control the guns calling the shots. Things will get feudal fast medieval-era food tasters included; explosive collars do nothing against the chef intentionally lacing food with botulism neurotoxins from canned food.
> [...] with security team to have enough incentives to not challenge leader and enjoy what they have.
This is what we have with the current system, underpinned by the "rule of law" - which has seen better days tbh. These billionaires have been cynically chipping away at its foundations without realizing if society falls, they fall with it. In the dystopian fantasy, the nerds in charge have to pacify all their employees all the time, an ambitious or dissatisfied lackey only needs to get lucky once.