Thursday, September 18, 2014

THE FUTURE OF RESISTANCE: Small Technology and the Death of Big Government

From Al Fin:


As powerful technologies grow smaller, more capable, more affordable, and more concealable, large and oppressive governments grow less viable. If a person can supply his own food, clothing, shelter, security, health care, and means of income — all at a minimum of expense in time, effort, or money — who needs governments, as we know them?
Some governments are more oppressive toward their citizens than others. Dictatorships of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia are currently among the most tyrannical. But particular agencies in western nations have become oppressively high-handed and corrupt. To oppose these quasi-criminal government enterprises, people need the will to resist. But they also need appropriate technology and the organisational skills of resistance.
Consider, for example, a nanotech nuclear weapon that is the size of a thumb drive or writing pen. Or a tiny assassin that travels on the wind as microscopic dust until it reaches its target, self-assembles, enters easily into a body orifice and burrows into a vital organ to detonate, deposit a toxin, or do all types of other mischief. If no government official or agent is beyond retribution, the balance of power between governments and their citizens will shift.
GO READ THE WHOLE THING.

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