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I'm in agreement with the co-option risk. Keep in mind that coption (or corruption) holds true for all tools of power. Regulation (capture). Legislation, executive, judiciary and bureaucracy (bribery, lobbying, special interests, nepotism, blackmail, ...). The press. Police and military. Taxes. Fines. Investigations (surveillance). Treaties. Emotions (fear, anger, guilt, embarrassment). Attention. Religion. Culture. Language. Narrative. Buildings, roads, ports, railroads, walls, canals, and tunnels. Bulldozers. Guns and stilettos. Bread and circuses. War. Peace. Literally everything. This doesn't make all of these bad, or mean they're never useful. But tools of power are useful because they do have effect, and can be used for both good and ill. The trick is seeing the tools are used for good. |