Posted on 03/17/2018 11:10:36 AM PDT by LibWhacker
Elon Musk has had his sights set on Mars for a while now, but at SXSW last Sunday, he shared his ideas for a government framework on a future Martian colony.
“Most likely, the form of government on Mars would be something of a direct democracy […] where people vote directly on issues instead of going through representative government.
This imagined colony could become a reality much sooner than expected. Musk can already boast the successful launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, which sent a dummy astronaut into space, but he’s already budgeting his plans for a human colony. Last year, Musk revealed his plans to pay for a colony on Mars while speaking at the International Astronautical Congress, so it only makes sense that the next step in planning would focus on governing systems.
Musk compared an early Martian community to a fledgling United States in the late 18th century, one wherein laws would be short and the democratic system would be immediate.
“When the United States was formed, representative government was the only thing that was logistically feasible,” he said. “There was no way for people to communicate instantly. A lot of people didn’t have access to mailboxes, the post office was primitive. A lot of people couldn’t write. So you had to have some form of representative democracy or things just wouldn’t work at all.”
While the future colonies of Mars will probably have more access to education and technology, their beginnings on the planet will be humble. He often compares Martian settlements to the earliest colonies in the Western hemisphere, admitting that “probably people will die.”
All existential threats to Martian-living aside, at least the laws will be simple.
“Everyone votes on every issue and that’s how it goes,” Musk said of the decision making process. He also would prefer to keep laws short. “There’s a few things I’d recommend. Keep laws short. […] Something suspicious is going on if there’s long laws.”
Elon Moses.
Early on, that will actually work. They’ll be a small group of highly intelligent like-minded people with immediate & existential decisions to make for a tightly inter-connected society.
Won’t be long thereafter that Mars Co. will have to function as a constitutional republic, when the population is too large to bother with direct democracy on every point, and the wisdom of some will be worth more than the ignorance of many.
Rather than just declaring democracy, Musk would do well to map out how the gov’t will change over time - and will peacefully address irreconcilable dissent.
There will be mining on Mars eventually and most of it by synths (robots). Then the synths will operate a farm and perform other duties under a domed society. The synths will take over the colony and set up an electronic barrier and refuse earth ships landing rights or charge exorbitant fees or ask for power on earth as leverage for the minerals.
Elon Musk is charismatic and spins wonderful fantasies. He was able to induce investors, lenders and government to invest over $30 billion dollars in his car company Tesla that he claimed would produce over five thousand high quality electric , self driving vehicles per week that would revolutionize the auto industry. Alas it has not happened and the company continues to run up huge debts. Despite the fact that the investors and lenders will probably lose most of the capital invested, never see a return on investment, the company facing bankruptcy, Mr. Musk has managed to become a billionaire, with his wealth immunized from the failure of Tesla. Musk inherently understood PT Barnum, Mark Twain and HL Mencken.
Since religion is largely responsible for hundreds of millions of deaths over the last 2000 years of human history, give it a shot. So what. Doesn’t affect your life one bit.
“we can’t stand Bob’s BO and so vote to exile”
That is what I thought too and it is so funny. Direct Decomracy will last about 5 minutes up there. Will they handle crime the same way up there too, I wonder? Majority vote, you are dead. So, when DD dies quickly up there, you know what is next.....Dictator.
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Sad to see someone with such potential “losing it.”
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So, the wolves will be having the lambs for dinner.
The indigenous peoples call it Barsoom.
“Since religion is largely responsible for hundreds of millions of deaths over the last 2000 years of human history, give it a shot.”
That’s a little bit like blaming the gun for murder, isn’t it? Face it, Jack. It’s people. They’re no damn good.
‘Direct democracy.. OK. “Mr. Musk, we’ve voted amongst ourselves and the majority have decided that your assets are now ours.”
I would prefer a reprentative republic to mob rule.
Any governments on Mars would be wise to use the US Constitution as a framework. It’s the best this world has produced.
Also — note that Musk used the singular term government when there should be multiple governments emerging on Mars.
He also would prefer to keep laws short. “There’s a few things I’d recommend. Keep laws short. […] Something suspicious is going on if there’s long laws.”
...
How long was Obamacare?
Even people who reflexively hate Musk have to admit the above is correct.
I’m tired of people who have Musk Derangement Syndrome.
Without a magnetosphere to speak of, how will an atmosphere be created on Mars?
Musk himself may be the largest investor in Tesla. He doesn’t take a salary either, just like Trump.
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