Thread: Austrian Politican Speaks candidly

Originally Posted by Crocodile

What would all of us be most likely doing back then? Perhaps 90% of chance - we'd be peasants and produce food. Not much room for anything else.

No, I'd probably be a nomad and spend my life on a horseback burning and looting peasants. A very interesting life. )))

Originally Posted by Crocodile

It's not about the belief in the humankind, it's more like a belief in the technological advancement and the desire for the comfort in a good and responsible sense.

But what about 'reliable drives'? Technology advances would mean an automatic tummy scratcher with remote control and pseudo AI according to you. It would mean virtual reality networks where the majority of humankind would spend their lives in imagined worlds. It's all for comfort, after all. Then - simply implanted electrodes in the satisfaction centers of human brain. Technology advancement does not always mean progress.

Originally Posted by Crocodile

Consider the less advantaged 'poor countries'. Can you make a list of 10 items you think prevent them from living the quality of life comparable to the Western democracies? (Please, do not include items similar to 'The US exploits those countries unfairly and keeps them poor intentionally' kind of anti-globalist crap. Thanks in advance. )

Well, not US alone ))) but generally the policy of simply extracting natural resources without giving anything in return.
Developed countries could boost their industry and economy by building power plants, industry and infrastructure, providing know-hows and education in return but who would want that if everything can be taken virtually for free?
How very moral and democratic.

If these countries are simply left alone then the only thing they would need is time. They will do everything by themselves with time. But again -- who in the democratic world would want (and allow) that?

Originally Posted by Ramil

No, I'd probably be a nomad and spend my life on a horseback burning and looting peasants. A very interesting life. )))

Ok, so you just supported what I said that most applications for those who wanted the 'interesting life' were some kind of military applications: army, pirates, etc.

Originally Posted by Ramil

Then - simply implanted electrodes in the satisfaction centers of human brain.

Yeah, I know you like bringing that danger on. But let's face it - nobody presented a sufficient proof that would be the way the humankind would adopt en mass. The drugs (=the chemical technology known for ages) allows the users a similar effect, but it's not heavily used by most people. So, I don't think the 'electrodes' issue is that serious. On the contrary, I think the way the technology goes is satisfaction of the senses on a new level. But that's another story.

Originally Posted by Ramil

Well, not US alone ))) but generally the policy of simply extracting natural resources without giving anything in return. [...] How very moral and democratic.

No quite so. They get in return what they buy - the weapons to fight each other. They don't buy food, infrastructure, education. Is that the evil US forces them do so?

Originally Posted by Ramil

If these countries are simply left alone then the only thing they would need is time. They will do everything by themselves with time.

You have to elaborate on the benefits of that plan. What is obvious is that beforehand they killed each other with more primitive weapons and nowdays the weapons they use are more deadly. I don't see any significant progress. Take the South Africa for example. Before the very recently, the bantu people had a high crime rate in their bantustans. That was explained by the fact that they are not given the equal opportunity. Nowdays they have equal rights, so these days the level of crime in the entire country has set the world record. So, it's not that simple.

Originally Posted by Ramil

But again -- who in the democratic world would want (and allow) that?

I didn't get that. African nations export oil and other raw materials to the world market. That oil and raw materials are bought by the 'developed' countries who pay back their money and provide other benefits according to the market prices. The African nations then purchase weapons from the 'developed' countries for the fair market prices and subsequently kill each other. The local warlords ruthlesly rule thier tribes and the so-called 'countries'. Whoever is lucky enough to get any kind of education flees to the West to get a decent life for himself and his family. I met several black professionals from Africa who spoke Russian reasonably well as they got their degrees in Lumumba University in Moscow. Their opportunities in Africa are very limited as the local governments do not invest anything in the infrastructure. The infrastructure is either built mostly by the Western volunteers or is paid by the Western idealists or remains legacy from the Cold War era. I can hardly see your point.