Trouble in paradise?

[mahnmut]

Mike Pence Rejects Report That He Is Positioning for 2020

Mesays, of course he isn't getting ready to be POTUS in 2020. He's gearing up to be POTUS in 2018*. Ooooh snap!

Of course he'll deny it. He's got to. He's been around the Don long enough to realize he's got to show 110% loyalty to his lord, or else he'd feel the wrath of the Tweet-master.

* I may be wrong... I don't really put much stock into all this. Besides the fact that the above article probably had a target demographic of exactly one (the guy who came up with it, anyways), and though nothing is entirely implausible in the Trumpian era, I'd say it's still highly unlikely. But then again, this administration has defied any conventions in so many ways, so who knows... This could be another first: the first VP who ran against the POTUS for his chair.

On the other hand, the Don may've had a private talk with him, and told him he really hates the job and he's out after one term, so start getting ready now buddy. Or something like that. One only hopes (but is it really better to have prez Pence? IS IT?)

Whatever the case, the next election, whenever it may occur (HA!) is going to be one big COVFEFE!

( But here is a conspiracy theory! )

Tax. How do you feel about it?

[johnny9fingers]

Thesis: Once some sort of democratic civilisation is attained tax rates and civilisational complexity are necessarily linked.

The attempts by the Alt-Right and Libertarians to decouple tax from civilisational complexity and the needs of the participant voters in democratic institutions will IMHO lead to even further alienation of the voting public. Which is sort of the point really. When voters feel completely alienated from the political process they may riot, but it won't do much good, and will do a lot of harm. And the totalitarians can pick up the pieces.

The thing is that the folk at the bottom of the heap have to be looked after too. Even the Roman Empire had the dole. When the layers and the structure of society get so complicated, it takes resources to keep the thing going. Another as important thing is simplification is worse. By a country mile.

So... my contention is that the folk who deny the costs of modern life, and who live in some mythical past of rugged frontiersmen, or noble Lords sufficient unto themselves, just aren't socialised properly, or are playing with a few cards missing.

So how is the thesis flawed; wherein is the worm of doubt? Surely there must be a point where, maybe with AI, civilisational complexity can be managed cheaply? Resources can be directed where they are needed, with little wastage or excess. This may be possible, however, we might balk at the prospect of letting our lives be run in some respects by an AI. And that's not about money or reduced tax-takes.

I would contend that if we don't want cheap solutions, because they unsettle or offend some part of ourselves, we have to be prepared to pay for the expensive ones.

But I'm pretty sure there are other opinions out there.