[JumpCrisscross]

> lot of people will sacrifice their principles to preserve their standard of living

The line where principles outweigh personal interests (alternatively, where individual interest should be suppressed for the group) vary from person to person, group to group. But they are universally ahead of where those who’d prefer humans weren’t flawed, in their view, imagine them to be. The easy excuse is to conclude everyone is evil. The hard work, that granted few of us are cut out for, is making do with the world we have. (The fun, in exploring the richness these “flaws” produce.)

Note: I’m not asking anyone to settle for a lower moral rung. I’m saying: see the world as it is, not as you judge it to be. Would spacefaring be simpler without gravity? Yes. But the universe’s beauty, ourselves included, could not then exist. Human ambition and aspiration and yes, greed, are not aspects of ourselves I’d ever wish away. Even if it would make some problems easier.

[benreesman]

I want to express my admiration that you’ve engaged with me on this tricky and controversial topic.

I actually wish I had acknowledged several very astute points that I strongly agree with.

I’m not a RenTech quant, but I’ve spent enough time around heavyweights to know one when I see one.

I’d like to have a dialog. If you feel the same please email me at [e-mail]