[consteval]

> The idea that there are sources you can trust to do your thinking for you is the more dangerous illusion in my opinion

The difference between economically successful countries like the US and the peripheral countries is we are a high-trust society.

I don't spend 100 hours chemically testing my food because I have faith it is safe to eat. I don't waste money on scam after scam because I have faith most businesses are legitimate. If I'm a business, I can order stuff and more stuff and I trust the spec.

Our outsourcing of that trust to other people is what makes us economically successful.

Other countries which don't have this trust focus on basic tasks. Gathering food, water, shelter, and basic infrastructure. Because ultimately every man is out for himself. They aren't building software and airplanes and whatnot. Because as complexity increases, the more people are involved and therefore the most trust is required. Trust is required because of the fundamental limitations of human meat space - we have limited time and survival needs.